Is it OK for your dog to be ‘dog tired’?

As the old saying goes, a tired dog is a happy dog. This is only the case provided there are no other underlying conditions such as injury or illness.

It is not unusual for a dog to sleep around 10 hours over the course of a day and some will sleep a lot longer than that if there’s nothing more interesting to do. Dogs, just like people, are capable of being over tired along with a reduction in patience so if he’s had a day of intense activity it is best to ‘let sleeping dogs lie’.

Then there is the bored dog. This dog may appear to be relaxed but if you come home to find his bed or the furniture shredded it’s most likely his need for mental or physical stimulation have not been met recently.

The difference between relaxed and lethargic is that a relaxed dog will come when called or for food and play as soon as it is on offer. If a pooch has had a particularly exerting day he still may take some recuperation time over the next day.

However lethargy can be caused by a number of health conditions and if lasting longer than a day without explanation or if combined with other symptoms veterinary advice should be sought.

Leah & Angela O’Meara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)