11 Reasons Why Your Puppy Is So Lazy + 3 Essential Tips

Does your puppy act lazy?

If you’re wondering why this is happening, you’ve come to the right place!

Here you will learn:

• Why your puppy is lazy in general.
• What could be causing your puppy to act lazy all of a sudden.
• A dangerous reason that causes laziness and could cost you your puppy’s live (make sure to check out #11).
• And much more…

Why is my puppy so lazy?

Your puppy is so lazy because they’re either bored or they’re growing. Without something to do, your puppy will end up lounging most of the day. On the other hand, a puppy needs more sleep to grow healthy. In some cases, the hot/cold weather makes your puppy lazy.

Why is my puppy so lazy today?

Your puppy is so lazy today because they’re ill, tired, or in pain. In such cases, they would spend more time sleeping or not engaging in tiring activities. However, be on the lookout for other factors. Your puppy could be depressed, have parasites, or food poisoning.

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11 reasons why your puppy is so lazy (today)

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#1: Your puppy is bored

Bored puppies engage in destructive behaviors such as barking.

A puppy gets bored if they are not active or nothing occupies their time. Not getting enough physical activities and boredom is a recipe for destruction.

So you might arrive home to your couch being chewed on. Or your shoes gnawed on.

On the other hand, boredom might make your puppy lazy.

According to this research, one of the indicators of boredom is increasing drowsiness. So don’t wonder if your bored puppy lies down and just sleeps the boredom away.

#2: Your puppy is not getting the right diet

Food could be responsible for your puppy’s laziness.

Low-quality foods are as bad for dogs as junk foods are for humans.

That’s because low-quality dog foods lack the essential nutrient that a growing puppy needs. These make your puppy full but not satisfied.

That said, puppies need the right kind of food. These must have the right combination of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. 

Balanced nutrition is a necessity for a puppy to grow healthy. They are at a point when their bones, muscles, and body organs are still developing.

But how do you know if you’re feeding your dog the right foods? Just look at the…

Indications of a healthy diet:

• Shiny coat.
• Healthy skin.
• Healthy weight.
• Firm and brown stool.
• Energy appropriate for their age and breed.

Without the right diet, your puppy will be sickly and unable to fight diseases and infections. In addition, they will have a hard time performing daily activities.

As a result, they are inactive instead of running around and engaging in play.

#3: Your puppy is depressed

Sometimes it’s easy to mistake one thing for another.

What you think is simple laziness could be canine depression.

Laziness and depression could cause a dog to not have an interest in anything. But how can you tell if they’re just lazy? How will you know if they’re depressed and need immediate care?

The easiest way to tell the difference is to look at the symptoms. Carefully observe your dog for other telling signs.

If they’re lazy, they would lounge around, chill and sleep. They are still their happy self, but they only prefer more peace and quiet.

A depressed puppy, on the other hand, will show the following symptoms:

• Edgy.
• Nervous.
• Lethargic.
• Sleeps more.
• Losing weight. 
• Loss of appetite.
• Worried by common events.
• Not interested in activities that usually perk them up.

In this video, you can find an example of how a depressed puppy moves and looks:

#4: Your dog is of a lazy dog breed

Your puppy is lazy because they are bred that way.

These dogs can spend the day sleeping on the couch or simply relaxing. It’s in their nature and personality to do so.

Thus, they are best for those who can’t commit to dogs with high energy requirements. However, these dogs still need exercise to keep in top shape.

The following are some of the dog breeds that are classified as lazy:

• Pug.
• Boxer.
• Shih Tzu.
• Pekingese.
• Chow Chow.
• Boston Terrier.
• Basset Hound.
• Newfoundland.
• French Bulldog.
• English Bulldog.
• Tibetan Spaniel.
• Bernese Mountain.

Some of these dogs are lap dogs. They would enjoy curling on your lap for a lazy afternoon.

