While Rottweilers are an active and playful breed, they are known to love their sleep! On average, they sleep 14 hours or more each day!
The post looks into the reasons why they sleep so much and when dog owners should be concerned. Read on to find out what we discovered!
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Main reasons why Rottweilers Sleep so much
Recovery from Exercise
Even though they love to play and run around, Rotties also like to take an occasional break and relax and recharge.
Sleeping throughout the day helps their bodies recover from exercise and get them ready for their next session!
Hot Weather
When theweather is warm,Rotties love nothing more than to take a snooze.
They will typically find a shady spot under the trees and take their afternoon nap to keep cool. Keep in mind they are prone to overheating at times, especially with their thick double coat that warms up quickly.
If possible, it is best not to interrupt them while they are napping on hot days. This will help them get their body temperatures down and build up their energy levels again.
Stress and Anxiety
Rotties can experiencestress and anxietyat times, just like humans.
When they feel overwhelmed or under pressure, they may sleep excessively to escape the situation and relax their minds.
“This is why it’s important to pay attention to your dog’s behavior, especially if they are sleeping a lot more than usual.“
It could be a sign of depression or anxiety. Owners should look for the triggers that might be causing them to feel this way, so changes can be made to improve their environment.
Boredom
If you leave your Rottie alone at home for too long, they are likely to resort to sleeping as an escape from their boredom.
“When you are working or are out of the house all day, it is essential to find a way to occupy your Rottie when they are alone.“
While some people will adopt another dog to keep them company, this is not always possible.
I’ve found that our Rottie loves playing with squeaky tennis balls, even on her own! The sound these balls make seems to keep her excited and alert. She can literally sit there for hours biting and pawing at them!
The other alternative is to consider finding people who can come and play with your pet when you’re not available. This could be a neighbor or a pet sitter, and they may only be needed for an hour a day.
Diet
Diet can also play a big role when it comes to the amount of sleep a Rottie needs.
By feeding your dog healthy and nutritious food, they are likely to fall asleep more often than usual.
This is due to the healthy ingredients promoting additional relaxation in the muscles.
Getting Old
Older Rottweilers will typically sleep longer as they get older. This is because their bodies are slowing down, and the metabolism rate decreases as they age.
Rotties may sleep for up to 16 hours a day when they get older, which is completely normal.
Illness
Excessive sleeping could also be a sign of illnesses. If you notice that your pet has an issue with their vision or hearing, they might avoid the environment until the problem is solved. A lot of sleep will help them relax and recover faster.
How to make Rottweilers more comfortable while they sleep?
To ensure our Rotties are well rested and remain healthy, some thought needs to go into their sleeping quarters.
I’ve found there are some simple things we can do to make their sleeping area more comfortable while ensuring they rest more peacefully.
- Place their bed in a quiet spot in the home where they won’t be interrupted
- Ensure the area is warm
- Provide them with a bed with raised edging, to protect them from getting cold
- Add a blanket for extra warmth.
- Make sure the bed is easy to access.
- Place their favorite toy in the area
- Spread your scent on their bed, to make them feel more comfortable
Should your Rottweiler sleep in your bed?
If you are one of the many pet owners that allow your Rottweiler to sleep in bed with you, I am sure you have wondered if it’s okay.
While this is a personal preference, of course, there are a few things to consider before granting them this luxury!
Hygiene is clearly important when it comes to a dog’s sleeping quarters.
While I am not a fan of our Rottie sleeping on our bed, we will sometimes allow it if we are about to wash the doona cover the following day.
Our only rule is that she isn’t allowed inside the bed or on the sheets. She needs to stay at the end of our bed and on the outside of our doona cover.
“This is more about hygiene for us. We don’t want any loose hair, dribble, and sometimes dirt getting on the sheets.“
The other consideration is the size of Rotties. Unless you have a queen or king-size bed, you simply may not have the room!
