If you are anything like us, your Schnauzer has between 1-3 beds. Our Miniature Schnauzer, Livi, has two favorite beds, each in a different part of the house. She also considers each of the kids’ beds to be hers, and she likes to take over our master bed whenever she can get away with it. She sleeps through the night, and off and on during the day as well. It seems like she actually sleeps a lot and has several favorite beds, so I began to wonder what was normal in terms of Schnauzer sleep patterns and bed preferences. My research revealed 5 go-to facts you should know. Here’s what I found.
How long (and where) should Schnauzers sleep? While specifics can vary, a 3-month-old Schnauzer puppy should have between 15-20 hours of sleep every 24 hours. Adult Schnauzers need between 12 and 16 hours each day, but even that can vary somewhat among Giant, Standard, and Miniature Schnauzers. Age, health, and activity level are also factors. Schnauzers can be comfortable in crates, in her bed, or even in your bed.
While Schnauzers are very active, intelligent dogs and need a lot of mental stimulation and exercise, they also seem to sleep more than we do. In addition, they also have a genetic, wolf-like tendency to “den” and retreat to places of safety and quiet.
All of this combines to give Schnauzers some fascinating sleep patterns and preferences.
Go-To Fact #1: Schnauzers Sleep….A Lot
On average, Schnauzers spend 12 to 16 hours each day sleeping. Your Schnauzer’s specific sleep needs might vary around this range, depending on her age, size, activity level, as well as overall health.
Schnauzer puppies can spend a maximum of 20 hours sleeping in a day. Growing and also learning new skills, commands, and necessities such as potty training takes lots of energy.
Giant Schnauzers tend to sleep a lot more than Standard and Miniature Schnauzers. Working Schnauzers with days full of activity sleep much less, while dogs that lead sedentary lives nap more.
As Schnauzers age into their senior years, they usually spend more time napping because they get tired more easily.
When your Schnauzer is sleeping, you might notice clues about her sleep quality from her behavior. Twitching, eye movements, and sounds all indicate that she is experiencing various sleep cycles. Napping is essential for repairing and healing the body, and the deepest phase of sleep, REM sleep, is the most restorative.
Go-To Fact #2: Schnauzer Sleep Cycles Are Similar To Yours
According to research, the brain waves of a dog during sleep time are similar to those of human beings. Research also indicates that dogs learn while sleeping just like humans do.
Just like humans, dogs go through various stages of sleep, which include deep sleep, also known as rapid-eye-movement sleep (REM) and short-wave sleep (SWS). SWS sleep refers to the duration after falling asleep initially as the body and mind start to relax. When it comes to REM sleep, there’s more brain activity, and this sleep is believed to play a significant role in getting the entire amount of required rest and recovery.
The main difference between human sleep and dog sleep is the amount of time they spend in the various stages, and the tendency of a dog to sleep in small bursts during the day. Generally, dogs experience some wake-sleep cycles of 5 minutes awake and 16 minutes asleep, which is quite the opposite with human sleep-wake cycles of seven to nine hours asleep, and fifteen to seventeen hours awake.
Whenever a dog falls asleep, they automatically enter deep sleep. You will hear the heart rate and breathing slow down as the blood pressure falls. About ten minutes in, the dog enters a deep sleep and will also dream just like human beings. You can identify this phase because her eyes typically roll under the eyelids, and she might begin twitching as she dreams.
Since canines are always ready to protect their family from any intruders, they can wake up easily. It is common for dogs to wake up before finishing a complete sleep cycle, from deep sleep to REM sleep. Due to this, scientists estimate that dogs require sleep more regularly to get their adequate amount of REM sleep.
Go-To Fact #3: Your Schnauzer Can Adjust Her Sleep and Activity to Fit Your Schedule
A typical Schnauzer can spend half of her day asleep, and almost a third of her day sitting or lying down. The rest of her day consists of using the restroom, following family members around (probably hoping for treats and one-on-one attention), and actively playing or getting some vigorous exercise.
Your Schnauzer is generally able and willing to adjust her activity to your current behavior and schedule. She’ll sleep when you sleep, go for a walk when you are ready, and play or sit near you while you get some work done.
