Puppy Sleep Schedule 😴 (Guide!)

The "New Puppy" Shock

You just got a new puppy. It is a tiny, 8-week-old ball of joy. You are so excited! You are ready to play. To go on walks. To teach it "fetch." But your puppy does not want to play. Your puppy wants to sleep. It plays for 20 minutes. Then it "crashes." It falls asleep on the kitchen floor. It sleeps for 3 hours. You are worried. Is my puppy sick? Is it lazy? Is this normal? This guide is your answer. And your reassurance. Let's start with the big answer.

The Big Answer: 18 to 20 Hours.

Yes, you read that right. A new, young puppy... ...(from 8 to 12 weeks old)... ...should sleep 18 to 20 hours... ...per 24-hour period. This is 80-90% of their day. This is not a typo. It is a biological fact. It is 100% normal. And it is 100% necessary. Your puppy is not "lazy." It is not "sick" (if it eats/drinks/poops). Your puppy is doing its JOB. A puppy's #1 job is not to play. A puppy's #1 job is to GROW. And 100% of that "growing"... ...happens during sleep. Sleep is not a "passive" state for a puppy. It is an active state. It is an "active, high-work" state.

The "Why": The 2 Big Jobs of Sleep

Why so much sleep? What is happening? Their body is doing two, massive jobs at once.

Job 1: Brain Development (REM Sleep) 🧠

This is the first, huge job. Brain-building. Have you ever watched your puppy sleep? It is not "peaceful." It is active. Their legs will "run." Their nose will "twitch." They will "whimper" or "bark" in their sleep. What is this? This is REM Sleep. (Rapid Eye Movement). ( This is "dreaming" sleep. And it is "learning" sleep. This is brain-building time. During this REM sleep, their brain is busy. It is "hard at work." It is:

Consolidating Memories: ("That 'sit' command was good!"). (
Processing Information: ("That "potty" spot is the right spot!"). (
Learning Social Cues: ("That big dog was scary." "That human is nice."). (

This is vital. It is how your puppy learns to be a "good dog." It is how they learn their training. It is how "potty training" sticks. A puppy that "sleeps on it"... ...will learn a command faster... ...than a puppy that does not.

Job 2: Physical Growth (Deep Sleep) 🦴

This is the second, obvious job. Physical growth. Your 8-week-old puppy is tiny. In 10 months, it will be an 80-pound adult. It must build an entire skeleton. And an entire muscle system. It is building a "house" in 1 year. When does this "construction" happen? It happens in Deep Sleep. ("NREM Stage 3"). ( This is the "physical repair" cycle. This is when your puppy's brain... ...releases Human Growth Hormone (HGH). (Or "Puppy Growth Hormone"). ( This hormone is the "signal." It is the "foreman" of the construction crew. It tells the body: "Build the bones!" "Repair the muscles!" "Grow, grow, grow!" No deep sleep = no HGH = no growth. Sleep is the growth.

Sleep Needs by Age (The Timeline)

This is a "rough guide." Do not panic if your pup is different. But it is a good baseline.

1. Newborns (0-4 Weeks)

Sleep: 20-22 hours per day (90%). This is the "sleep-eat-poop" phase. That is 100% of their life. They are just "twitching" (REM sleep).

2. Young Puppy (4-8 Weeks)

Sleep: 18-20 hours per day (80%). They are now "aware." They are learning to play. But they still sleep most of the day.

3. "New Home" Puppy (8-12 Weeks)

Sleep: 18-20 hours per day. This is your "gotcha day" puppy. This is the key phase for you. They need 18-20 hours. But they are in a new, scary home. They may "fight" sleep. This is where you (the parent)... ...must enforce this sleep.

4. "Adolescent" Puppy (4-6 Months)

Sleep: 16-18 hours per day. Sleep needs are dropping. Their energy is rising. TThis is a "regression" point. They will fight their naps. Hard. They have "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out).

5. "Teenage" Puppy (6-12 Months)

Sleep: 14-16 hours per day. This is the "teenage" phase. They look like an adult. They do not act like one. They still need way more sleep... ...than a 3-year-old adult dog.

