Where do Jack Russells like to sleep
Jack Russell Terriers and Sleep: What is normal?
Does your Jack Russell Terrier seem to sleep a lot? Perhaps youve noticed your terrier sleeping quite a bit during the day and wonder if this is normal? These dogs are considered super active and energetic, so seeing them sleeping a lot will undoubtedly bother you.
Whether youre a first-time Jack Russell Terrier owner or a long-time lover of these energetic and intelligent little dogs, you may worry that they are sleeping too much.
Typically, a healthy Jack Russell Terrier sleeps anywhere from 8 to 14 hours per day.Sleeping this much is without any doubt, normal. In fact, Jack Russell Terriers on average sleep for 50% of their lives, spend 30% of their time while awake or lying, and 20% in an active lifestyle.
Interestingly, Jack Russell Terriers tend to follow the activity levels of their owners. So, if you are fit and active, your Jack Russell Terrier will be as well. However, if you are relaxed and laid-back chances are your Jack Russell Terrier will be similar to you. But how do you know if your Jack Russell Terrier is getting too little or too much sleep? Continue reading to find out.
How much sleep does my Jack Russell Terriers need?
Fun fact: Puppies and senior Jack Russell Terriers tend to twitch more in their sleep. This happens because the part of the brain called the Pons is underdeveloped in puppies and less efficient in older terriers. This part regulates muscles and keeps them still while they are sleep.
Newborn puppies 0 to 2 months
During the first two weeks of a Jack Russell Terriers life and before they open their eyes, 90% of their time will be spent feeding and sleeping. During these early stages, their sleep is interrupted regularly to nurse roughly every 2 hours.
As they grow, Jack Russell Terriers will slowly start to spend more time awake.At around 3 weeks they will spend about 2 to 4 hours a day broken up into small spurts of energy and exploring their world.
Puppies 2 to 12 months
The REM sleep phase restores energy to the body and brain. Humans spend 25% of their sleep time in the REM sleep phase. Puppies, however, only spend 10% of their sleep in the REM phase. Because of this, and the fact they are growing quickly, they need to take naps during the day.
Jack Russell Terrier puppies from 2 to 5 months of age, generally sleep around 18 to 20 hours in a 24-hour period.Older puppies, around 6 to 12 months, will average 14 to 16 hours of sleep during a 24-hour period.At this point, they should be more active and inquisitive during the day and will begin to sleep through the night in 6-9 hour stretches.
Adult Jack Russell Terriers
AdultJack Russell Terriersnormally sleep for around 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hr period.Of course, this can vary greatly, often depending on your terriers personality and temperament and your lifestyle and activity level.
Interestingly, this studyfound that older and middle-aged dogs slept more during the day than younger adult dogs. They tended to run out of energy quicker and more often than the younger age group.
Senior Jack Russell Terriers
Once yourJack RussellTerrier is around the age of 8, they are considered a senior and normally around this age you would start to see themslowly increasing the amount of time they are resting and sleeping.
AseniorJack Russell Terrierwill sleep for an average of 14 to 16 hour per day as this continues to increase as they age. For instance, a 14-year-old terrier could be sleeping up to 18 hours a day.
Even though your Jack Russell Terrier will be sleeping more, they may also be waking up more frequently at night because they need to use the potty more often. If your terrier is an inside dog, you can help with this by taking them out right before bed and limiting their late afternoon and night-time water intake.
Other things that influence a Jack Russell Terriers sleeping habits?
It is important to understand that the sleeping patterns of a Jack Russell Terrier are not always consistent; and can be influenced by many things. Lethargy or a lack of energy and enthusiasm can be a sign that your dog is being affected by something more than just laziness or being a little tired.
Stress, anxiety, boredom, diet, or disease can all be factors for why your terrier many be sleeping more or less than usual.If your terriers sleeping patterns have changed dramatically in a short period of time, then it could be a red flag that something more significant is happening.
These are the most common reasons why Jack Russell Terriers sleep more than usual.
Adapting to a new environment
A Jack Russell Terrier puppy that has just gone to their new home will tend to sleep a lot more as they adapt to their new surroundings.
This is mainly due to their lack of socializationwith humans and unfamiliarity with the environment. When a puppy is separated from its mother and the rest of its litter mates, it can be an exhausting and emotional experience.
It may take a couple of weeks for them to adapt to the new home and their new family and as they adjust, they will sleep more rather than being playful or active.
As they become accustomed to their new home, their sleeping habits will level out to me more in line with their age.
Amount of exercise
Jack Russell Terriers arehigh energy dogsthat requireadequate exercise and stimulation to keep them happy.
They were originally bred to hunt foxes from dens, so they needed to be agile little dogs with loads of energy. When Jack Russell Terriers dont receive regular exercise, they tend tobore easily.
The amount of exercise your terrier needs really depends on their age and overall health. It is important to monitor their energy levels and if they still have pent up energy, then they probably need more exercise.
After an intense exercise session, they will naturally take longer naps to relax and restore their energy.However, if they appear flat and exhausted for extended periods of time, it may be necessary to reduce their amount of exercise and let their body recover.
Health concerns
If your Jack Russell Terrier has sudden orsignificant changesin their patterns of sleep, it could besigns of more serious issuessuch as dementia, arthritis, hypothyroidism, or other conditions associated with older age.
If this occurs, it is important toconsult your veterinarian.
Where should my Jack Russell Terrier Sleep?
Every Jack Russell Terriers wants a warm, soft place to sleep. The best place for a Jack Russell Terrier to sleep is inside. A great place for them to sleep inside is in a crate.
