My new puppy sleeps all the time and won't play. Is this normal?

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, sleeping frequently during the day is not uncommon for puppies less than 8 weeks old. Puppies need a lot of sleep just like human babies do and will change as Sugar gets older. As long as Sugar is normal otherwise (is eating and drinking normally, has normal stool and urine, etc), I wouldn't worry too much. I hope this helps!

[Puppies](https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-first-week-with-a-new-puppy-what-to-expect) do tend to sleep a lot, averaging 16 to 20 hours daily. Typically, a [puppy](https://www.petcoach.co/article/your-puppys-first-year-8-important-milestones) will play for around 15-30 minutes, then take a nap. So as long as she is behaving normally (eating, drinking, playing) between naps, there is likely no cause for concern at this point. To be safe, I'm going to recommend you take Ellie into your veterinarian for a health check. Your vet can determine if there is an underlying medical cause that requires treatment. At the very, least your [pup](https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-101-everything-you-need-to-consider/) will receive a clean bill of health and you will receive peace of mind.

Yes, it is normal for puppies this age to sleep a lot - they play hard and nap hard, just like babies :) As long as he is playful and active when he's awake, and he's eating and drinking normally with no other problems, I wouldn't be concerned.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Short answer is not necessarily. Not all puppies are highly energetic and pretty much all puppies sleep a lot. It also takes some time for them to get used to their new environment. I would give him more time for him to come along especially since he is otherwise doing so well. If at any point he develops symptoms of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea or inappetence, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Otherwise, he is likely to be just fine. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is not unusual for puppies to sleep for a very large portion of the day. In terms of the appetite, this is sometimes not uncommon in puppies when they are in their new environment. I recommend that you continue to monitor him for now, especially if you just got him. If these symptoms of not eating well and sleeping a large portion of the day do not improve, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment. Hopefully this is all transient and he will be back to normal soon. Good luck!

At the young age of 8 weeks I am not surprised he is eating, drinking, sleeping and using the bathroom. The energy level will increase with his age. Puppies are like newborn children. At first they sleep a lot and that is because they need to rest to grow. I would allow Gatsby to sleep as much as he would like for now. As he gets older he will want to play more!

If she is truly only four weeks old then she probably got separated from her mom a little early. You may have to try some soft canned food or even a little dog milk replacement in order to encourage her to eat. It is very normal for these guys to sleep a lot and play a little and as they get older they will start playing more and more. If it any point she is not eating at all or playing then I would have her checked out by your bed. When she become six weeks old she will need her first set of shots and to be dewormed by your vet as well. I hope this helps!