Why does my dog lay around all the time?

If your dog has been laying around all the time, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of reasons why it might be doing it and what you can do about it.

So, why does my dog lay around all the time? The reason why your dog lays around all the time is likely to be normal behavior since dogs will naturally sleep for 12-14 hours per day and will spend a lot of time awake but relaxing (source). However, if it has started doing it suddenly and it seems like it might be ill, it would be recommended to take it for a checkup.

Even though it is likely that it has been laying around a lot naturally, there are still some other reasons why it might have been doing it. There are also some things you can consider when deciding on what you should do about it.

Why your dog lays around all the time

Below are some reasons why your dog might have been doing it and what would make them more likely to be the main reason.

Nature

The reason why it has been doing it is likely to be that it is in its nature to sleep and lay around a lot. Adult dogs will naturally sleep for 12-14 hours per day, will also spend about 30% of their day awake but relaxing and will only spend about 20% of their day awake and lively (source).

With that being the case, if your dog has not started laying around a lot more suddenly or showing signs of illness, it would be likely that it has been doing it naturally.

Illness

The cause might be that it has gotten an illness or medical condition and it has been causing it to sleep more or lay around more. This would be more likely if your dog has started doing it suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of being ill such as being fatigued even when it is moving around, vomiting or not eating as much. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.

An issue with its diet

It might also be the case that an issue with its diet has been contributing the behavior. This would be more likely if it has started doing it more since a change in its diet or it does it more when it eats certain foods. It would help to make sure that you have been feeding it foods that are appropriate for dogs, you have been feeding it the correct amount of calories and that no one else has been feeding it without telling you.

Depression

It could also be the case that something has caused your dog to become depressed and it has been laying around more as a result. This would be more likely if it has started doing it since a stressful event such as an owner leaving and if it has been showing other signs of being depressed.

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.

What else happened when your dog first started laying around

If your dog has started doing it suddenly, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. Possible causes are a change in its diet, something causing it to become depressed, the weather becoming hotter causing it to feel fatigued or suddenly getting less exercise.

How old it is

It would also help to consider the age of your dog. Adult dogs sleep a lot naturally but puppies and elderly dogs will sleep even more. If your dog is a puppy, or an elderly dog and it has been sleeping a lot, it is likely to be natural behavior especially if the vet has not found any issues and it has not been behaving unusually when awake.

If it is fatigued when moving around

It is normal for dogs to relax a lot even when they are awake. However, if your dog has been being fatigued even while it is doing exercise, it would be recommended to take it for a checkup with a vet.

What to do about your dog laying around all the time

Below are some things you can do about your dog laying around a lot.

Let your dog sleep when it wants

As mentioned above, dogs will sleep and lay around a lot naturally. It would be doing more harm than good to prevent it from being able to sleep when it wants to. So, it would be best to let the dog sleep as much as it wants and to take it for regular checkups with the vet to ensure that it is healthy.

Give it sufficient exercise

Dogs are meant to get daily exercise and they can start behaving abnormally when they do not get enough. If it is healthy, it would help to make sure that it is able to get the daily amount of recommended exercise for its breed.

Take it to a vet

If your dog has started doing it suddenly or it has been behaving unusually, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so, you will be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular dog and to rule out the possibility of it being due to a medical condition.

Ensure that it is able to sleep easily at night

It would also help to make sure that it is able to fall asleep easily at night. The room it sleeps in should be cool, not too bright, quiet and there should be space for it to lay down comfortably.

Ensure that it is getting the right diet

It would also help to ensure that it has been getting the right diet, it has been eating the right amount of calories and that no one else has been feeding it.