Whether your dog likes to sleep with you or your partner, some breeds sleep more than others, especially French Bulldogs.
If you’ve recently welcomed a French Bulldog into your home, you might be concerned by how much sleep your Frenchie is getting.
French Bulldogs require a lot of sleep, which may be alarming to people who don’t have experience with the breed.
Your Frenchie may require extra sleep if they’re dealing with a medical condition. Because so many medical conditions can cause increased sleepiness, it’s important to pay attention to new sleep habits.
In the article below, you’ll learn why your Frenchie sleeps so much. We’ll also give you some information about when to see your Frenchie’s vet about his sleeping patterns.
Check this out: Why do French Bulldogs fart so much?
French Bulldog Sleeping Patterns
While French Bulldogs are often awake during the day and asleep at night, their sleep patterns have some key differences from human sleep patterns.
Most notably, they require more sleep than their human companions. While humans get REM sleep for 25% of their time asleep, French Bulldogs only enjoy REM for 10% of their sleeping hours. That means they need more sleep to be reinvigorated.
When French Bulldogs are puppies, they sleep 18 to 20 hours daily. Adult Frenchies sleep for an astonishing 14 to 16 hours a day. As your dog ages, he may require even more sleep than puppies.
French Bulldogs spend a significant portion of the day asleep. They often have short bursts of activity, followed by longer naps.
Check this out: Fluffy Frenchie: Everything You Need to Know
Reasons Why French Bulldogs Sleep So Much
If your French Bulldog is sleeping between 14 and 16 hours a day, their sleep pattern is within a normal range for their breed.
If your dog sleeps for more than sixteen hours a day, it might be a sign that something else is going on.
The following are five reasons why your Frenchie might be sleeping more than average.
Your French Bulldog is stressed or bored
Stress and boredom affect different dogs in different ways. In some cases, your Frenchie may respond to stress and boredom by taking a nap. If they’re struggling to cope with these emotions, they may spend more time sleeping.
Your Frenchie is in pain
Pain is another thing that may cause your Frenchie to spend more time asleep. Dogs sometimes hide signs of pain.
However, if your dog is spending increased time asleep and less time with activities they’ve previously enjoyed, he might be experiencing pain.
It’s important to talk to your dog’s veterinarian if you suspect they’re in pain. Chronic pain may be caused by arthritis, which can be treated. Other causes for pain will likely need medical attention, as well.
Your Frenchie has been getting more exercise
If your Frenchie has been getting more exercise than usual, they may be sleeping more to compensate.
French Bulldogs only require a little bit of light exercise each day. Any changes to their exercise routine should be made gradually to prevent excessive exhaustion.
Your French Bulldog is overweight
Overweight dogs can get easily exhausted, and your Frenchie is no different. It’s important to give your French Bulldog the appropriate diet to help them manage their weight.
Since they cannot handle high-intensity exercise, it’s important to keep them from overeating.
If your French Bulldog is overweight, talk to his veterinarian to formulate an action plan. With the right diet plan, your dog’s sleep routine can move back into a healthy range.
Your Frenchie is dealing with an illness
A number of illnesses may cause your Frenchie to spend more time asleep. Lethargy, reduced activity levels, and increased sleep are signs of a number of illnesses.
Diabetes can cause your dog to spend more time asleep. Other symptoms include increased urination, unexplained weight loss, decreased appetite, and recurring infections.
Hypothyroidism is another hormonal disease that may make your dog excessively sleepy. Blood tests will determine if your dog is experiencing hypothyroidism.
Anemia occurs when your dog has too few red blood cells in their bloodstream. This causes their blood to distribute less oxygen to the body, leading to exhaustion.
Other health conditions that may cause your French Bulldog to sleep excessively:
- Depression
- Cancer
- Other hormonal imbalance
- Sleep apnea (often caused by obesity)
- Bacterial infections
If you suspect an underlying condition causes your Frenchie’s sleepiness, it’s important to talk to your dog’s veterinarian.
They can diagnose any medical issues and provide the necessary treatment to help your dog thrive.
Should I Worry About My Frenchie’s Sleepiness?
It’s completely normal for adult French Bulldogs to sleep for 14 to 16 hours a day. Both puppies and senior Frenchies will sleep even more.
If your dog’s sleep habits fall within the normal range, you probably don’t have to worry about how much they’re sleeping.
However, if your dog is sleeping excessively, it may be a sign that there’s an underlying illness.
If you can’t find an explanation for your dog’s change in habits (such as an increase in physical activity), you should have your dog evaluated by a veterinarian. If an underlying illness is the cause of their sleepiness, medical treatment will be necessary.
