At A Glance
Belonging to the hound family, Greyhounds are quite athletic. This large breed dog is tall that has a lean body and little to no fat reserves. As a result, they’re fast. In fact, hounds were well-known for their speed and agility in canine competitions.
If you choose to have a Greyhound as part of your family, here’s what you should know:
Last Updated on: Aug 07, 2023
Is your Greyhound almost always sleeping? If the answer is yes, you’re probably wondering, “Are all Greyhounds this lazy?”.
Well, contrary to popular belief, the breed is not lazy. In fact, they are athletic and love a good playtime. These sighthounds can be difficult to train because of their keen sense to hunt, but early training can rectify any problematic behaviors.
That said, Greyhounds need more sleep than most breeds. Because of their body composition, the breed has barely any fat content. As a result, they try to conserve as much energy as possible and, therefore, sleep.
Some Greyhound pets may also start to sleep without having performed any physical activity. As a paw parent, you can help them overcome their excessive need for sleep by using positive reinforcement, training, and consistency.
Greyhounds, on average, require between 12 to 14 hours of sleep daily. At times, they can sleep up to 18 hours too. This isn’t because they are lazy but because they choose not to waste their energy.
Here are a few more reasons why:
As mentioned earlier, Greyhounds have little body fat reserves. As a result, they need more sleep to conserve their energy.
If you, as a pet parent, don’t have an active lifestyle, your dog may adapt to your way of living. This, too, can change its sleeping patterns. Hound dogs like Greyhounds need ample exercise, but they may want to sleep when they don’t get enough physical movement.
They may spend most of their time sleeping when they don’t receive sufficient mental stimulation. Because they have nothing to do and no motive for being active, they choose to sleep.
Although Greyhounds are known to sleep a lot, they rarely fall asleep deeply. They have disrupted or shorter sleep cycles throughout the day.
Sleep is essential for humans and animals alike. The body repairs the cells and replenishes energy when asleep.
As your dog ages, sleeping more is natural. In general, Greyhound’s lifespan is between 10 and 14 years, and they may tend to sleep more than usual when approaching this age.
As mentioned earlier, bodies self-repair when sleeping. Sleeping also boosts the immune system to fight off diseases. Additionally, research has shown that Greyhounds who are sleep-deprived are more likely to suffer from illness.
If you’ve just welcomed a puppy into your home, it will need some time to adjust to the new environment. As a result, some dogs may tend to sleep more.
A sick greyhound may sleep more to recover since sleep is a great healer. Make sure you inspect your pet for any injuries or health issues.
If your dog sleeps with one or both of its eyes open, it could be a disorder. In such cases, visiting a veterinarian is essential. Your dog could have:
Separation anxiety is common, even in dogs that sleep away from their owners at night. Leave a piece of clothing or blanket with your scent near your Greyhound’s crate. A comforting scent may help it relax and sleep.
Greyhounds are large dogs and crate training is a must. Having a small space they can call their own can improve their sleep quality.
If a dog suffering from anxiety is allowed to sleep anywhere it pleases, it may feel territorial about a larger space, staying up all night.
Companionship can also contribute to insufficient sleep at night. When a Greyhound lives with another dog, especially an energetic breed, it will likely devote most of its time to playing.
This may cause your Greyhound to be sleep deprived, forcing it to compensate by sleeping during the day, leading you to believe that it is sleeping more than it is.
Greyhounds tend to sleep more than other breeds. However, with a routine, they can stay active. The following are some methods to overcome their tendency to oversleep:
Establishing a routine is a good idea. It can help combat their laidback behavior. Create a routine that includes training, meals, walks, and enough rest time to ensure your pooch is healthy. Adhering to this schedule over time will help it form a routine.
Greyhounds need high-quality food rich in fiber and proteins. Your pet will likely become lethargic and sleep more if fed a diet with a high carbohydrate content and eventually become obese.
More often than not, Greyhounds sleep because they are bored. Keeping them busy with toys, games, and other things will help them stay active and sharp.
If you’ve tried and tested everything and your Greyhound still sleeps a lot, you may want to take it to a vet. Get your Greyhound checked for injuries and other conditions. It would be best to consult your veterinarian to determine the condition.
Greyhounds sleep a lot. Since they have very little body fat, adequate rest is crucial for their well-being and energy conservation.
Understanding their sleep patterns and enhancing their overall quality of life with a routine can help them stay healthy. You can do many things to improve your sleeping cycle, but before you try anything, consult a vet.
I am a full-time mum of two kids and a beautiful golden retriever. Writing is my passion: from food journalism to pets, parenting tips, etc. I can write on just about everything under the sun. I have been writing for the past 7 years and during that time, I have been a regular contributor to several blogs and pet magazines. I have also written feature articles, POV pieces, and dabbled in a few different formats of writing over the years.
