People get dogs not only as pets but also for protection. However, the dog that is supposed to guard the family and the property may be sleeping soundly. Dogs are not only voracious eaters – these animals are great sleepers as well. Dogs are very energetic but are you aware that these animals can sleep half the day away? The hours spent sleeping would differ from breed to breed but generally, dogs would spend half of their lives sleeping.

What makes dogs sleep so long? There are many factors that influence a dog’s sleeping pattern. The age, the personality as well as the activities would have a significant impact on the length of time spent sleeping. The energy of dogs would be considerably decreased because of old age thus a dog advanced in age would be seen sleeping most of the time. The desire to sleep is innate in dogs but working dogs cannot give in to the desire to have a shut eye because of the work at hand. Dogs have the knack to fall instantly asleep whenever an opportunity is presented so that the sniffing dog will be seen snoozing while the bomb detection squad is still being briefed and the therapy dog will have a shut eye while being transported to the nursing home.

Although dogs would be seen sleeping all the time, the sleep of these animals have many interruptions. Dogs too experience the rapid eye movement and slow wave stages of sleep but unlike human sleep that is generally uninterrupted, dog’s sleep would be constantly interrupted. A sleeping dog will be easily awakened by any unusual sound, movement and scent given the fact that these animals have very sensitive senses.

For lack of anything better to do, idle people would sleep. Dog owners are advised against leaving the pet alone with no toys to play with as the dog can turn into a destructive pet. However, some pet owners are lucky as instead of being destructive, the dog would sleep all day. A dog that sleeps all day would be less active but owners would surely want to have a less playful pet than a destructive one.

The sleeping area has a significant influence on the sleeping habit of the dog. Dogs living outside the home may not be able to sleep longer due to discomfort resulting from a sleeping area that is open to the elements. Pampered dogs on the other hand, are not only allowed to live outside the house. If not allowed to sleep with the master, the dog will have comfortable beds. The comfortable bed will entice the dog to sleep.

Why do dogs sleep so much? This and questions about first aid for dogs are answered at Sarah’s Dogs.

Do you know how dogs mate? Apparently, dogs are not fussy with regards to their breeding locations. In places where dogs are allowed to roam, these animals will be seen mating on the streets, on the beaches and practically anywhere. A bitch in heat emits a distinct smell that is not unlike a red flag that attracts male dogs.

This is the reason why a bitch in heat will be surrounded by male dogs. A bitch that allows her vulva to be sniffed and licked by a male dog is a cue that she is ready to be mated. As soon as a dog is chosen, the lucky candidate will be allowed to mount. The bitch in heat will manifest a flagging behavior or the holding of the tail to one side to show that she is ready to be mated. Unlike male dogs that are always eager to copulate, female dogs are kind of choosy. Females will only accept the attention of male dogs if they are in the estrus stage of the reproductive cycle.

The receptive female will allow to be mounted from behind. The bitch will give the male easy entry by holding the tail to one side. After mounting the bitch the dog’s member will enter the vulva. Canine copulation is different from human’s as a dog’s member does not have to be stiff to be able to penetrate the vulva. A small bone inside the member called baculum makes the member stiff so that penetrating the vulva can be achieved. After the vulva is penetrated, the erectile tissues inside the member will be filled with blood. Due to the swelling of these bulbus glandis tissues the member will be trapped inside the vulva . This is the reason why dogs get stuck together when mating.

The male dog may choose to stay on top of the bitch or twist around so that the dogs will be facing opposite directions. The mating tie is one of nature’s incredible designs that ensures that the bitch will be impregnated. The mating tie will last from 20 to 30 minutes and the dogs will only be able to separate after the bulbus glandis have returned to its normal size. The mating tie ensures that the sperm will not leak but be conveyed to the canal. The distinctive smell emitted by a bitch in heat is not unlike a flyer that advertises her availability.

The mating cannot be interrupted by other dogs or even by humans as the dogs stuck together will not be able to disengage until the copulation is finished.

Sarah’s Dogs has more answers to why dogs get stuck when breeding as well as information about how dogs mate.