It was the fall of 2010 when I brought home my 9 week old Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy. I was beyond excited and ready to begin my journey with my first dog on my own. Many weeks were spent preparing and researching for my Staffy’s arrival, but one thing I didn’t know was how much, how long, and how often my Staffy would sleep.
How much do Staffies sleep? On average Staffies will sleep between 12-14 hours throughout the day. Long periods of sleep at night and several naps throughout the day are typical for Staffies, and dogs in general. This can vary depending on age by a few hours. Puppies and senior dogs will sleep more.
When I first brought my Staffy home I thought something might be wrong with her. She seemed to be sleeping a lot. Little did I know that this was completely natural. Over the course of the first few months and years I picked up on many Staffy sleeping habits. Today I will share them with you. Let’s dig in.
How Much Sleep Does A Staffy Need?
As a whole a Staffy will need roughly 8 hours of sleep overnight, and several naps throughout the day. Generally naps can last between 15 minutes to a couple hours. In total a Staffy will need 12-14 hours as adults, and 14-16 hours as puppies or seniors.
My Staffy will generally sleep for 8-9 hours overnight. She often beats me to bed, and will often hang out there when I get up in the morning. After our morning routine of walks, feeding, some training, and some belly rubs are complete, she will curl up for a solid 2 hour nap.
Throughout the day she will be up and active, then settle in for some short naps. Her sleep schedule revolves mainly around her meals and walk times. When she wakes up from a nap it’s generally to let me know she is ready for dinner, or one of her walks.
Puppy And Senior Dog Sleep Needs
As a puppy my Staffy slept much more. Though she was bursting with energy when she was awake, she would crash for a nap just as hard. In the first few months she would nap for an hour or more every 90 minutes or so. Roughly 16 hours of snoozing throughout the day.
My Staffy is now entering her senior years and is beginning to follow a similar sleep schedule to when she was a puppy. More frequent naps for longer periods of time.
When my Staffy doesn’t get her naps in throughout the day she is extra tired the following day. I noticed this a lot when we visit family. She loves being around my family and my little nieces. They keep her up and active for the duration of our visit, which means skipping one or more naps she would otherwise take.
The next day she has what I call a “fun hangover”. She is very sleepy, has low energy, and catches up on her naps by sleeping longer and deeper.
Do Staffies Like To Sleep?
As a general rule Staffies do like to sleep. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a very active dog overall, but inside they tend to be couch potatoes and enjoy curling up for periodic naps. The Staffy is a work hard, nap hard kind of dog that will always take the opportunity to find a comfy place to rest up.
My Staffy doesn’t just like to sleep, she loves to sleep. Her sleeping habits and routines are actually very adorable. Like clockwork she finds one of her favorite spots after breakfast, after lunch walks, before dinner, after dinner walks, and before bedtime. She makes her bed nice and hunkers down with a deep sigh of relaxation.
Are Staffies Lazy?
As a whole Staffies are not lazy dogs. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a highly energetic breed that needs plenty of exercise. Many people often say that Staffy’s have no off switch when engaged in activities and play time.
That being said, Staffies do enjoy some good down time when properly exercised. As I mentioned above Staffies do love taking naps throughout the day and are quite calm and relaxed in the home. Proper exercise will ensure this quiet inside disposition.
I always say a tired dog is a happy dog. Staffies work hard and nap hard.
Related Article – Do Staffies Need Lots Of Exercise? – 10 Staffy Activities
Can Staffies Sleep Alone?
The discussion around Staffies sleeping alone or in the bed alongside you is a personal preference. Staffies can sleep alone in their own bed in a separate room just fine. Depending on the routine and habits you have established early on a Staffy will have no problem sleeping alone.
I fall into the first category. My Staffy does sleep in my bed with me at night. This is my personal preference, and hers as well. For the first 6 months of her living with me she slept in her crate next to my bed. Once potty training was well established she was invited up to spend the night with me.
There are some occasions where my Staffy will sleep alone. Oftentimes when the room is too hot, or she is just not feeling well she will leave the room and sleep alone in the living room.
Now that we do have the habit of sleeping together however, breaking this routine would be difficult. As a result of my early introduction to this routine, this is now the expectation. You will need to decide for yourself where you want your Staffy to sleep and keep it consistent.
Can My Staffy Sleep Outside?
I have written a full article on this topic and why I think that a Staffy should not sleep outside. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a very people oriented dog that thrives best when inside with family. The Staffy is also sensitive to hot and cold temperatures and sleeping outside can be very uncomfortable.
The Staffy is not an outside, away from the family unit, breed of dog. Staffies need to be around their family members. Behavioral issues and potential health side effects can present themselves if Staffies are isolated to the outside too often for extended periods of time.
Related Article – Can Staffordshire Bull Terriers Live Outside? – The Cold Facts
Why Do Staffies Like Blankets?
As a whole Staffies do like blankets. Like many other terrier breeds of dogs, the Staffy loves to burrow. Blankets provide Staffies with a sense of security, protection, and warmth. It is very common for a Staffy to cover themselves with a blanket and relax for a few hours.