This flexibility definitely extends to their sleep patterns. They do not have a problem adjusting their sleep schedules to suit the needs of the family. For example, if you are away for several hours during the day, your Schnauzer might adapt to spending more of her day sleeping so she can be awake and available to spend time with you as soon as you get home.
Working dogs such as service or police dogs are required to expend a lot more energy and have the ability to stay awake for a longer duration performing their crucial duties.
A primary reason your Schnauzer is able to offer such flexibility to you is that dogs do not sleep as deeply as humans. They are still genetically designed to survive in the wild; sleeping when it is safe, but always able to respond quickly if a predator approaches.
Go-To Fact #4: Dogs Probably Dream
Most pet parents believe that dogs dream. Many of us have observed our Schnauzers behaving much like a human during naps and nighttime sleep. She may twitch, quiver, or might even snap or growl at some sleep-created specter, giving us the impression that she is dreaming about something.
A dog’s brain is quite similar to that of humans at the structural level. Again, during sleep, the wave patterns a dog’s brain is similar to that of a human being and it goes through similar stages of electrical activities observed in human beings, all of which are incredibly consistent with the belief that dogs are dreaming.
If dogs did not dream, then this observation would be a greater surprise because recent studies suggest that animals believed to be far less intelligent than dogs appear to dream. Kenway Louie and Matthew Wilson of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have great evidence that shows that the brain of a sleeping rat is functioning in a way that strongly suggests dreaming.
Wilson is extremely confident in the findings and believes that the research will even benefit humans, with possible implications for understanding Alzheimer’s disease and for improving overall human cognition. He states:
“No one knew for certain that animals dreamed the way we do, which can involve replaying events or at least components of events that occurred while we were awake,” said Matthew Wilson of MIT’s Center for Learning and Memory. “We looked at the firing patterns of a collection of individual cells to determine the content of rats’ dreams. We know that they are in fact dreaming and their dreams are connected to actual experiences.”
Wilson says that this new ability to eavesdrop on the sleeping brain provides a basis for analyzing the content of dream states. It could be a valuable tool in treating memory disorders such as amnesia or Alzheimer’s disease, or it may help devise ways for people to learn and memorize more effectively.
“It has been a century since Freud brought forward the study of the subconscious and the examination of the content of dreams as a tool for understanding the nature of cognition and behavior in humans,” Wilson said. “We now have the means to bring this world of dreams into the study of animal cognition, and by doing so, gain deeper insight into our own.”
MIT News
Much of the dreaming you do during the night is associated with the activities and tasks that you engaged in throughout the day. It appears that your Schnauzer also remembers the events that occurred during her wake state, and seems to be integrating and learning during sleep like we humans do.
Go-To Fact #5: Dogs Like Their Own Space…But They Like Yours, Too
Schnauzers are incredibly social animals. Most of them feel more comfortable and safe being near the family, including at nighttime. In addition, some human beings also enjoy having their dogs near them as they sleep.
Most people have their Schnauzer sleep in a crate, on the floor by the bed, or in a dog bed. Others allow their Schnauzers to sleep with them.
Let’s look at the potential pros and cons of all these sleep options. Keep in mind that some of these come down to personal preference.
Letting Your Schnauzer Sleep in Your Bed with You
Many individuals with dogs allow them to sleep in her bed right next to them, but many people do not think that is a good idea. Let us look at some of the drawbacks and benefits of sharing a bed with your Schnauzer.
Pros
- It helps you feel calmer and more relaxed. Sharing a bed with your pet can release oxytocin, a hormone that elevates feelings of love and general well-being.
- It can help you sleep better. Sleeping with your Schnauzer in the same bed can help you relax and even sleep better.
- It can make you feel safer. Sleeping with your Schnauzer can make you feel safer since you can trust your Schnauzer to watch over you and alert you in case of any strange noises.
- It can help your Schnauzer bond better with her new family and to feel more secure. Rescue Schnauzers from questionable backgrounds may bond more easily with her new family when allowed to sleep with them.
Cons
- It can aggravate allergic reactions. Sleeping with your Schnauzer can worsen asthma or other allergies in people susceptible to them. Although a Schnauzers coat is hypoallergenic, she may inadvertently bring allergens in on her paws or coat.
