Havanese Sleeping Habits: All You Need to Know

For many owners, especially first-time owners, the amount that their dog sleeps or doesn’t sleep can feel like a cause for concern – but is it actually? The Havanese breed is known to be relatively relaxed, and many owners report them being pretty sedentary dogs, but what’s normal?

Continue reading to learn more about sleeping habits of Havanese dogs.

How Long Should a Havanese Sleep?

Typically, a Havanese will sleep between 12 and 14 hours a day. This will usually consist of nighttime sleep, and then several naps during the day. It is relatively usual for Havanese to nap for around four hours total throughout the day.

This, of course, does vary depending on the age, just like it would in humans. For example, puppies are much less likely to sleep through the whole night but will be more likely to take daytime naps to make up for it. Often, these naps will come after walks or playtimes. In fact, it is not uncommon for puppies to sleep more, pushing the average to 18 to 20 hours per day.

Older dogs will sleep more solidly throughout the night, and will then spend more of the day awake. But don’t be too alarmed if it seems like your Havanese is spending much of their downtime napping or resting. For senior Havanese, don’t be surprised if they push the average a little and start to sleep around 18 hours a day. They are just getting older.

It is only really a cause for concern if your dog is sleeping for more than the average 14 hours a day. However, even then, it may just be that your dog is particularly lethargic or lazy, but it is worth a check-up with your vet just to be safe.

Do Havanese Sleep at the Same Time Their Owners Do?

As aforementioned, Havanese will sleep for a long stretch overnight. This stretch may be more broken up for puppies and for senior dogs whose bladders aren’t as strong, or who have been napping more throughout the day. But typically, a Havanese will be asleep when you are.

Likewise, if you take a nap during the day, you are not going to be entertaining your Havanese and they will likely also take this opportunity to enjoy a snooze themselves. Dogs are relatively good at adapting to routine, so will likely be able to pick up on any regular naps or lie-ins that you have, and will probably also spend those times asleep.

What to Do If Your Havanese Sleeps Too Much?

If you notice that your Havanese is sleeping too much, especially if it appears to have started out of nowhere, it is worth first making a few changes to their diet and exercise.

It might be that they are dehydrated, so making sure that your Havanese gets enough water and liquid in their daily routine is crucial. Likewise, giving them a more balanced and healthy diet might help to give them a little energy boost to help them to stay awake.

You might also find that walking your dog more often or providing them with more mental stimulation might help, as it may be that your Havanese is bored. Encouraging them to play and participate in enrichment activities may help to stimulate their brains more.

If you are seriously concerned about how much your Havanese is sleeping, take them to the vet for a check-up. You can never be too safe, and there are a number of illnesses that manifest in dogs as lethargy and sleepiness.

What to Do If Your Havanese Doesn’t Sleep Long Enough?

You might notice that your Havanese is not getting enough sleep purely from how much they’re awake during the day, or from their barking or noise at night. But in addition to that, you may also see signs of irritability, forgetfulness, disorientation, and frustration.

If you do start to notice these signs, then there are a few things that you can do to help your Havanese sleep more. It’s important that they do, as without the right amount of sleep they may be more susceptible to illness and mental health issues.

The first thing to do is to establish a routine that you stick to each day. Essentially, give your dog a rough bedtime. This will help them to relax, and know what is going on. It will also help them to fit naps in around whatever else you’re doing throughout the day if they know what’s coming next!

You should also be sure to give them enough exercise and mental stimulation. Failing to do so can result in your Havanese having too much energy and this will obviously prevent them from sleeping. So make sure they get a walk every day for at least half an hour, and that they have plenty of toys and enrichment activities around to keep them entertained and stimulated throughout the day.

Finally, the most important and easily most obvious thing is to not disrupt them. If you notice your Havanese trying to nap and decide that now is the time for a cuddle, you’re not only going to reduce how much they’re sleeping, but you’re likely to also be met with quite an attitude!

3 Places Your Havanese Can Sleep In

With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the places where you can have your Havanese sleep and the advantages/disadvantages of each.

1. Your Bed

Many dog owners like to let their pets sleep in their beds with them for warmth, comfort, and company. If that’s you, then go ahead! It is more than alright to let your Havanese share your bed.

In fact, there are some great advantages to doing so. For you, sleeping with a Havanese in your bed will bring extra warmth and security and can decrease stress and anxiety. It can decrease loneliness and release oxytocin and will make your dog feel more secure in its bond with you.

However, doing this may mean that your Havanese might struggle to sleep anywhere else (overnight, at least) and this can cause issues if you need to use a kennel, or if you decide to have someone over or stay up late. It can also worsen separation anxiety, and it might make your sleep quality suffer.

It’s also not a choice recommended to anyone with allergies, despite the Havanese being hypoallergenic.

2. A Crate

Many people see crate training as cruel or cold, but in reality, it comes with as many benefits as letting your Havanese sleep in your bed.

For one, it is incredibly convenient if you decide to travel, stay out late, or if you need to put your Havanese in kennels. It does not increase separation anxiety, and will not affect your sleep.

What’s more, crate training provides dogs with a territory that is theirs and theirs alone. This helps them to feel secure and safe, and that can be incredibly useful for anxious dogs, especially if you’re taking them to a new place.

Having a designated sleep space will also help your Havanese to form a routine when it comes to sleeping, which can help to ensure they get sufficient sleep.

3. Outside

Havanese are quite sensitive, and sleeping outside can make your dog feel incredibly lonely. On top of that, the temperatures outside can be detrimental to dogs, especially those as small as the Havanese. The breed originates from warmer climates, so the coolness of night is not a temperature that they are designed to handle.

In some areas, it is also worth considering that there might be predators outdoors. For small breeds such as the Havanese, things like wildcats or even foxes may pose a threat, and you don’t want your Havanese to get injured or taken.

3 Positions Your Havanese Can Sleep In

Dogs often lie in all sorts of positions when they sleep, but Havanese tend to stick to these. So if you’re concerned that your Havanese is acting oddly, rest assured that it probably isn’t!

1. Curled Up

Havanese often sleep with their legs and head curled in, to form a small ball. This is an instinct and is a protective stance to keep themselves warm and safe. It is completely normal, and nothing to worry about.

2. Legs Up

If your Havanese is sleeping on their back with their legs thrown in the air, then you know that they feel completely safe. Exposing their stomach like this is a sign of comfort, and shows that they know they don’t need to protect themselves at all.

3. Sploot

A sploot is when dogs lie on their front with their back legs out and is also a completely normal position for your Havanese to sleep in.

Summary

Your Havanese is likely to sleep anywhere from 14 to 16 hours a day, but if you notice any sudden changes to that, it’s worth visiting a vet. There are a few places that your Havanese might find comfy to sleep, and if there are any issues with their sleeping patterns, try changing these up or altering their diet and exercise plan.