I have several blankets dedicated to my Staffy. She is a huge fan of burrowing under the blankets, especially in the colder months. Staffies are sensitive to cold because of their short coats, and blankets provide some much needed warmth when needed.
Instinctually many breeds of dogs burrow under blankets for security, comfort, and protection. This mimics the ancestral instincts of the den environment where mother’s would often keep and birth her puppies. The blanket for a Staffy is built into their DNA as a natural place to spend relaxed time
What Is The Best Bed For A Staffy?
As a general rule the best bed for a Staffy will have a removable cover, have one or more bolstered sides, and is made with orthopedic foam. Staffies all have different sleeping styles. Some like to curl up, others like to sprawl. Choosing a bed that is the right fit for your Staffy can vary.
There are however a few beds that I would recommend for any Staffy with any sleeping style. These beds are affordable, comfortable, and just the right size for any Staffy.
Furhaven Pet Dog Bed – Orthopedic Ultra
The Furhaven Pet Orthopedic Ultra dog bed is my top choice for dog beds because I have personally used it. Well not me, but my Staffy Ruby has used it. These beds are absolutely amazing.
The classic 3 sided bolstered sofa design gives my dog all the room, and optional head and body rests she needs. The removable cover makes washing a breeze, and the orthopedic foam is super comfortable for my girl’s head, neck and joints.
The Furhaven Orthopedic Ultra comes in more color variations than I can count, and is available in 6 sizes from small to jumbo plus. The price point is incredible, the options are endless, and the sleep my dog gets is priceless.
Features:
- Orthopedic foam
- Removable, machine washable cover
- 3 sided bolstered sofa design
- Top Rated, Bestselling dog bed on Amazon
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Furhaven Pet Dog Bed – Deluxe Orthopedic
The Furhaven Deluxe Orthopedic Dog Bed is one of the most affordable orthopedic beds you’ll find. The comfortable L-Shape bolstered sides allow your dog to find any comfortable sleeping position they want.
The egg crate orthopedic foam helps cushion pressure points, distribute body weight, and improve air circulation. Easy to clean removable cover, ultra soft sleeping material, and available in dozens of styles and colors.
The Furhaven Deluxe Orthopedic Dog Bed is one of the most rated, and top rated beds on the market.
Features:
- Orthopedic egg crate foam
- Removable, machine washable cover
- L-Shape bolstered design
- Top Rated, Bestselling dog bed on Amazon
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K&H Feather Top Orthopedic Dog Bed
K&H doesn’t mess around when it comes to the Feather Top Orthopedic Dog Bed. The 5” medical grade foam provides amazing support and comfort for your dog. Along with the super soft fleece quilted top microsuede stuffed with 1.5” of baffled duck feathers, this bed is COMFY.
The easy to remove cover is machine washable, and the bed comes in both medium and large sizes. Customers rave about this dog bed in the reviews as the best bed they have ever purchased. Check out the K&H Feather Top Orthopedic Dog Bed on Petflow.
Features:
- 5″ Medical grade foam
- Removable, machine washable cover
- Soft Fleece microsuede top with duck feather stuffing
- Top quality, and outstanding reviews
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BarksBar Orthopedic Dog Bed
BarksBar makes one of the most top rated orthopedic dog beds on the market. These ultra soft beds are designed for your dogs comfort. The bolster sides, and superior orthopedic foam base provides the optimal balance of comfort, reduced joint pain and improved health & mobility.
Easy to remove cover for washing, and an elegant design with rubber non slip backing to keep your Pibbles bed clean and in it’s place.
Features:
- Ultra Soft orthopedic foam
- High bolstered sides
- Non-slip rubber backing
- Top rated bestseller on Amazon
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Bully Bed Orthopedic Dog Beds
Bully Beds are the kings among the Pibble bed companies. The Bully Beds brand is dedicated to making the best beds for large Bully breed dogs on the market. They are so confident in their quality they provide an industry leading 20 year warranty.
Bully Beds are designed for every dog, but especially your large dogs, and older dogs. These orthopedic beds have top quality CertiPUR-US Certified Foam free of PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP (“Tris”) flame retardants, mercury, lead, heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates, CFC’s.
The Bully Beds line of products is worth every penny. Durable, easy wash removable covers, top quality materials, and extra comfort. Check out the Bully Beds line over at BullyBeds.com
Features:
- CertiPUR-US Certified Foam
- Huge variety of styles
- Removable, machine washable cover
- 20 year warranty
SHOP BULLY BED
Resources & Reviews – The Best Dog Beds & Dog Blankets
Final Thoughts
I always thought that a Staffy would be such a high energy dog that I would never get peace during the day. This was something I had committed to well before bringing my Staffy home. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Staffies do in fact sleep quite a bit, and fairly often.
Though my Staffy still to this day keeps me on my toes with her energy level, her sleeping habits are very routine and average out around 14 hours a day. My early concerns with her amount of sleep as a puppy were quickly dismissed once I reached out to the breeder and my vet.
Sleep for a Staffy is just as important as sleep for humans. The Staffy loves to go hard when they are awake, and take the rest needed to be ready for the next adventure.