#5: Your puppy is ill

Your puppy is not feeling well, that’s why they are so lazy today.

Just like you when you get sick, you want nothing but to lie in bed. You are simply not in the mood, and condition, to play or move around.

Sometimes it could be a simple sickness. Such as when your dog has the flu and is under the weather.

But it could also be something serious, such as an infection or developed disease.

Some of the symptoms of an infection include the following:

• Loss of appetite.
• Not in the mood to play.
• Refusal to go for a walk.

An infection could be kennel cough or parvovirus. Infectious diseases can make your dog lie down a lot more than usual. Their bodies are fighting the infection. 

Thus, they are weak and sleepy.

On the other hand, developed diseases can cause your puppy to be lethargic and weak. These could be in the form of heart problems, liver problems, and hypoglycemia.

If they’re already taking medications, it could be the culprit for your dog appearing lazy.

Warning: Make sure your pooch has no access to human medications. Ibuprofen, for example, is toxic to pets. Keep it away from their reach.

#6: The hot/cold weather makes your puppy so lazy

When it’s too hot (or too cold), a dog becomes lazy.

Some dogs can’t cope with the hot weather. They prefer to stay in cool shady spots to rest.

Brachycephalic breeds are very susceptible to hot weather. These dogs include Bulldogs and Pugs. That’s because they have difficulty breathing in extreme heat.

In fact, a 2016 study showed that brachycephalic breeds had high chances of getting a heat-related illness in the UK.

Aside from the brachycephalic breeds, large breeds and longhaired breeds are less tolerant of heat.

You’ll notice that they are less active in hot months. They are less likely to play or do tiring activities.

The curious case of Huksy the Husky

Such is the case with the Husky called Huksy – a young dog (around 4 years old).

I and my boyfriend met her in the summer for the first time. She’d walk slowly and even trudge.

But how have things changed in autumn?

We couldn’t believe we’re looking at the same dog… Huksy would jump around on her four legs like a mechanical toy… It was so fascinating to see her like this!

Some dogs get lazy in the cold months as well

These include hairless breeds and toy breeds. Even dogs with hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease.

These dogs prefer to stay under the warmth of their blankets than do physical exercise. They also seek the warmest places in your house. 

And they get lazy when it’s time to walk, run or play.

Even if they do take a walk, they’d go right back under warm blankets to rest some more.

#7: Your puppy sleeps more

No, they’re not lazy. They’re just puppies. 

And puppies got a lot of growing to do.

That’s why they sleep around 20 hours a day. You might even be surprised to see your puppy asleep in the middle of playing. When only one second ago they were cooking up a storm.

Puppies need a lot of sleep because they are growing. Sleep helps develop their central nervous system, brain, muscles, and bones.

So don’t worry if your puppy sleeps every hour. They can sleep between 30 minutes to 2 hours at a time. And this is normal.

In short: Sleep’s very important for puppies.

#8: Your puppy is tired

Your puppy is lazy today because they’re tired.

And when a puppy’s tired, they just want to rest and not do anything else.

When puppies are young, even a 15-minute activity will get them tired. You’ll notice that after a short walk, or a play session, they are tired. Then they’ll need lots of sleep.

However, be careful not to overtire your puppy. Puppies are not aware when they need rest. So it will be your responsibility to make your puppy rest when needed.

How can you tell if your puppy is overtired? Check out the signs below:

• Biting.
• Zoomies.
• Excessive thirst.
• Excessive panting.
• Excessive barking.
• Excessive lip licking.

#9: Your puppy has parasites

One pet owner shared in a forum how his parents purchased a puppy from a puppy mill.

The very first thing they noticed was how lethargic the puppy was. He said that the puppy was obviously sick.

A visit to the vet revealed that the puppy had a lot of parasites.

If you got your puppy from a shelter, take them to the vet immediately for a checkup.

It couldn’t be avoided that a dog in a shelter is exposed to other dogs. If one has parasites, then it could infect others.

