Sleepyhead?

[jo_]

Curious as to how much your Cairns sleep on the average day?

I've read many places throughout the forum that they tend to slow and calm down around two years of age. Jagger will be two in July. The novelty of having a live-in playmate has worn off. While they still get along wonderfully, she now lets Eddie out of her site. While he runs around the back yard Jagger and can often be found snoozing on the couch. They still have lots of races in the backyard (or around house!), countless wrestling matches a day and they get at least one 45 minute walk a day. But lately she'll spend much of the afternoon sleeping on the couch while Eddie is almost constantly on the move.

Is this just the end of 'puppy energy' and the start of maturity? (and I assume with Cairns maturity is a loose term!?!)

[jo_]

And here is Jagger in action ;-)

[Lynn in TN]

I love those pictures! How cute! I don't know if it is normal or not but Kelly isn't a year old yet and sleeps most of the day! Saturday mornings she doesn't leave her crate until at least 10:30 am. She takes several naps during the day.

[Dempsy's Mom]

Great pics. Demps sleeps in in the mornings sometimes till 11 or so. He snoozes during the day I would bet a couple of hours and then he is ready to play all night, but he goes to bed around 9. He never fights me when I take a nap with him in the afternoon.

[Idaho Cairns]

Our dogs get up with the last human who leaves the bed, go outside to do their jobs, come in and immediately rest until they go out again, usually get an early afternoon walk, sleep, play in the evening and back to bed. Not too tough a schedule. My Cairns sleep a lot but certainly no more than any other dog I have owned.

[remltr]

Sassy, who is seven years old, is up whenever I'm up, period!!! She is not missing a chance to go somewhere, whether it is a walk or a ride in the car.

Monday through Friday during the day she sleeps and I work, averages 10 hours. Saturday and Sunday I can't take a nap without little black orbs staring bullets at me for wasting dayight.

Looks like everybody has a different type of lifestyle.

[Laura Schoenheider]

Miley sleeps most of the day, bugs the crap out of my dad on Mondays and Wednesdays when i have class, then i give her walks and tug of war sessions, till she poops out at 9 at night

[utgaard]

Loki, almost five years old, is perfectly happy to sleep the morning away as long as I am willing to sit still and provide a lap for him to use. The odd thing is that matter how long a walk we've done in the morning or early afternoon, right around 4pm both the dogs need my complete attention. Sometimes it is wrestling, fetch (ha!), toys, or belly rubs. I've tried walking them instead, but they still want a few minutes of personal attention when we get back.

[Dempsy's Mom]

You have that one pic of them napping together - so precious - it looks like their on a box by the window.? How do they get up there? I saw that our new member, Ellie, had a nice spot by the window too - but how do they get up there?

[pindrop]

Layla (16 months) is definitely a napper. She is usually up when I get up in the morning and after her first outing will curl up on the back of the couch and watch for squirrels or nap. By 11:00 AM if I haven't started to make tracks to take her for her morning one hour walk, she starts to talk "is it time yet?" Afternoons she will spend sitting on a chest that is window height and faces the back forest so she can keep her eye on the turkeys, deer/squirrels that roam that area. Bedtime is usually @ 8:00 PM ish. She will wander down the hall towards the bedrooms - glance back to see if we are paying attention - then hops in her crate and is off to never never land. One thing that both hubby and I are grateful for, as we are both now retired, is that Layla is not an energetic dog that requires tons of stimulation - she is very good being on her own to amuse herself and doesn't rely on us although we have play time every day usually between 4:00 and 6:30 PM and brushing time between 7:00 and 7:30 pm which she absolutely loves.

[Zekey's Mom]

Love the 'action" photos! Zekey also has a great spot by the window, on top of a table. I obliged and put a nice comfy cushion there. He hops up on an ottoman, then to the big stuffed chair, and then climbs onto the table. He spends SO much time looking out that window, scolding the squirrels who had the nerve to build a nest in a nearby tree. Gavin, though, hasn't quite figured out that he could get up there if he wanted to.

As far as amount of sleep, that was surprising to me, being a long-time cat owner, I guess I thought that dogs were more active. But I read that they get the same amount of sleep -- around 18 hours a day!!!

[jo_]

You have that one pic of them napping together - so precious - it looks like their on a box by the window.? How do they get up there? I saw that our new member, Ellie, had a nice spot by the window too - but how do they get up there?

We have a huge window in our living room and it's only 17" from the floor. I bought an ottoman specifically for the dogs. It's leather though and wasn't holding up well with the claws so I keep it covered with a blanket. It's without a doubt their most favourite spot in the house.

Sounds like Jagger's normal. It's just such a change from how she was a few months ago...guess she's just losing a bit of the puppy energy.

