If you have recently gotten yourself a Yorkshire Terrier, you must be wondering – why is my adorable and energetic little pup sleeping so much! Despite its small size, Yorkies require a great deal of beauty sleep.
So what are Yorkies’ sleeping habits? And how long do they sleep? According to pet experts, an adult Yorkie sleeps around 13 to 18 hours a day, while a Yorkshire puppy sleeps between 16 and 22 hours. Also, these adorable breeds also tend to take many short naps during the daytime.
When they are not sleeping, do expect them to be hyper-energetic, though! Here’s a guide on understanding a Yorkie’s sleeping habits, along with some tips on how to help them to sleep better.
Separation Anxiety – The Greatest Disturbance To Yorkie’s Sleeping Habits
Separation anxiety is a group of psychological symptoms that your Yorkie may exhibit. They are more often than not triggered by any form of separation from you as the owner or handler. It could be that you left for work all day, or you just went into the kitchen to grab a snack and left them in their crate.
Separation anxiety in dogs is a subconscious response. It is a common consequence of early separation from their mother or their sibling. It could also be a result of psychological trauma due to aggressive training or previous history in unfriendly homes.
More often than not, separation presents with active symptoms. Though Yorkies are typically very active and lively, the symptoms are very distinct from normal behavior. The dog becomes restless and may pace or scratch obsessively at objects. They may also bark more than usual which is saying a lot for the yappy little breed.
However, some of the signs may not be easy to pick out as abnormal. These include changes in bowel habits and most notable, sleep disturbance. With the latter, the anxiety prevents the dog from either falling asleep or staying asleep. This is because the little furball is scared if they sleep you will leave. There is probably nothing more heartbreaking really.
This, in turn, leads to other subtle symptoms like lethargy, reduced appetite, and overall failure to thrive. It is, therefore, a serious problem that should be addressed promptly for the overall wellbeing of your beloved dog.
Where Do Yorkies Like To Sleep?
The only thing Yorkies enjoy more than playing and eating is sleeping. In fact, they sleep between 13 and 18 hours every single day. All they need is a full belly, a peaceful mind, and a comfortable spot. Speaking of comfy spots, here are five popular locations you may find your furry little bestie curled up and knocked out.
- Warm corners.
- Under low-lying furniture.
- Under covers of your bed.
- Snuggled on top of, under or next to their owners.
- Snuggled up against other pets.
- On their favorite cushion, couch, or blanket.
Why does my Yorkie sleep so close to me? Why do I find them snuggled up in the weirdest of places? All these nap spots have in common because they are warm cozy, and they create a feeling of protection from the big bad world.
So the next time you find your Yorkie sleeping under covers, or you find yourself asking, “why does my Yorkie sleep between my legs?” you understand what is going on in their heads.
So, does your Yorkie sleep with you? If the answer is yes, then you are probably your Yorkie’s favorite person on the planet. These dogs are very needy and affectionate, so granting them this privilege is a real treat.
On the other hand, if you are not comfortable with having the doggy in your bed, there are ways to make sure everyone is happy. Just get them a nice and cozy dog bed of their own. You could also get a thick doggy blanket or a dog bed with raised edges, so they have something solid and body-like to lean against as they sleep.
Why Does My Yorkie Cry At Night? – Going Beyond Yorkie Separation Anxiety
Your dog has been keeping you up for the last several nights. They are either constantly howling, barking, or high pitch whining.
At first, it wasn’t very pleasant. But now it is starting to get you worried, and you want to get to the root of things and get your best buddy in good spirits again. This involves identifying the cause of the nighttime wail-fest and solving the problem.
So why do Yorkies cry a lot? Here are five possible culprits:
#1: Separation Anxiety
This is easily the leading reason for your Yorkie crying at night. No matter if it is a teacup Yorkie, Parti Yorkie, or a Biewer Yorkie, they share this same character.
It happens mainly in setups where the little buddy does not get to sleep in the same bed or at the very least the same room as their beloved human friends.
#2: General Anxiety
The difference between this and separation anxiety is the trigger. General anxiety is often set off by things like loud noises. So if you live next to a heavy traffic area or in a generally noisy building, the lack of peace could cause anxiety that in turn leads to all the crying.
#3: Potty Time
Yorkies have notoriously small bladders.
The crying could therefore be their way of requesting to be taken out for a potty break. You could solve this by house training your Yorkies to hold it until morning. Or you could invest in indoor potty pads.
#4: Bored And In Need Of Attention
This is not very common with the sleep-loving Yorkies. However, they also have a reputation for being very emotionally needy and for being attention-seekers. So if they are howling and crying all night, they are probably bored and want to play.
#5: Pain And Discomfort From Health Problems
This is often seen with Yorkie-related health issues like cancers and trauma or skin problems like atopic dermatitis and skin bumps. The pain may be so unbearable that it keeps your precious pooch up at night. The crying is also often distinct and takes the form of pitchy whining or howling as opposed to insistent barking.
How Do You Calm Down A Yorkie?
With their personality, Yorkies have a natural predisposition to different forms of anxiety. This happens whether they were separated from their litter early or not. Fortunately, there is a lot that you, as their new mom or dad, can do to help keep them calm. Here are five foolproof hacks that will work whatever the root of the problem is.
