Do Pit Bulls Sleep A Lot? How Much Pit Bulls Sleep By Age [Explained]

When it comes to sleep, I need you to think of your Pit Bull as if they’re a teenager. Sleeping is basically a sacred ritual. They sleep most of the day, but when they’re up, they’re menaces.

Do Pit Bulls sleep a lot? Pit Bulls do sleep a lot especially compared to humans. On average, an adult Pit Bull will sleep from 12 to 14 hours a day in addition to some daytime naps and relaxation periods that amount to 5 or 6 hours of their day.

So the question is, why are Pit Bulls sleeping so much? Is it a bad sign that your Pit is asleep for more than half their day, or is it just how they’re wired? Keep reading to find out!

Do Pit Bulls Sleep A Lot?

Pit Bulls do sleep a lot. An average adult Pit Bull will sleep from 12 to 14 hours a day. In addition to that, Pit Bulls tend to sleep for 5 to 6 hours during the daytime when they take naps.

This might seem too much, especially when compared to how much humans sleep. However, it’s perfectly normal for Pit Bulls, as well as other dogs, to sleep a lot. It’s also normal for their sleeping routines to change as they grow.

How Much Do Pit Bulls Sleep at Every Age?

How much Pit Bulls sleep in a day varies depending on their age. So, let’s break down their average sleeping hours at different stages of their life:

Age	Average Sleeping Hours
Puppies (less than 1 year old)	18 to 20 hours a day
Adults (1 to 10 years old)	12 to 14 hours a day + 5 to 6 hours of resting
Seniors (10+ years old)	18 – 20 hours a day

Puppies

Pit Bull puppies sleep on average 18 to 20 hours a day. Unlike humans, they don’t sleep all these hours at once.

They are most likely to have an average of 45 minutes of sleep at a time.

Puppies need a lot of sleep to help them grow physically and mentally. Even though they sleep a lot, a Pit Bull puppy is super energetic and playful when they’re up.

Adults

Adult Pit Bulls average 12 to 14 hours of deep REM sleep every day. They also like to relax and maybe nap a little during the day for 5 to 6 hours.

Like puppies, they don’t get all these sleeping hours done at once but rather sleep 45 to 1 hour each time. Their energetic nature when awake will more than make up for their long sleeping hours.

Senior

When a Pit Bull hits that 10-year-old age mark, they’re considered senior. Senior Pit Bulls will go back to their puppy sleeping hours of 18 to 20 hours a day.

But this time, it’s not because they need it to grow but rather because they need to rest more. Their bones are starting to become weaker, and they can’t really keep up with you for most of the day.

Are Pit Bulls Just Lazy?

That’s probably what you are thinking right now, right? Pit Bulls are just lazy.

But no, Pit Bulls are far from lazy, and you know that.

Pit Bulls were originally bred for fighting. They’re strong, energetic, active, and playful, and they need to exert this energy every day.

But having such a high drive for physical activity will tire anyone out pretty quickly.

Pit Bulls’ life is basically a series of playing hard and sleeping hard; that is how they keep it balanced. During the time they’re awake, your Pit Bull will more than make up for all the sleep they got.

How to Know If Your Pit Bull Is Sleeping A Lot?

Obviously, for you, sleeping 12 to 14 hours a day is already a lot. But, as mentioned before, it’s completely normal for you, Pit Bull. They even need it to stay healthy. But how can you tell if your Pit Bull is actually sleeping too much for their own good?

Count their sleeping hours – Try to keep track of how much sleep they’re getting. Keep a schedule and fill it throughout a given day and see for yourself if they are sleeping too much or just their normal amount.
Notice the duration of each – Pit Bulls shouldn’t sleep longer than 1 hour each time. If your Pit is sleeping continuously for 1+ hours, then something might be wrong because this is not normal for dogs.
Check how much playtime they get – Pit Bulls will never refuse to play with you. If your Pit Bull would rather sleep than play or if they stop playing to sleep, then something is definitely off.

5 Reasons Why Your Pit Bull Is Sleeping A Lot

Yiu might be wondering why Pit Bulls sleep for so long, and the answer is that they sometimes need more sleep than humans for various reasons. Let’s take a close look at those reasons:

Your Pit Bull is tired – Pit Bulls are very energetic dogs; they exercise a lot, they play hard, and if you take them on a rather long walk, they will never refuse. All this energy they exert while they’re awake makes them eventually tired, and they need a lot of sleep to make up for it.
Your Pit Bull is conserving energy – That is what mid-day naps and relaxations are for. Pit Bulls will go all the way while playing with you or other dogs at home or at the park, and they need a lot of energy for that. They keep quiet and relaxed throughout the day so they conserve energy for later.
Your Pit Bull is bored – If you’re not playing with your Pit Bull, then they have nothing better to do than sleep (We told you, teenagers!). Some Pits can learn to entertain themselves but not for long enough, so they sleep.
Your Pit Bull is hot – When the weather is hot, most living things tend to prefer sleeping it off. Your Pit Bull is no different. Hot weather will make them annoyed and feel lazy, and they would honestly rather sleep (who can blame them?).
Your Pit Bull is sick – This is the most unfortunate reason. But if your Pit Bull is sick, one of the signs that you can notice is them sleeping a lot. In this case, they will probably sleep even more than their designated 12 to 14 hours of sleep.

Notice that if your Pittie is feeling hot or irritated, then it’s a good idea probably to take their collar off to see if it’s contributing to the discomfort. You can check out my guide to letting dogs sleep with their collars here to find out when should dogs sleep with their collars and when they really should not.

Should You Worry That Your Pit Bull Is Sleeping So much?