[Hawkeye]

Bailey and Radar are full of energy when we first get up, especially Radar who would love to play fetch first thing. But in no time at all they have found a place to settle for their morning nap and then we don't hear from them until one of us starts moving around. Hubby works out of the house and they have gotten into a nice routine where they sleep until he starts his lunch and then they will quiet down until 4ish then it's dinner and walks. Then they are active for the evening until their bedtime which is around 9. If we are active, they are active...they never miss an opportunity.

[Liz in PA]

Hogan isn't good at entertaining himself., he'll happily sleep all day if nothing is happening. If we go out for an 8-mile hike, he's even happier! I really apprecite his "flexability"!

[Sam I Am]

Jock the same.... unless there is something exciting happening a sleep is always welcomed.

[Idaho Cairns]

Interesting how consistent all the routines are with our Cairns. Ours seem to be on the same schedule as the other posters' dogs and maybe that is a constant with all dogs but I'm not sure about all breeds. It is nice to have a dog that is both laid back enough and at the same time, rugged enough to be good lively companions for we humans. I have sort of a picture essay to give you all an idea of our typical (and sometimes atypical) day. I'll bet you see something quite familiar here--fact is, looking at your pictures, I know you will.

https://picasaweb.google.com/bigchucksr2/OurDay?authkey=Gv1sRgCOLG6oC2wPaXmAE

[Dempsy's Mom]

You have provided Sammi and Bonnie with a great life. Those two are inseparable as you are to them. Great pics as always. Thanks.

Where was the doggie pool? So fun.

[Idaho Cairns]

Actually Lori the pool is a large State owned facility at Lava Hot Springs here in Idaho. There is a national movement afoot, Dogapoolooza, to open these public pools, municipal pools at various times (in the case of Lava at the end of the swim season, the weekend after the pool had closed for the year) for dog owners--it is a fund raising idea for local rescue organizations, shelters, etc.

I cannot tell you how much fun this 1st annual one was here. The organizers were expecting about 30 dogs and over a 100 showed. The dogs were amazing, all kinds and sizes running around, in and out of the water, swimming back and forth. It took about ten minutes to get our girls acquainted with the clear water, which seemed to scare them at first, and then it was KATY BAR THE DOOR! We couldn't get them out, particularly Sammi who went over to another side of the pool and just struck out on her own, swimming away just like a kid would--without all those parental instructions and prohibitions. As usual, Bonnie stuck close to us--but constantly in the water.

I'll bet there are a bunch more dogs coming this year--it was great. Look for one in your neighborhood and take Demps--that boy would be smiling for a week!

[jo_]

Great photos Idaho. I've often thought of photographing a 'Day in the Life..." but haven't got around to it. Jagger's schedule sounds so similar to the others here.

We too attended a similar event last year called the 'Pooch Plunge'. But unlike you, we won't be returning this year. There were so many dogs it was complete chaos. Most were large breeds that were only interested in playing with their owners. Of course Jagger had other ideas. She raced around the pool deck and in and out of the water desperately trying to find someone to play with her. And of course, when her speed didn't get anyone's attention she started barking in other's faces. I've never received so many dirty looks. We thought it was quite comical but the other dog owners did not. There were several large dogs that were not well socialized and a couple of dog fights almost broke out. For some reason Jagger likes to referee these affairs - guess she was a born peace maker. The worst thing was the amount of feces in the pool. Everyone was given strict instructions to stay close to their dogs and pick up after them immediately and they even provided bags. I was both shocked and disgusted at how many owners were not paying any attention to their dogs or neglected to pick up after them. We left early and all had baths/showers the second we got home. It's such a great idea, I wish our was attended by more responsible owners.

On a positive note we do have any annual Pawlooza which is a fantastic 100% charity-driven event. Last year over 15,000 people and 4,000 dogs attended - there's agility courses, offleash fun zones, trick shows, pet psychics, tons of demonstrations and vendors. It's such a great event I can't wait to take both Eddie and Jagger this year. Anyone within driving distance to London, Ontario, Canada should consider coming!

Thanks again for sharing the photos - you have two beautiful girls!

[jlr79]

I love the pictures! Thanks for sharing a typical day! They are beautiful girls!!!

[kjwarnold]

For some reason Jagger likes to referee these affairs - guess she was a born peace maker.

Kirby is eactly the same way. If a couple of dogs get into it at the dog park, he races over to tell them off and referee. I keep telling him it's none of his business, but he's always sticking his wet little nose into everyone's business!

[Lynn in TN]

Well I am glad to know that Kelly's sleep patterns are normal. I love all the sleeping and resting pictures. I'll have to take some of Kelly.

[Zekey's Mom]

My sleepyheads...