I was flabbergasted when I saw my new pet Yorkie sleeping frequently. I had a notion that Yorkies make the most energetic pets. But, I couldn’t come to terms with his behavior of taking a lot of naps, even after a long night of sleep.
So, just like me, if you have recently got a Yorkshire, then you must probably be wondering about their sleeping habits and searching for the answer to How Long Do Yorkies Sleep?
You have come to the right place. With all our research, we will discuss in detail the sleeping habits of a Yorkshire Terrier so that you can understand its sleeping requirements and help them sleep better.
How Long Do Yorkies Sleep?
A Yorkie’s sleep time depends largely on their age. A Yorkie pup sleeps a lot more than an adult Yorkie. As the Yorkie puppy grows older, it gradually starts napping a little less from 16-22 hours to 13-18 hours.
How Long Do Yorkie Puppies Sleep?
A Yorkie puppy sleeps for about 16-22 hours every day that includes the long sleep at night and the short naps during the day. But when it is awake, it tends to be very energetic.
Your pet Yorkshire Terrier will mostly adapt to your habits but the sleeping habits will depend on the environment that he lived in initially.
Expect your pet’s nap to lasts from about 10 minutes to an hour. You will notice that with time, your Yorkie will nap a little less than usual. A pup may take a little time to adjust to staying awake in the daytime more and then having a good night’s puppy sleep.
Being a Yorkie owner, you should be patient with your pet as he might wake up from his nap anytime and want to play. Yorkies tend to take full advantage of the time that they are awake and spend it playing with their owners or nibbling on their chew toys.
So, if you are a Yorkie dog owner, you should also take advantage of this time and spend some quality time with your Yorkie. Taking your Yorkie out for a walk or a quick run is a great bonding exercise.
How Long Do Adult Yorkies Sleep?
As the terrier gets over a year old, it will start to sleep a bit less every day. An adult Yorkie sleeps for about 13-18 hours including their nap time. Eventually, your Yorkshire Terrier will adapt to your sleeping habits and start sleeping at your bedtime.
Although, your pet will need time to adapt to the longer days.
Since the adult Yorkie is still adapting to the new sleeping patterns, it might want to stay awake at night and play with you.
How Long Do Older Yorkies Sleep?
Yorkies are seen to live for about 13-16 years. An older Yorkie requires more sleep than a puppy and an adult dog. It may need to sleep for 18-20 hours to function properly.
After the age of 10, your Yorkie will become an older dog who needs much attention and care.
The pet owner should observe the sleeping habits of the Yorkie so that they can examine any underlying health conditions that interfere with its sleep. You can even take help from your vet to get information on how to take care of older Yorkies.
Just like any other senior citizen, your Yorkie will need additional care in terms of the right crate and other sleeping conditions.
You can choose an orthopedic bed for extra comfort. If your dog has any joint or muscle pain, this bed will help your dog sleep better. You can check out an amazing orthopedic bed here.
Decoding 7 Sleeping Positions For A Yorkie
Yorkies aren’t very communicative through signs but their sleeping positions can tell a lot about their personality. Their favorite sleeping positions may change depending on changes in their environment or if they are feeling something different.
Take a look at this cute video which demonstrates the various sleeping positions for Yorkies.
Here are 7 sleeping positions of Terriers that say a lot about their personality.
1. Side Sleeping
Side Sleeping is the most common sleeping position among Yorkie puppies. This position is mostly used during nap time but sometimes it is also used for long night’s sleep.
The side sleeping position demonstrates that the puppy is relaxed and comfortable enough to show its tummy. Dogs that sleep in the side sleeping position are carefree and happy all the time.
2. Passed Out
When the Yorkshire Terrier feels overheated, it sleeps in a passed-out position. This helps the dog to cool off since the sweat glands in its paws are exposed to air. Its tummy has the least fur and sleeping on its back is also one of the reasons why this position helps it cool down.
Do not disturb your pet if its paws are wrapped around its chest as it means that the dog does not want to be disturbed.
3. Crazy Legs
The crazy leg position is very similar to the passed-out position. The Yorkie lays on its back with its legs in the air which is why this position is called crazy legs. This position lets the owner know that it is comfortable and feels safe around you.
If your dog sleeps in this position, its personality is laid back and relaxed. They tend to feel vulnerable at times because of their submissive behavior.
4. Superman
This position is named superman because when Yorkies sleep in this position, they look like flying superman. The dog sleeps on its belly while its legs are stretched out.
The superman position makes it easy for the terrier to wake up easily and jump straight into the action. Because of this reason, the Yorkies who sleep in this position tend to be more energetic.
5. Belly Curl
In the belly curl position, the Yorkie tightly curls up its body with its legs wound under its tummy. This position is not good for your Terrier’s sleep quality because the muscles can’t relax in this position. This sleeping position is not recommended for the long term.
