Ok, so let’s talk about sleep.  I read somewhere that cats sleep about 18 hours a day and I can absolutely attest to that.  But dogs?  Is there an average amount of sleep that they need?  I know that I have trained my dogs to sleep based on my work and life cycle.  They go to bed at 9:15 PM (21:15) (arbitrary choice but it is the same thing I used to do with the kids when they were little) and get up with me at 5:50 AM (no choice, I have to get going).  My dogs are in closed kennels at night (please don’t tell Louise that her door is closed but not locked. she likes the safety of it all) so that they don’t eat some cat during the night, or more so, something that they shouldn’t that could hurt them, Sofie actually goes to her kennel and falls asleep outside the door quite often.  I have to keep the kennel doors closed at all times because some stupid cat (probably Miss Constance Kitty) likes to pee on dog beds, so the dogs can’t just go in them at will.  Sofie does not like going into her kennel but she likes to be next to it.  She actually does not like to go into anything (but that is another story) but will go ‘nite, nite,’ with reluctance.  Louise on the other hand LOVES her kennel and goes right in, lies down, closes her eyes, and goes right to sleep.  I am sure that different animals, just like people, need different amounts of sleep.  I don’t sleep much: I haven’t slept more then 4 hours at a time in about 30 years (OK, don’t go there, I know it is probably not a good things but I am used to it).  I am worried sometimes that my schedule is not the best for the animals.  I do cover the cages so that they dogs can not see me get up, however, I think they are tied to my breathing (I know the cats are) and they can sense when I am awake.  For years, I had older dogs or puppies who would wake me in the middle of the night to pee.  Oh yes, there were children who did that too for many years.  Well, the dogs have finished their breakfast and are now sleeping in my office while I type (nice that they get a nap).  So, how much sleep does an average dog need?  I see an internet search coming on.  Maybe after my second cup of coffee.  Just another DogDaz morning,

Napping on the office bed

Napping with a smile

Napping in the car