How Much Sleep Does a Weimaraner Need?

Like humans, dogs are mammals. That means that our sleep patterns are similar but not the same. Dogs sleep more than we do, and their sleep cycles differ from ours. It’s no cause for concern if your Weimaraner dog’s sleep schedule doesn’t line up with yours. However, if you notice a dog’s sleeping behavior that is unusual for your pet, you should consider that it is due to illness. 

how much sleep does a weimaraner need
How Much Sleep Does a Weimaraner Need

The Weimaraner is perhaps one of the most elegant dogs, coming from Germany. Its particular shade of gray colors allowed it to quickly go from hunting dog to being the companion dog of royalty. In the same way, this animal is one of the most intelligent, calm, easy to train, and faithful. 

Weimaraner dogs are canines that spend most of the day sleeping. That is because they are animals that use a lot of energy during the day, especially if they exercise or are used for hunting. 

They are very active dogs that need a lot of exercise. Therefore, it is an ideal pet to accompany you in your sports sessions. 

How Long Does a Weimaraner Usually Sleep? 

Weimaraners tend to sleep a lot. Typically, an adult dog manages its sleep hours between 12-15 hours a day. 

It is well known that all Weimaraner puppies tire very easily. That is because they get very excited when they perform daily physical activities, causing them to become exhausted and require hours of rest to regain energy. 

As they grow their needs change and thanks to the physical and mental activity of their daily routine, they spend more time awake and very distracted. 

In contrast, an adult Weimaraner dog already begins to sleep a little more. The normal is around 15 hours a day, but it does not sleep them in a row because they are usually distributed between the night and the rest of the day. 

At night they usually sleep about 10 hours, and throughout the day they rest the remaining 5 hours in nap mode. 

It is recommended and essential that they keep busy with various activities so that they discharge all their energy. 

It is not unusual for dogs to sleep up to 20 hours per day in the puppy stage. Older dogs also need more sleep as they tire through the day. 

Factors That Determine a Weimaraner Dog’s Sleep Needs 

  • Breed. 
  • Age. 
  • Size. 
  • Weight. 
  • Activity level. 
  • General health. 
  • Diseases. 
  • Lifestyle. 

As a general rule, sedentary dogs tend to sleep longer as do larger breeds. Working dogs prefer to be active and may sleep less, just like smaller dogs. 

Large breed dogs like the Weimaraner, Saint Bernard, Mastiff, Great Dane, and Great Pyrenees require more hours of rest and sleep than the average canine. In general, these types of large dogs tend to sleep around 18 hours a day. 

If you want your canine friend to sleep well and calmly, give it a good walk and play with it. As a result, you will see that at night, it will sleep very comfortably due to its fatigue. 

Is It Normal for My Weimaraner Dog to Sleep a Lot? 

There are many reasons why your dog sleeps so much, but the top three are: 

Weimaraner Age 

When Weimaraner dogs are adults, they spend at least half of the day sleeping, that is, approximately 15 hours. 

When they are puppies, they can sleep up to 18 hours a day, which is essential for their health and growth. Finally, when they age, they tend to rest much more, reducing the hours of activity. 

Weimaraner Health Problems 

If your Weimaraner sleeps more than 16 hours a day (in its early or adult stage), that may be due to a symptom of a disease. If it also stops doing physical activities, then you should worry. In these cases, it is advisable to take the canine to the vet. Some diseases that cause this symptom can be: 

  • Canine depression. 
  • Diabetes. 
  • Rabies 
  • Lyme disease. 
  • Parvovirus. 
  • Hyperthyroidism. 

Weimaraner Lots of Exercises 

If your Weimaraner dog is hyperactive, runs too much, jumps, and plays a lot, it will end up exhausted at the end of the day and take long naps. That is very healthy for the pet since it does the necessary exercise for its physical and mental health and therefore, it relaxes. Now, we have some recommendations for you to give your pet the best possible rest: 

  • Provide a place to sleep. 
  • Feed it after exercise. Through this, it will go to bed fed and can rest comfortably. 
  • Never wake it up for any reason. 
  • Always exercise your pet in the morning or late afternoon.  
Weimaraner dog sleeping
Weimaraner dog sleeping

When Should I Be Concerned If My Weimaraner Dog Sleeps a Lot? 

You need to know that the Weimaraner dog breed is active by nature. Therefore, excessive sleep can represent problems ranging from emotional and bad habits instilled by us (lack of physical activity or play) to serious diseases. 

You should also bear in mind that there are giant or large breeds that, due to their metabolism and their large size, tend to be less active and sleep more. It is the case of the Weimaraner canine, the Great Dane, and even the Saint Bernard, who even in their adult stage can sleep up to 18 hours, and this would be normal. 

You do not have to worry much about whether your Weimaraner sleeps a lot since that is normal for it to be a very energetic and athletic pet. On the contrary, these dogs need many hours of sleep a day because they are always in motion together with their owners. 

Of course, when you notice that your Weimaraner is sleeping more than it should then that’s something you have to worry about. We advise you that if this happens you take it to a veterinarian to examine it and thus be able to rule out any concerns or uncertainties you have. 

stuart and his dog

Family Dog Expert Author

Hi there! I’m Stuart, a devoted dog lover and family dog expert with over a decade of experience working with our furry companions. My passion for dogs drives me to share my knowledge and expertise, helping families build strong, loving bonds with their four-legged friends. When I’m not writing for SirDoggie, you’ll find me hiking, playing with my beautiful dog, or studying music.