A crate offers a safe, personal space in your home for your Jack Russell Terrier. Many terrier owners feel guilty at the thought of locking up their beloved pooch, but once trained, the enclosed space of a crate actually allows a Jack Russel Terrier to feel safe, rest and relax. It also stops your terrier from randomly going to the toilet in your house during the night.
It is not recommended to let your terrier sleep outside as their coats are not thick enough to keep them very warm in cold temperatures. You should not keep them outside for an extended period of time if the temperature drops to45 degrees Fahrenheit(7 degrees Celsius) and below. This temperature ispotentially unsafe, especially for smooth haired terriers.
Jack Russell Terriers thrive on relationships and being close to their owners. Sleeping outdoors can be lonely and may cause them anxiety, isolation, and stress.
Can my Jack Russell Terrier sleep with me?
Many studies have found that sleeping with your Jack Russell Terrier can actually be good for you. One particular study concluded that people who slept with their dogs had increased feelings of comfort and security.
Jack Russell Terriers like most pack animals, share an affinity for one another, so they sleep together as a pack. Since youre the leader of your dogs pack, they want to be near you and protect you.
For centuries humans have slept with dogs in order keep warm and feel protected. The practice of sleeping with dogs is not new and it is still quite common today. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the American Kennel Club, found that 45% of people sleep with their dogs.
There are some great benefits to having your Jack Russell Terrier sleep in your bed. Some of these include:
- A positive effect on your sleep quality
- Comfort and security for both you and your terrier
- Boosting your mental health
- Boosting your physical health
Co-sleeping with a Jack Russell Terrier is not for everyone. It is important that everyone who sleeps in or may sleep in the bed is in agreeance with your Jack Russell Terrier sharing your bed. When things arent gelling and a good nights sleep cant be had, have your terrier sleep elsewhere until you work things out.
Why Does My Jack Russell Sleep So Much?
Jack Russell Terriers are a working breed that needs to be alert, and they need frequent exercise to be happy and healthy.
When my Jack Russells are not out and about playing or taking a walk with me, they are more than likely lying down and sleeping next to me while Im working or watching some TV.
I would often look at them and wonder, why are my Jack Russells sleeping so much? Is there something wrong with them?
Lets have a look.
Why Does My Jack Russell Sleep So Much?
Your Jack Russell will be sleeping often if he is getting adequate exercise, or if he is still a puppy that is adjusting to his new home. Older Jack Russells will also sleep more often because they get tired more easily and need more rest to get their energy levels back to normal.
How much sleep does a Jack Russell need?
A Jack Russell puppy needs between 18 to 20 hours of sleep per day, whereas an adult Jack Russell will need between 12 and 14 hours of sleep per day. Older Jack Russells will tend to sleep for longer as they need more time to recover from the days activities.
What do I do if my Jack Russell does not sleep enough?
If you find that your Jack Russell is hyper and a bit wild, then he is more than likely not getting the right amount of exercise. Jack Russells need exercise on a daily basis, and it is recommended that they keep active for at least an hour at a time.
This can include activities such as walking around the block or playing in the yard.
How do Jack Russells like to sleep?
I can safely say that a Jack Russell prefers a warm, comfy bed to sleep in. All 3 of my Jack Russells will somehow find their way into my bed every night and curl up next to me under the covers.
If they see me sitting on my bed, they will run and jump onto it and lay down next to me.
Can a Jack Russell sleep outside?
While Jack Russells can sleep outside, it is not recommended because they like to be close to their human family. It can get cold outside as well, and cold. Being outside for the night means that they will be away from you for up to 8 hours or more. This is not recommended for Jack Russells as an adult Jack Russell should only be left alone for up to 6 hours, and a puppy for up to 2 hours.
Where should Jack Russells sleep?
I dont mind them sleeping on my bed, or under the covers, but I know that not everyone will be happy with their Jack Russell sleeping next to them on their beds.
If you prefer not to share your bed with your furry friend, then make sure that he has a comfortable place to sleep. I recommend getting him a dog bed and putting it in the corner of your bedroom.
Charlie, my oldest Jack Russell, will sometimes struggle to jump onto the bed to have a nap next to me. When I saw this becoming a regular occurrence, I decided to get her a dog bed and I placed it in the corner of my bedroom close to my bed.
She is very attached to me, but since her bed is right next to mine, she knows that Im close so she is at ease and she sleeps comfortably.
Do Jack Russells dream?
Jack Russells dream, just like other dogs do. According to the American Kennel Club, dogs dream as humans do, but they also dream similarly to use in the sense that they can dream about events that happened during the day.
You might have noticed your Jack Russell starting to whimper or moving his legs and tail while he is sleeping. This is an indication that he is dreaming.
Conclusion
A Jack Russell puppy needs between 18 to 20 hours of sleep per day, whereas an adult Jack Russell will need between 12 and 14 hours of sleep per day.
But if you dont think that your Jack Russell is sleeping enough, make sure to investigate the reasons why he might be sleeping more often.
If he has plenty of time to exercise and is still a puppy, or if the dog is older and its likely that they are just tired from the previous days activities, then there may be nothing wrong.
As long as your Jack Russell still seems content and playful during their waking hours as well, then there is probably nothing to worry about.
Meet Jan Pretorius, the passionate dog lover and proud owner of the popular canine haven, JackRussellTerrierDog.com. Born and raised in a small town known for its love of animals, Jans journey into the world of dogs began at a young age, fueled by an innate connection with our four-legged companions.