If your Pit Bull is sleeping their normal amount of 12 to 14 hours a day, with 5 to 6 hours of naps during the day, then you have no reason to worry.

These sleeping hours might sound like a bit too much for an adult human, but they’re completely normal and expected of an adult Pit Bull.

You only need to start worrying if your Pit Bull sleeps longer than 14 hours or less than 12 hours.

You should also keep an eye on how long each sleep is. If it’s longer than 1 hour or less than 45 minutes at a time, then you should consult a professional.

Sleeping Problems in Pit Bulls

No matter how long a dog sleeps, you should always keep an eye out for sleeping problems. Sleeping patterns can be an indication of many things like sickness, injuries, boredom, or even age.

So here are some signs your Pit might be having some sleeping problems and how you can help them overcome them.

Signs your Pit Bull Has Sleeping Problems

Sleeping too much – Pit Bulls already sleep for long hours, but if you notice that your Pit Bull is sleeping for longer than 14 hours a day, they might be having some problems. Check for injuries or get them to a vet for a scan.
Sleeping too little – Sleeping less than 12 hours a day is also a sign of possible sleeping problems. Pit Bulls need their sleep to make up for all the energy they exert all day. If your Pit Bull isn’t getting their required sleeping hours, then you need to find out why.
Sleeping out of nowhere – Pit Bulls love playing and activities, and they would usually never cut off activity to sleep but rather sleep after they’re done. If your Pit Bull tends to suddenly stop their activity and go to sleep, this might also be a sign of a problem.
Restless sleep During deep REM sleep, a Pit Bull might move a little and make some sounds. This is totally normal and nothing to worry about, but you need to keep an eye on their breathing and their sleep duration. If they sleep for less than 45 minutes or breathe heavily during their sleep, then this is another sign of a problem.

What Happens If Your Pit Bull Has Sleeping Problems?

This is what you want to avoid. It’s fun to have your Pit Bull up and going throughout the day, but they sleep because they need it for their health. There are consequences of your dog not getting their required sleep time, and here are some:

Your Pit Bull will become grumpy – If your Pit Bull doesn’t get enough sleep, they will become grumpy and irritated. They will not want to play with you and will get annoyed by the simplest things.
Your Pit Bull will feel lethargic – Sleeping too much or too little makes a person lethargic and sluggish; this also applies to Pit Bulls. They will not have the energy to play and will feel like they can’t really control their bodies or movement.
Your Pit Bull might become aggressive – Just like humans can be grumpy and snappy when they are sleep-deprived, dogs can also experience the same thing, and feeling tired or irritated from being sleep deprived can turn into aggressive behavior.
Your Pitbull’s health will worsen – Sleep helps our bodies to heal and become stronger. Your Pit Bull needs to sleep regularly for their body and mind to be healthy and strong. If they’re sick, sleeping will help them heal faster, and even if they’re not sick, they still need it to maintain their health.

What Can You Do If Your Pit Bull Has Sleeping Problems?

If you have noticed one or more of the signs above, then it’s time to help your Pit Bull sleep better. Here is what you can do:

Get them a better bed – It’s true for humans, and it’s true for dogs. There is no better investment than a good mattress. Your dog’s sleeping problems might simply be a result of them not having a comfortable place to sleep. Do some research on dog beds and try to get your Pit the best possible bed you can afford. It will do wonders for their sleep cycle.
Do more exercise – Just like toddlers, playing and exerting a lot of energy throughout the day makes them sleep longer and better. Pit Bulls are physically active and need a lot of exercise to feel satisfied. Help them release their energy by increasing their exercise and that will help them sleep better.
Visit a veterinarian – If all of your efforts fail, then it’s time to consult a specialist. Take your Pit Bull to the vet and get a general check-up. Your Pit Bull might be suffering from a sickness that you couldn’t notice, and that is what is affecting their sleep.

3 Tips to Make your Pit Bull More Active and Sleep Less

As long as you’re not going to negatively affect their health, you can use some tricks to encourage your Pit Bull to be more active and sleep a little bit less. The one reason for sleep that you can tweak a little is boredom.

Don’t make your Pit Bull bored, and they will sleep less.

Make time for play – Unlike your Pit Bull, you have other things to take care of than play and sleep. If you get too wrapped up in your own world, you will forget about your Pit Bull’s playing needs, and that’s why they resort to sleeping it off. The solution is to make time for play. Add it to your schedule and stick to it.
Take your Pit Bull for walks – Going for a walk is good exercise for both you and your Pit Bull. Make it a daily exercise that you do together every day. Don’t walk for too long so they don’t get tired and sleep more when you go back home but make it a sort of warm-up for playtime and to get their energy up for the day.
Don’t leave them alone for too long – If you’re always busy or away, your Pit Bull will have nothing else to do other than sleep, and you can’t really blame them. Pit Bulls are very friendly and affectionate, and they like to have attention. Play with them or organize dog play dates, so they have someone to keep them company.

Should You Let Your Pit Bull Sleep with You?

Wherever you let your Pit Bull sleep is up to you. If you have allergies or any kind of skin condition from sleeping next to your dog, then you should definitely not let your Pit Bulls sleep with you.

As for your Pit Bull, they tend to be very light sleepers. Even slight movement during sleep will wake them up. Also, their overprotective nature will make them rather stay awake to keep an eye on you than get their healthy amount of sleep.

In most cases, it’s better to let your dog sleep in their own bed. But that is not a definite rule, and you can try to let your Pit Bull sleep with you in your bed and see how it goes for both of you. If you sleep just fine, then lucky you! You will get to cuddle with one of the sweetest creatures on this earth.

Do Pit Bulls Sleep A Lot? How Much Pit Bulls Sleep By Age [Explained]

Do Pit Bulls Sleep A Lot?