Chihuahua Sleep Habits

Therefore, from week 3 to week 7, a Chihuahua puppy will incrementally stay awake for longer periods of time.

Puppies - Chihuahua puppies sleep a lot and when they are awake they are often very active and even hyper. It's like 2 sides of a coin; the puppy will snooze so much that owners wonder if the Chi is sleeping too much but then when he wakes up, he has an enormous amount of energy.

From 2 to 6 months old, a Chihuahua puppy may sleep up to 18 hours. From 6 months to the 1 year mark, an hour or two may be slowly deducted from that. The sleeping habits of a Chihuahua puppy will be scattered. He may nod off in the middle of play as he pushes himself to stay awake and enjoy what he is doing until his body simply gives out and he passes out.

The goal for owners, of course, is to try and make the majority of that sleep occur at night when owners wish to be in bed undisturbed and we will go into that ahead.

Adults - Toy breed dogs such as the Chihuahua that are adults at the age of 1 will sleep roughly 12 to 15 hours. This includes both during the night and naps taken during the daytime. Each dog will vary on how many naps he takes and for how long.

By the 1 year mark, most have learned to snooze the night away and have more control on when they take naps. The young adult Chi is used to his schedule now and knows when to expect walks, feedings, play time and grooming. He can nap in-between those events and usually settles down at night without much prompting.

Dogs left alone for a good portion of the day may nap simply due to boredom while those that are engaged with interaction and activities may stay alert for much longer periods of time.

This can actually cause sleep deprivation for many new owners and it can be quite wearing. It can cause fatigue, affect cognitive functioning and produce headaches. It also may cause irritability and lower stress tolerance which can make caring for the pup more difficult.

1) Have a proper, designated sleeping area. While you may envision your dog cuddling in your bed, that can come later (if you choose) after he is completely house trained. 

It will be important to keep the puppy safe in an enclosed area but not isolated or feeling too confined. Never use a small crate; this can make a pup very stressed out and often leads to more nighttime barking and other issues.

A small gated off area that includes a comfortable dog bed works best. It should be located in a quiet area of the house. It is recommended to not have it in your own bedroom; if so the puppy may not sleep simply because he senses that you are so close and to him, you should be interacting and playing no matter what time it is.

The area should be close enough to you that you can hear any whines, cries and barks in case there is indeed a bathroom need.

2) Signal that night time has arrived. About one hour before you want your dog to settle down, go outside one 'last' time and then stop any and all exercise or activity. Lower the lights and lower the volume on the television. While you don't need to resort to whispering, keeping voices calm and quiet can help to give an overall sense of a peaceful, calmer environment.

3) Leave a few favorite toys and a strong, durable chew. There will be times during the night that the puppy wakes up and once you train him to fall back asleep, he may wish to quietly play by himself in his area before he is ready to settle back in.

4) Learn when to respond and when to ignore the puppy. This is always a bit tricky; however there are some ways to approach this. If there is any belief at all that a Chihuahua puppy is not sleeping due to a bathroom need, this should be attended to. 

You'll want to keep lights very low (use a flash light if possible) and keep talking to a minimum. 

If the pup just urinated and eliminated and is only staying up to gain attention, he must be allowed to self-sooth himself back to sleep. Owners who rush over every time there is a yelp or a whimper will actually train a puppy to call out all night long. This can set up a foundation of terrible habits that is not easily reversed.

Overview - This is a condition in which breathing patterns disrupt one's sleep. It is common with both people and their pets. This most often affects brachycephalic breeds (those with flat faces) such as the Pug when air passages become swollen and narrow. However, a Chihuahua may have stenotic nares (pinched nostrils) or elongated palate that does cause breathing problems particularly when the dog is in a prone position.

Signs and Symptoms - If you notice that your Chihuahua chokes or makes gasping noises while sleeping, has loud ongoing snoring issues and/or appears to have interrupted breathing you will want to bring this to the attention of the veterinarian.

Treatment - Depending on the exact cause, medications may be given that include antihistamines and/or anti-inflammatory medicine. With stenotic nares or elongated palate, minor surgery may be warranted.

A:  When a Chi is a puppy there are a few cons.  One will be keeping the pup safe from not falling off the bed or getting rolled over by accident.  We understand the urge to cuddle, but it's really in the best interest of the puppy to have his own spot where he is safe.  

One pro may be that you may be quickly awakened if there is a bathroom need and perhaps an owner may feel that allowing a Chihuahua to sleep in his bed will prevent barking at night.  While that is true, you also have to consider that dogs do best - in the long run - if they learn to self soothe and have some independence.  This will really be needed if the pup is going to be home by himself during the day while owners are at work.  

Once the pup matures and can handle being alone, a move to your bed is alright as long as you do take in the pros and cons you asked about. 

For Chi of all ages, you want to think about the long term consequences of letting a Chihuahua share your bed.  

Here's a few things to consider:

1) Once he sleeps there, that area is claimed for life. It's very hard to reverse this decision and go from your bed back to his own separate area. 

2) A dog may move around a lot at night and/or snore, which can lead to restless sleep for the owner.

3) While it won't be severe, there may be some issues with shedding that leads to dog hairs all over your blankets and bedding.  This especially holds true during the twice a year shedding season.  

4) Older, senior dogs really need the support of a quality canine orthopedic bed.