However, if you are okay with this, then I would suggest some simple rules to follow to make this arrangement easier to manage:
- Never allow your dog on the bed if it causes problems with other family members;
- Don’t allow more than one large rottweiler on the bed at a time
- Only allow your dog on the bed if it is housebroken;
- Never allow your Rottie to play with toys or food on the bed.
- Always take them outside to relieve themselves before bedtime
You may need to rethink this if your Rottie has medical problems such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, or obesity.
In this case, I wouldn’t recommend they sleep on the bed.
Their health problems can become worse if they are sleeping on soft, plush surfaces without the lumbar support they need.
Can Rottweilers sleep outside? 8 Reasons to consider!
Why would you let your Rottweiler sleep outside when there are so many reasons he should be sleeping inside the house?
“Rotties are pack animals, and they feel safe when they’re sleeping near their pack – which is you!“
While I understand that sleeping quarters can be set up outside, I’ve outlined some of the reasons why it’s better for them to sleep inside:
1. If it is too hot, they could suffer from heat exhaustion.
2. The cold weather could result in hypothermia.
3. If it rains or snows, they may become sick if not fully under cover.
4. The wind may blow their blanket off
5. The rain may soak or soil their blanket
6. Less exposure to the elements will likely prolong their life
7. They will typically develop less bad habits such as barking or chewing on inappropriate things
6 Tips to Help your Rottie Sleep Better
We’ve tried lots of things over the year to improve the quality of our dog’s sleep.
Some obvious things that have worked for our Rottie include giving them lots of exercise, attention, and playtime throughout the day.
This typically tires them out and helps them rest more peacefully.
While this definitely works, there are other tricks you can use to improve your dog’s shuteye too.
You should see some rapid improvement in your Rottie’s sleep patterns after trying just one or two of them.
1. Keep your Rottie Occupied and Entertained
Rottweilers typically sleep more deeply when you give them something to keep their mind active.
You’ll be surprised by how much fun your dog can have with a few old towels or even some cardboard boxes. So why not let them entertain themselves for an hour or two?
Just place these objects in a room where your dog likes to sleep, and you should see immediate improvements in the quality of their slumber.
2. Keep your Rottweilers Sleep Arrangements Clean
I’ve noticed that Rottweilers are often particular about their sleep arrangements being clean and will not be happy if they’re uncomfortable.
The easy way to approach this is to clean your dog’s bedding every week or so.
What works for us is a mixture of vinegar and water (half-and-half).
You’d be surprised at the difference this can make in keeping their bedding clean!
3. Moving your Rottie’s Bedding to the Foot of your Bed
If you want to ensure that your rottweiler sleeps soundly at night, why not follow in some very popular footsteps?
Many breeders have reported improved sleep for their dogs simply by moving the dog’s bedding to the foot of their bed.
This may come as a surprise, but your dog is instinctively very pack-orientated and wants to be near you at all times.
This is even when they’re sleeping!
4. GIve your Rottweiler Herbal Supplements
Herbal supplements could be another option worth considering to help your Rottweiler improve their sleep.
There are certain supplements that promote relaxation and help calm Rotties that struggle to wind down.
The great thing is that many herbal supplements can be given in the form of a treat, so there’s no need to worry about complicated dosages or time restrictions.
5. Don’t Punish your Rottie
We all know how difficult it can be to get back to sleep after being woken up by your dog wanting to go outside!
While it can be tempting and easy for us to vent with anger, it only causes problems for your Rottie.
Punishing them in this way can damage their sleeping patterns even more and lead to future behavioral problems as well.
Patience wins in the end. Rotties thrive on positive reinforcement and shouldn’t be punished for trying to do the right thing.
6. Avoid Stimulating Activities before Bedtime
Lastly, it’s best for Rottweilers to avoid any stimulating activities just prior to sleep time.
We’ve found that any physical exercise or game playing too late at night causes problems with their sleeping.
It will also take them longer to completely unwind, as their energy levels are still heightened.
If you can’t avoid playing games with them right before bed, make sure the game is kept short and sweet, so they have minimal problems falling asleep.