6. Adult Dog (1+ Year)

Sleep: 12-14 hours per day. This is the "baseline" adult dog sleep. This is their "normal." (This is still 50% of their day!). (

The #1 Puppy Problem: The "Overtired Monster" 👹

This is the most important concept for you to learn. This is the "secret" to puppyhood. You have a new puppy. It is 7:00 PM. And your puppy becomes a "monster." This is the "witching hour." Your sweet, calm puppy is gone. It is replaced by a "demon." The Signs of the "Monster":

The "Zoomies": (Frantic, "wall-bouncing" running). (
The "Biting": (It is now a "land shark." It is biting your ankles. Your hands. It is biting hard). (
The "Barking": (Barking at you for no reason). (
The "Humping": (Humping your leg, or a toy). (
The "Destruction": (It is grabbing a shoe. It is ripping the carpet). (

You see this. And you think, "Wow! He has so much energy!" "I need to play with him more!" "I need to tire him out!" " This is the #1 MISTAKE a new owner makes. This is 100% wrong.

This is NOT "Energy." It is "Overtired."

This is the secret. That "demon" puppy... ...is NOT an "energetic" puppy. It is an OVERTIRED puppy. It is the exact same... ...as a 2-year-old human child. What happens when a toddler skips their nap? Do they get "calm"? No! They have a meltdown. They scream. They cry. They hit. They are "wired." This is a cortisol rush. Cortisol is the "stress hormone." It is an "awake" hormone. The puppy is so tired... ...that its brain "panics." It releases "awake" chemicals... ...to "fight" the sleep. This "wired" puppy cannot calm down. It does not know how to sleep. It needs you.

The #1 Solution: The "Enforced Nap" 🔑

This is the "pro-level" solution. It is the only solution. Your puppy is a baby. It has zero "self-regulation." It cannot "put itself to bed." You are the PARENT. Your job is to be the "enforcer." You must make your puppy sleep. This is not mean. It is 100% kind. It is your #1 job as a puppy parent.

The "1-Up, 2-Down" Rule (The "Schedule")

This is a "life-saving" rule. For a young puppy (8-16 weeks)... ...you must use this rule. The Rule:

1 Hour "Up": One hour of "awake" time. (This is your work time). (
2 Hours "Down": Two hours of "nap" time. (In the crate). (

This is your new "clock": 7:00 AM: Wake up. Go "potty." (10 min). ( 7:10 AM: Eat "breakfast." (10 min). ( 7:20 AM: Go "potty" again. (10 min). ( 7:30 AM: Play & Train. (This is "active" time. Learn "sit." Play "tug"). ((30 min). ( 8:00 AM: It is "nap time." It has been 1 hour. Even if the puppy looks "fine"... ...it is NAP TIME. 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Nap. (In the crate, in a dark room). ( 10:00 AM: Wake up. Go "potty." Repeat the cycle. All. Day. Long. This is the "magic." Your puppy will never get overtired. The "demon" puppy will disappear. Forever.

How to Create a Sleep Routine (The "Hacks")

This is the "how-to." How to enforce the nap?

Hack 1: The "Crate" is a Crib 🛌

The "crate" (or "kennel") is your #1 tool. It is not a "jail." Do not think of it as "jail." It is a CRIB. It is your baby's crib. It is their safe space. It is the only place... ...where they can be 100% safe. (Not eating a sock, not chewing a wire). ( And it is the "off-switch." It is the "signal." Crate = "Sleep Time." You must train this. Make the crate a "party." Give them all their treats in the crate. Give them all their meals in the crate. The crate is the "magic food box." The crate is the best place. They will love their crate.

