Dog crate for home comparison

Dogs need their rest periods

When we look at our four-legged friends running around and playing, we sometimes can't even imagine that they can also be significantly sleepier. And this happens more often than people generally think – also because… Dog rest periods are not always obvious at first glance.

Sleep needs is often underestimated

We humans therefore tend to Sleep needs of dogs to underestimate. It is often thought that it is enough if our four-legged friends go to bed with us and we get up again together. That itself is a very undemanding animal in this regard at least 12 to 14 hours daily has to rest, comes as a surprise to most people.

Instead, some concerned dog owners even drag their pets to the vet because they think something is wrong. Usually, however, this is absolutely unnecessary, because as long as a dog is healthy, it can and must allow itself a lot of breaks: There are some four-legged friends – seniors in particular – who also like it 20 hours or even more slumber.

Sleep rhythm the four-legged friend

However, dogs rest differently than we humans: Although they also have a deep sleep phase in which they also dream, they are otherwise happy to meet their needs very short breaks. Sometimes these only last a few seconds before the animal is fully back.

Important for Body functions & mental health

You should not only tolerate these breaks, but also encourage them. Because one Lack of sleep can quickly have dire consequences for the physical and mental health of your four-legged friend. That's how it will be weakened immune system, the Hormone release and the Brain metabolism disturbed.

Dogs who often don't rest enough often show symptoms like:

  • Hyperactivity
  • restless, nervous or anxious behavior
  • Concentration problems and weaknesses in motor skills
  • aggressive behavior or even
  • more frequent occurrence of illnesses, infections or inflammations.

Many owners do not associate the psychological aspect with lack of sleep. In the worst case, very nice, well-balanced animals are labeled as problem dogs, even though they actually only need a few breaks.

Closed resting places offer security

Dogs love it cozy, protected retreats, to spend their rest periods. If you observe your four-legged friend closely, you will notice, for example, that he not only likes to lie in your presence, but also often “abseils down”.

Then sometimes he lies in one quiet corner, But sometimes he goes to a place where he is alone, such as the bedroom. Covered resting places, for example, are also very popular with many animals under the bed or the couch. One Dog box is another refuge, in contrast to other options, the dog has its own place and its “own space”.

Undisturbed breaks

On the one hand, dogs love to hide because they are completely at home in a place of retreat go about your breaks undisturbed can. Dogs often relax a little to the side if they have been very physically active or after a meal. A nap is also often enjoyed far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

If the dog moves away to lie down, that indicates you increased need for rest there, the one you don't disturb should. The animal then needs a short, deep sleep phase from which it does not want to be unnecessarily torn out.

Cozier Replacement for conspecifics

Covered retreats are also very popular because they provide another… natural need of four-legged friends: After all, dogs are pack animals, so in the wild they would sleep cuddled up close to each other.

In this way, they provide each other with warmth and at the same time form a unit in the event of danger: If an enemy tries to break into the sleeping pack, they are much better equipped for defense together.

This is also a reason why many four-legged friends like to sleep with their human family. If this is not possible because the owners are busy or even absent, the animals will happily use it next best solution. This can be a cuddly toy, but also cozy, cave-like structures such as a transport box.

Offers stress & nervousness Stop

Furthermore, a small box can also be included Stress case Help: Nervous animals like to retreat into them, especially on very loud days, such as New Year's Eve. There are two reasons for this:

  • On the one hand, the four-legged friends feel that a roof with walls is there for them provides protection. In this way, they serve the animals' instinct to flee, which would be important in the wild, for example if enemies were chasing the dog or a threatening storm was raging.
  • On the other hand, a box also has soundproof properties: Loud noises that could over-sensitize the animals' extremely strong hearing abilities are muffled and stress is minimized.

Dogs should be able to enter and leave the rest area voluntarily

This is also important Voluntariness Such a quiet zone: The dog should be able to go to the dog box alone and leave it again, just as he needs it. You should only close them for a short time, and then only if there are serious security reasons for doing so.