Pies: Dogs sleep for an average of 10 hours per day

Evidence: 45 • authority: 92

Effects of a joint outdoor exercise program for dog owners and dogs on physical activity, sedentary time and sleep-related behaviors.. Lack of physical activity (PA) is a rising health challenge in both humans and companion dogs. Therefore, One Health strategies to increase PA in both species have been suggested. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of a joint outdoor exercise program with jogging and circuit training sessions for dog-dog owner pairs (n = 15) on PA, sedentary time and sleep-related behaviors. Furthermore, the study aimed to assess fulfilment of global recommendations on PA in dog owners, and to compare accelerometer-derived and self-reported activity leve…

Evidence: 41 • authority: 72

Sleep spindles are bursts of neural oscillatory activity that are generated by interplay of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) and other thalamic nuclei during stage 2 NREM sleep in a frequency range of ~11 to 16 Hz (usually 12–14 Hz) with a duration of 0.5 seconds or greater (usually 0.5–1.5 seconds). After generation as an interaction of the TRN neurons and thalamocortical cells, spindles are sustained and relayed to the cortex by thalamo-thalamic and thalamo-cortical feedback loops regulated by both GABAergic and NMDA-receptor mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission. Sleep spindles have been reported (at face value) for all tested mammalian species. Considering animals in which sleep-…

Evidence: 41 • authority: 80

Evidence: 41 • authority: 92

Sleep-wake dynamics in veteran-service dog dyads: an exploration of overnight concordance.. Study objectives Sleep disturbances are well-documented for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Increasingly, veterans are turning to service dogs for assistance. Service dogs may positively influence veteran sleep. However, there is a need for research that considers bidirectional sleep interactions at the dyad level. Our objective was to investigate overnight sleep-wake dynamics in veteran-service dog dyads. Methods Fifty-six veteran-service dog dyads contributed data for analysis. Standardized questionnaires were captured at baseline (veteran well-being, prior to service dog partnering) a…

Evidence: 41 • authority: 92

Accelerometry-Based Assessment of Overnight Coat Use on Dog Sleep and Activity Patterns: Implications for Farm Dog Welfare.. New Zealand working farm dogs can struggle to maintain their body weight and condition during periods of high workload, despite substantial energy intake, highlighting the need to optimise energy balance. One potential strategy for reducing overall energy demands is to reduce energy expenditure for thermoregulation, particularly during colder conditions, which may improve both recovery and energy utilisation. This study investigated whether wearing coats influenced the sleep behaviour, activity, and apparent nutrient digestibility of outdoor-kennelled dogs. Eight adul…

Evidence: — • authority: 38