If your dog uses this position to sleep, it means that it is a shy dog. You can try spending more time with your pup so that it does not feel shy, at least around you.
6. Back to Back
The back-to-back position is when your Yorkie sleeps back to back with you or any other pet that you have. This shows that your dog trusts you or the pet completely and considers you as a part of its clan.
You can use this position to bond with your puppy.
7. Curly Sue
In the Curly Sue position, the dog hides its paws under its body and its tail is curled. This position is common among wild dogs to stay secure within the pack.
If the Yorkie sleeps in this position it means that they are worried about something like meeting someone new or they are just cold.
6 Reasons Why Your Yorkie Is Unable To Sleep Properly
1. Change in Day to Day Routine
Yorkies are used to doing activities on a fixed schedule, even sleeping. So, if there is any change in your Yorkie’s daily routine, then it might have trouble sleeping.
Less attention from you because of a change in your work schedule may interfere with your Yorkie’s sleep.
2. Aging Process
The process of aging in a Yorkie is no different than aging in a human. Aging invites a lot of health issues like joint pain, muscle pain, or other illnesses. The pain occurring from such illness is unbearable which may lead to discomfort in sleeping.
Hence, it is important to take care of your Yorkie at an older age and tend to his every need. You need to observe changes in its behavior because it might be trying to tell you if it is in some kind of pain.
3. Health Issues
It is common for a Yorkie to develop dementia with growing age that can lead to restlessness in your pet friend.
It generally occurs in the afternoon and evening leading to interrupted sleep at night. Many other health issues may also interfere with the sleeping habits of your Yorkie.
4. Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a psychological symptom that is triggered by separation of any form. In Yorkies, separation anxiety normally triggers by separation from the owner.
It might not be intentional on your end but if your work schedule changes, your Yorkie might feel left out at the time you normally spend with him
The symptoms to look for in your Yorkie for separation anxiety are restlessness, scratching of things, and barking more.
Separation anxiety can also be the consequence of separation from their mother. Aggressive training or some other trauma in the past home can also result in restlessness and interfere with sleeping patterns.
5. Uncomfortable Bedding or Position
Sometimes sleep deprivation can be the result of an uncomfortable bed, especially for older Yorkies with joint pains.
If you have an aging Yorkie, try investing in a good orthopedic bed. The pressure created by lying down will be relieved.
6. Digestive Issues
Digestive distress can cause gastric problems in your Yorkie and lead to bloating. This can make him restless and causes more barking than usual.
You must take care in what dog food you buy considering the health conditions of your Yorkie.
Confused about which dog food to purchase? Take a look at our best Yorkie food picks here.
5 Tips To Make Your Yorkie Sleep Through The Night
1. Have a Fixed Routine
Your pet Yorkie needs to have a fixed routine to tire him out and get a restful night’s sleep.
For convenience, you can tweak his feeding and bathroom schedule to match yours so that you don’t have to put extra effort into taking care of his needs.
2. Use Calming Supplements With Vet’s Consultation
Calming supplements must only be taken with a vet’s consultation. If your Yorkie suffers from anxiety or restlessness, then you can try giving him calming supplements half an hour before bedtime.
You can have a look at this amazing calming supplement here.
3. Fix a Playtime
Just like having a fixed routine for feeding and bathroom is important, having a fixed playtime is just as essential. This way your dear Yorkie can release the pent-up energy and tire itself out before bedtime.
4. Setup Comfortable Bedding
Every bed isn’t suitable for every dog, for example, memory foam beds are good for arthritic dogs. Just replace your Yorkie’s bedding with a comfortable bed for a good night’s sleep.
If you still have a problem putting your dog down for sleeping, then place a ticking clock in its blanket. The ticking will make them think that they are with their mother because it feels like heartbeats.
You can check out this ticking clock that we love here.
5. Give Your Attention
This is probably the best way to put your four-legged friend to sleep. They often crave companionship and a little affection from you can do wonders.
Love and care are a must for any pet. Spend quality time with your Yorkie and give him your full attention.
This video might help your Yorkie to sleep better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gRdesOZATk
Can Yorkies Sleep in Your Bed?
There is no problem if your Yorkie wants to sleep in the same bed as you if you do not mind waking up to a dog’s wagging tail in your face.
Most Yorkies are well trained which is why they won’t cause any trouble while sleeping with you. In fact, sleeping together may deepen your bond with your dog.
However, if you suffer from asthma or have any other health issues, you must refrain from sleeping with your dog. Your Yorkie may unknowingly pick up some dirt or fleas which can interfere with your well-being.
It is your choice at the end, whether you want to let your dog sleep in bed with you or not.
Conclusion
We have tried to answer all the questions regarding How Long Do Yorkies Sleep. It is not difficult to train them and adapt them to your sleeping schedule. However, the amount of time required for sleep varies with growing age.
The average sleep that a Yorkie needs is between 13-22 hours including daytime naps. Give them time to adapt to the new sleeping patterns.