You can tell your dog has parasites if you see the following:

• Anemia.
• Weight loss.
• Upset stomach.
• Loss of appetite.
• Mucus/blood in their poop.

#10: Your puppy is in pain

Your puppy’s laziness could be because they’re in pain.

If they’re whining, then your first reaction is to check if they’re in pain. 

But if they’re not whining but are in pain, you’ll notice them hiding or cowering somewhere. Or they flinch when you touch where they’re hurting.

#11: Your puppy has food poisoning

Sometimes, it’s difficult not to spoil your pet.

I mean, there must be something about how they look at you. Because your heart just bursts in happiness and you’re ready to give them the world.

Or the sandwich you’re eating.

But hang on. Not all foods you eat are safe for dogs. In fact, some are toxic to them.

Depending on what they ingested, your dog might appear lethargic. Thus, it makes you think they’re just being lazy today.

However, food poisoning is accompanied by other telling signs.

Check out the following food and the symptoms of poisoning (when ingested in harmful amounts):

Food/substance	Where it’s found	Symptoms
Xylitol	Candy, gum, bread and other baked goods, toothpaste for humans	Vomiting, lethargy, collapse, seizures, impaired movements
Cocoa-based products and caffeine	Chocolates, garden mulch with cacao bean shells, caffeine tablets, coffee beans, and grounds	Stomach ache, seizures, restlessness, vomiting, excessive thirst, coma, death
Allium foods	Onions, garlic, chives, leeks(raw, cooked, or dried)	Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache, loss of appetite, weakness, rapid breathing, weakness
Alcohol	Alcoholic beverages, colas, energy drinks, rotten apples, uncooked bread and pizza, some cold medicines and pain killers, sloe berries. Ethanol is found in paint, perfume, mouthwash, and antifreeze.	Depression, impaired movements, lethargy, sedation, slow breathing rate, coma
Grapes	Grapes, raisins, currants	Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, stomach ache, loss of appetite, depression
Avocado	Fruit, seed, leaves, and bark of the tree	Vomiting, diarrhea
Macadamia nuts		Weakness, vomiting, impaired movements, shaking, stomach ache, stiffness, fever
Hops	Brewing beer	Fever, anxiety, vomiting, stomach ache, rapid heart rate, seizures
Raw fish	Salmon, trout, sturgeon	Vomiting, fever
Too much salt	Chips, pretzels	Excessive thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, high temperature, seizures

Other foods or substances toxic to dogs are your medicine and spices. 

Caution: Most food poisoning cases are accidental ingestion of these foods. Keep away from your dogs anything that could be toxic to them.

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3 tips to make your puppy less lazy

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#1: Give them age-appropriate exercise

Getting the right amount of exercise is vital for a puppy.

However, the exercise must be according to the age, health, and breed of your dog.

And since they’re still growing, avoid giving them too much.

Note: The rule of thumb is exercising for 5 minutes per month of age.

So if your puppy is 4 months old, spend 20 minutes on exercise and playtime. Then let them rest afterward.

#2: Give them the right foods

Along with the right amount of exercise, your puppy needs the right kind of food.

Give them the highest quality of puppy food. Ask your vet for the best choice for your growing puppy.

You can also give them human foods that are safe for them.

Fresh fruits such as apple and watermelon are great choices. Just make sure to remove the seeds, pits, stems, and leaves.

Cooked lean meats are also healthy. But remove fat, skin-on poultry and bones.

Some vegetables are also healthy choices, such as carrots, zucchini and green beans.

#3: Talk to a vet

Whether you’re a first-time pet owner or a veteran, always consult with a vet.

If your dog’s laziness worries you, take note of your puppy’s eating and exercise habits. Then relate these to your vet.

They can recommend better food choices or the kind of exercise your puppy needs.

If with parasites, bring your dog to the vet to begin treatments. And if you see any symptoms of food poisoning, rush your dog to the vet.