- It will bring more bacteria and dirt into the bed. Enough said.
- It can escalate dominance aggression in dogs with separation anxiety, dominance, aggression, or territorial aggression.
- It may interrupt your sleep. Your Schnauzer can snore and move around, causing disruptions to your sleep.
- It can negatively affect your marital or love life. And, again, enough said.
Having Your Schnauzer Sleep in a Crate
If trained early and well, your Schnauzer can sleep very comfortably in a crate. Providing a crate, as well as teaching your puppy to utilize it when it’s young, will ensure that it is comfortable in it for the rest of her life at various times.
Crate training is widely used for potty training, anxiety reduction, and it capitalizes on a dog’s genetic inclination for denning, which is the desire to retreat to a safe, quiet place.
Pros
- There is less intrusion into your individual space. Your Schnauzer will most likely want to cuddle up right next to you, making it hard to move around. Some people might even feel claustrophobic. And, let’s be honest, we all need a break from our pet friends now and then.
- Crating your canine can assist you in potty training her. Crate training can be controversial in some circles, and everyone is entitled to their own training preferences and strategies. Far from being punitive, correct crating can be an excellent retreat and safe, quiet place for your Schnauzer. Dogs will generally keep their crate clean and, thanks to instincts, prefer not to defecate in their own space.
- Crating can give your Schnauzer important boundaries. Boundaries are important in every relationships, including the relationship with your Schnauzer. Crating can give her a personal boundary that no one crosses, and teaches her that humans have boundaries, too. Again, crates should never be used for punishment.
- Traveling with your Schnauzer will be easier. If your Schnauzer has become comfortable in a crate, your travel options are wide open. She will most likely be comfortable riding safely in a car, train, possibly even a plane; and she will be able to adapt to new locations because she’ll have a ready-made den and bed available.
Cons
- It might lead to whining and grumbling. If there is any history of the crate being used as punishment, or if she was not trained to use it as a puppy and you are now implementing it as an adult, she may not want to adapt.
- It might not be safe, especially if the make and the size are wrong. Be sure to purchase a crate that is built with enough quality and strength to be a suitable space. In addition, be sure that the crate is large enough, especially for Giant Schnauzers or for any size of Schnauzer who has joint problems. You will want to ensure that there is enough room for her to change position, if needed.
Having Your Schnauzer Sleep Near You, But in Her Own Bed
Your Schnauzer can also sleep in your room, but in her own bed. There are no end to the types of dog beds available on the market. They can range from simple, but comfortable cushions to actual furniture complete with custom cushions and solid wood frames. You have endless decorative and functional options.
Pros
- Your Schnauzer is less likely to get stressed, either in response to something startling like thunderstorms or by being alone.
- You will most likely know when they need something without leaving your bedroom to check.
Cons
- It is not a good idea for a dog suffering from separation anxiety disorders because it can escalate the problem. Crate training and sleeping is the best option for these situations.
- It will take training and possibly re-training. When your Schnauzer is sleeping near you, but not with you, she may be tempted to leave her bed and crawl in with you. This is disruptive for you and becomes a training and behavior issue for your Schnauzer.
Knowing a few facts about your Schnauzer’s sleep patterns and sleeping options can take you from understanding a few fun facts, to re-training your Schnauzer to better accommodate you, if needed.
In addition, choosing where your Schnauzer should sleep is entirely up to you. If you decide to let your Schnauzer in your bed, as many pet owners do, ensure that you get a good mattress. Ideally, choose one that is spacious enough for everybody to fit, and provides motion isolation so that you aren’t awakened by any movement.
If you prefer that your Schnauzer sleeps in a dog bed or kennel, make it comfortable for her. Give her a favorite blanket or plush toy to offer some comfort and familiarity. There are many, many dog beds on the market to suit the sleep needs of you and your Schnauzer.
Most of all, do what works for you. Know that, for the most part, Schnauzers are adaptable and intelligent enough to learn new sleeping patterns and locations, if needed.
And finally, from one pet parent to another, discover my all-time favorite resources designed to cover your every Schnauzer need. I’ve done the legwork for you so you can spend more time with the people and fur friends in your life.
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