Try Calming Supplements
These supplements help reduce anxiety by tackling the problem at a neurochemical level. Some of the most common solutions here include melatonin, hemp extracts, and essential oils like lavender.
You could get them as topical blends, in which case My Peaceful Paws Calming Blend Essential Oil is a wonderful pick for Yorkies. The blend includes powerful essential oils like mandarin, sweet marjoram, petitgrain, neroli, and spikenard.
- MY PEACEFUL PAWS IS AN ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND SUPPORTING YOUR DOG IN FEELING CALM. The blend can bring relief from...
- TOPICAL APPLICATION. Introduce the blend the first couple of times when your dog is already calm and relaxed. That way,...
- NATURAL CALMING AID. For the best results, start by introducing the blend the right way (See above). If used for vet...
You could also get the supplements in the form of edibles, as is the case with GOODGROWLIES Calming Hemp Treats. The grain-free treats also contain chamomile, passion flower, and valerian root extracts.
- Natural and Effective Calming Support - Our soft chews are formulated with effective ingredients like valerian and...
- One Treat for All Breeds and Sizes - where your pet is a Shih Tzu or a 90lbs labrador, our hemp calming treats will work...
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Let Them Play
You could calm them down by converting their nervous energy into fun playtime. Here, your choice of activity and the selection of toys is crucial. With the latter, consider getting the Jalousie 12 Pack Dog Toys. The small and plush toys are ideal for small dogs like Yorkies, and in addition to calming effects they have positive dental results.
- SUPER VALUE &GREAT FUN: Includes 12 Most Popular Dog Squeaky Plush Toys for Small, Medium Breeds.
- FUN TIMES: Provide hours of fun. Cute Plush toys each has a squeaker.
- PREMIUM QUALITY: No glue in production process. Only sewing.
Give Them Your Time And Attention
Yorkies crave attention, and lack of it could trigger anxiety attacks. So just give them what they want. Let them snuggle up next to you on the couch. Get them a crate to sleep in the same room with you. These little steps make all the difference.
Create A Safe Space For Them
This should be a clean and quiet space for them to go to when they feel the need to psychologically decompress. Invest in fun things like comfortable dog furniture and blankets as well as fun toys to keep them occupied when they go there. It doesn’t even have to be a whole room. A corner in the house or a cushion on the couch might just be all they need.
Wait It Out
Anxiety tends to reduce naturally with age for most Yorkies. For most forms of anxiety, a Yorkie would tend to calm down near the end of its puppy age. This is usually around 12 to 18 months of age.
How Do I Get My Yorkie To Sleep Through The Night?
Yorkies love to sleep, and when comfortable, they get a lot of snooze hours down in their day. However, it is not always as easy as expecting them to go when they are tired. In fact, it is a common problem to have Yorkies fail to fall asleep or keep waking up, especially at night.
So if you are wondering how to put a Yorkie to sleep and keep them that way all night, here are a few suggestions:
Establish A Night Time Routine And Stick To It
Yorkies like to live life free and wild. However, they are easy to train and tend to stay disciplined when it comes to routines. So if you want your dog to go to sleep at a decent hour, just train them. With this hack, it is always easiest to synch their sleeping routine to yours.
Invest In A Comfortable Dog Bed
Yorkshire terriers are very fussy when it comes to where they sleep. It has to be comfortable and warm and feel as close to a nice snuggle as possible. That is what the MePet Premium Memory Foam Dog Bed promises exactly. The memory foam orthopedic bed features a plush cover and waterproof lining that are ideal for these little dogs.
Wear Them Out With Fun
One of the best ways to get your Yorkie to sleep is to get them super tired. A nice trick is to have your playtime in the afternoon or early evening so they are tuckered out and ready for bed when night comes.
Have A Potty Break Before Bed
It could be the small bladder that is keeping your doggy awake at night. A wonderful solution here would be scheduling a potty break before bed. This will help them hold it for longer so they can have better quality and quantity of sleep.
Try Sleeping Supplements
When all else fails, you could try sleeping supplements. Melatonin works the best here. Just consult your vet, and they will let you know what works best for your doggy. Based on their age and specific health status.
Related Questions
Yorkies More Often Than Not Sleep On Their Side And In A Curled Up Position. These doggies love a good cuddle and will get one even if it means cuddling the bed or cushions in which case this is the best position. However, there are some that sleep on their back and tummy. This behavior is not very common and usually occurs when they feel less anxious and less needy.
How Many Hours Does A Yorkie Sleep? Yorkies sleep between 13 hours and 18 hours a day. The number of hours per day decreases as they get older and more active as they spend more of their time up and exploring. Of these 13 to 18 hours, about 8 to 10 are continuous nighttime sleep while the rest are on and off naps throughout the day.
Are Yorkies Cold At Night? Newborn Yorkies tend to get cold at night. This is as a result of their small bodies, less fur cover, and general slowing down of metabolism that happens in sleep. As they grow older, stronger, and hairier, they conserve heat better. However, their small size means they may need some extra help keeping warm, so you might want to invest in a doggy blanket.
