Need a pick me up? Start here.
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Sleeping puppies. Does it get any cuter than that? (That's a rhetorical question.) No matter how bad your day is, looking at photos of sleeping puppies is sure to make you smile.
Let sleeping dogs lie
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You know the old saying, "Let sleeping dogs lie"? Ever wonder who said it first? More importantly, ever wonder what breed of dog that person had in mind? Well, we have answers. In 1380, the author and poet, Geoffrey Chaucer first put the notion on paper in Troilus and Criseyde. His precise words were, "It is nought good a slepyng hound to wake." Apparently, Chaucer understood just how mischievous a hound such as this baby basset can be. Find out the secrets your dog's favorite sleeping position reveals.
Dogs get smarter while they sleep
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Dogs, like humans, grow while sleeping. "For the first two weeks of life, puppies sleep nearly 90 percent of the time, spending their awake time nursing. All their energy is funneled into growing, and birth weight doubles the first week," note the dog experts at FIsh4Dogs. And clearly this newborn Great Dane has a lot of growing to do.
Beauty rest?
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In addition to growing, sleeping puppies are doing lots of other things. For example, Live Science tells us that puppies and dogs alike are using their time asleep to process what they're learning about their world. And, of course, in some cases, they are also catching up on their beauty sleep, like this diva of a dachshund, who the camera caught mid-spa-day with cucumbers over her eyes to both keep the light out and to reduce inflammation (no one wants puffy eyes, not even a dachshund, apparently).
It's very important to establish a set sleeping space
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According to dog expert, Caesar Millan, it's important to establish a sleep space for a new puppy and for training purposes it's best if it is a kennel or crate lined with newspaper with an elevated area (which could be a pillow) so he won't be sleeping in his own waste. Apparently these golden retriever pups didn't get the memo, however. They seem perfectly content cuddled up against one another in a hay-lined cardboard box.
Why do dogs sleep more than humans?
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"If you have a dog, take a guess: What's he doing right now? Chances are, the answer is sleeping! Scientists and pet experts aren't sure why dogs doze so much, but it's typically how they spend at least half of their day,"
according to Sleep.org. Humans, on the other hand, sleep about a third of their day. The reason may be that humans spend as much as 25 percent of their sleep time in the most restorative state of sleep) whereas dogs spend only 10 percent, with the result being they need more sleep in order to feel rested.
Hey, what's with the snoring?
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You know that feeling when you're sleeping partner is the only one sleeping because... zzzzzzzz? Well, it happens to dogs too. And many dog owners will attest to that. So why might this little guy be keeping his buddy awake with is snoring? Reasons include allergies, common cold, or second-hand smoke. While there are also some less benign possibilities (such as airway obstruction), your puppy's snoring is probably benign. But when in doubt, always check with your veterinarian.
Should you let your dog sleep with you?
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One question that comes up a lot for veterinarians and other dog experts is whether you should allow your dog to sleep in your bed with you. According to the
AKC, a little less than half of all pet owners allow their dogs to take up part of the bed, and this is a phenomenon that goes back to ancient cultures. While there are drawbacks, including sleep disruption for both you and your pup, the best choice is the one that makes you (and your canine companion) the most comfortable.
Should you let your dog sleep with your baby?
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The sight of this Cavalier King Charles spaniel puppy, spooning with his human baby sibling, is ridiculously cute. But is it a good idea to allow your baby and your dog to share the same sleeping space? We'll leave that up to the pediatricians and vets out there.
Is yawning contagious for dogs?
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No one knows why we yawn, according to Live Science. Some say it increases oxygen flow. Others say it has to do with controlling brain temperature. Some claim that stretching the mouth muscles has the effect of helping us stay alert. But one thing that is not a mystery about yawning is you're more likely to yawn when someone you love, as opposed to a stranger, does so. And the same is true with dogs: a dog that is more connected with his owner is more likely to yawn when his owner does.
The truth about cats and dogs
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Contrary to popular belief, a dog and a cat can become each other's best friend, notes HillsPet. Case in point, this young Golden retriever and his sleepy feline friend. That being said, some fundamental truths about cats versus dogs can make an interspecies friendship challenging. For example, as a species, cats prefer to hang back and assess social interactions, as opposed to joining the fray. Dogs, on the other hand, tend to investigate new situations by delving right into those situations.
Big things, small packages
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Don't be fooled by how tiny this sleeping puppy might look here. In about a year's time, this little guy will weigh as much as 150 pounds! He's a Dogue de Bordeaux, also referred to as French mastiffs, one of the biggest dogs on the planet when full-grown. It also has the largest head of any canine, according to the
American Kennel Club (AKC). Active and energetic (though you wouldn't know it from this photo), this breed will work hard, doing everything from shepherding flocks to pulling carts.
Smallest dog breed
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On the other side of the size spectrum, we have the Chihuahua, which is the smallest dog breed. Sure, you may have seen the occasional teacup-sized Yorkshire Terrier, but the Chihuahua doesn't have to be sized down through breeding. It's simply small as a rule. Most Chihuahuas grow to be no more five inches and six pounds. No wonder this national symbol of Mexico is synonymous with "purse puppies."
In the palm of your hand
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As far as puppies go, they don't get much more freshly baked than this precious one, who fits into the palm of a human hand. The AKC has lots of advice on best practices for raising newborn puppies, and PetMD offers 12 fascinating facts about newborn pups, including that they need their mamas to help stimulate them to eliminate waste (i.e., to poop).
But where are the other 92?
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Just like the pups in the movie 101 Dalmatians, these little cuties (and all Dalmatians) are born without their spots.