Hack 2: The "Sleep Cave" (Dark, Cool, Quiet) 🦇

Your puppy is now "aware." And has "FOMO." You cannot nap them in a bright living room. They will not sleep. They will "fight" it. The "nap" must be in a "Sleep Cave." It must be boring. 1. It Must Be DARK. Pitch black is best. Light is a "daytime" signal. Light is "playtime." Cover the crate with a dark blanket. (Leave room for air!). ( 2. It Must Be QUIET. Noise is a "stressor." ("The kids are playing! I am missing out!"). ( Use a White Noise Machine. This is a lifesaver. This "shhhhh" sound... ...masks the "scary" house sounds. (The doorbell, the TV, the kids). ( The puppy can finally relax. It cannot hear the "party." 3. It Must Be COOL. Dogs get hot. (68-72°F is good). (A cool, dark, quiet cave. This is a perfect "den."

Hack 3: The Bedtime Ritual 🌙

This is for "nighttime." You must have a "bedtime ritual." A ritual is a "signal" to the brain. A "Sleep is coming." It must be the exact same... ...every single night. Dogs thrive on routine. A good "ritual" is: 1. 10:00 PM: Final, boring potty trip. (No "play"!). ( 2. 10:05 PM: Into the crate. (In your dark bedroom). ( 3. 10:06 PM: Give them one, special "bedtime" treat. (A "KONG" with frozen peanut butter is a 10/10 hack). ( 4. 10:07 PM: Turn on the "white noise." Say your "sleep phrase." ("Goodnight, Fido."). ( 5. 10:08 PM: Close the door. Walk away. This "routine" is the "off-switch."

The "Nighttime" Problem (Waking Up)

This is the other big problem. "My puppy is waking up at 3 AM!" "It is crying!" What do I do?

"Why is my puppy crying at 3 AM?"

It is one of two reasons. Only two. 1. "I have to PEE!" 💧 This is the #1 reason. An 8-week-old puppy... ...has a tiny, "pea-sized" bladder. It cannot hold it for 8 hours. It is physically impossible. A 2-month-old pup can hold it for ~3 hours. A 3-month-old pup can hold it for ~4 hours. This "3 AM" wake-up is real. They have to go. You must take them. 2. "I am LONELY!" 😥 This is the other reason. They are a baby. They just left their mom. They just left their 8 siblings. This is the first time... ...they have ever slept alone. They are terrified. They think they are "going to die." (A "pack" animal brain). ( The Fix (First 2 Weeks): Have the crate in YOUR bedroom. Right next to your bed. So they can smell you. And hear you. If they cry, you can put your fingers... ...through the crate. To "reassure" them. "You are not alone."

The "Boring" Potty Trip (The #1 Hack)

This is the "3 AM" rule. You must follow this. It is a "robot" rule. The 3 AM potty trip is NOT "playtime." It is a "business trip." The Rules:

NO Lights. (Use a dim nightlight). (
NO Talking. (Do not say "Who's a good boy?!"). (
NO Eye Contact.
NO Playing.

The Script: 1. Hear the cry. Get up. Sigh. 2. Quietly take the puppy from the crate. (No talking). ( 3. Carry them outside. (So they do not "pee" on the floor). ( 4. Put them on the grass. Say your "potty" word. (e.g., "Go potty"). ( 5. They will pee. (In 1-2 minutes). ( 6. Quietly praise. ("Good potty."). ( 7. Pick them up. Put them back in the crate. Walk away. This is a 5-minute "boring" trip. The puppy learns: "Crying at 3 AM is boring." "I only get to pee." "It is not worth it." Soon, they will learn to hold it. And they will sleep through the night.

Conclusion: Your Puppy's Job is to Sleep

Your puppy is a "sleeping machine." This is a good thing. This is a healthy thing. Do not worry. The Goal: 18-20 hours of sleep per day. (For a young pup). ( The "Why": They are building their Brain (REM). And their Body (Deep Sleep). This is their "job." The #1 Problem: The "Overtired Monster" 👹 (the "zoomies"). The #1 Solution: The Enforced Nap. (You are the parent!). ( The #1 Schedule: The "1-Hour-Up, 2-Hours-Down" Rule. The #1 Tool: A Crate... ...in a Dark, Cool, Quiet (white noise) room. Be consistent. Be the "parent." Your puppy needs you to enforce sleep. It is the kindest thing you can do. You got this. 🌟