Is your dog struggling to sleep through the night? Is your new puppy unwilling to settle into a good nightly sleep routine? Sleep is essential for your dog’s growth, adaptation to its environment, and overall health. To ensure that you and your dog get the needed rest, we’ll give some tips on how to get your dog to sleep through the night.

How to Get a Dog to Sleep Through the Night

Some dogs and especially puppies, struggle to sleep through the night. Here are some practical tips and strategies to get your dog to sleep all night:

Get Your Dog on a Predictable Schedule

It’s crucial to establish a nightly routine to train your dog to stay on their bed and sleep all night. Dogs love a predictable behavior because it helps them feel safe, reduces anxiety, and helps with training. Although, you shouldn’t keep the routine too structured, or your dog will struggle to adapt when the schedule changes.

Getting your dog on a sleep schedule is particularly important for puppies to train them to sleep for longer durations at night and learn bladder control. Be patient. It may take time before your puppy can sleep through the night.

Related Link: Soothing Foods for Your Dog

Stimulate Your Dog Mentally and Physically

Dogs sleep better when they’ve been mentally and physically challenged during the day. This means taking your dog for walks, training your dog to learn a new trick, and playing with your dog. But don’t rile them up too much at the end of the night, or they may become hyper and over stimulated.

Give Your Dog Lots of Bathroom Breaks

Until your dog is ten months old, it will be pretty difficult for them to go through the night without a potty break. You'll need to offer your dog a potty break before bed, and then they should be okay until morning. But it’s a good idea to restrict their food and water about an hour or two before bed if your dog struggles with bladder control.

If you have a puppy, you can determine how long a puppy can go before needing a potty break by adding one to how old they are in months. For example, puppies that are three months old will need a potty break every four hours.

Power Down for the Evening

An hour before bedtime, you should create a calm evening routine that helps your dog power down for the evening. If you’re busy and high key, your dog will be too. Create a relaxing atmosphere and chose quiet activities right before bed.

Train Your Dog to Sleep in Its Crate

Training your dog to sleep in its crate is a great way to train your dog to sleep through the night. But you need to make the crate comfortable and a positive experience to help them adjust to crate sleeping. Do not use your dog's crate as a punishment, or your dog will associate the crate with bad behavior.

To help create a crate sleeping routine, reward your dog with a treat if they go into their crate at night. Then don’t give in to whining or howling to help them know it is time to sleep. If you get them out for a potty break, put them back in immediately after the break so that they know it isn’t playtime.

Want a CBD calming treat to help your dog settle into its crate at night? Shop Dope Dog’s Calming Crunchies variety pack.

Related Link: Why Do Dogs Howl?

Provide Comfort Items for Bedtime

For dogs that need lots of support, place your dog's favorite toy or blanket in their crate to help create an inviting and safe environment. Some dogs prefer warmth while other dogs prefer cool beds; you’ll want to experiment with lighting, toys, blankets, beds, or areas where they sleep to create the optimal place for your dog to sleep through the night.

Give Your Dog a Calming Treat or Supplement

Dogs that struggle to settle down or suffer from anxiety may need a supplement to help them calm down before bedtime. A CBD oil supplement is an excellent natural option to help them relax and ease off to sleep.

Dope Dog offers high-quality CBD oil products and treats to help calm your dog before bedtime, creating a restful night’s sleep. 

Diagnose Any Medical Issues

Sometimes dogs struggle to sleep because they are in pain or they may have an underlying health issue that keeps them up at night. If your dog usually sleeps well at night and this isn’t typical behavior, you’ll need to get your dog into the vet to diagnose any medical issue.

Common Reasons Your Dog Doesn’t Sleep Through the Night

Dogs and puppies can sometimes struggle to sleep through the night. The most common reasons are:

• Bathroom Break: Puppies and older dogs can struggle with bladder control and need a bathroom break at night.
• Too Much Energy: If your dog doesn’t get enough physical or mental stimulation, it may have too much energy and will struggle to settle down.
• Loneliness: Dogs are social animals and love companionship. Your dog may struggle to sleep if they suffer from separation anxiety or just need comfort.

You’ll want to assess if one of these reasons applies to your dog and then make adjustments to their nightly routine to help your dog get to sleep.

Related Link: Dog Anxiety: What Dog Owners Need to Know

How Much Sleep Does Your Dog Need?

Most dogs need 12-14 hours of sleep each day, but some dogs need more rest depending on age:

• Puppies: Need 18 -20 hours to grow and develop.
• Adult dogs: Need 12-14 hours to maintain health.
• Senior dogs: Need 12-14 hours but may sleep 16-18 hours because of mobility issues, obesity, or fatigue from physical activities, especially for dogs over six years old or older larger breeds.

Dope Dog makes high-quality, natural CBD treats, shampoos, and oils to help relax your dog before bedtime.

Are you looking for a calming supplement to help your dog sleep at night? Shop Dope Dog CBD oils to relieve stress and anxiety before bed.

Related Link: 9 Best Ways to Calm Your Dog

Why is my Dog so Annoying at Night?

It’s perfectly natural to get cranky when your dog keeps barking, whining, or shuffling around at night. When you work hard throughout the week, all you want is a good night’s rest.

Dogs are very sensitive creatures with a powerful nose and ears. Their sense of smell is a whopping 10,000 times better than a human’s! Our pets often smell and hear things that completely pass us by, which can leave them hyperstimulated at the worst times. There are many additional reasons your dog could be waking up at night, which we’ll explore more below.

Related: Ways To Keep Your Dog Calm During Halloween

Why Isn’t My Dog Sleeping Through the Night?

Dogs also have a complex relationship with the art of sleep. It’s okay if your dog is a little antsy from time-to-time. However, if you notice your dog struggles to fall or stay asleep for weeks in a row, there’s usually a deeper problem.

Common Environmental Allergies 

Do you live in a very dusty home? Your dog may constantly be waking up because their sinuses are being irritated. 

Other widespread irritants that could be interfering with your dog’s REM cycle include:

• Pollen
• Laundry detergent
• Dyes
• Fragrances
• Perfumes

How Do I Stop My Dog Waking Throughout the Night?

It’s frustrating when your dog constantly gets up and moves about at night. Depending on the dog, you could be dealing with extra noise or chewed up pillows.

Your first order of business is the process of elimination. Let’s take a look at common factors contributing to your dog’s restlessness.

Measure Dog Food Portions: The Ultimate Guide

move to a new place recently? Sometimes pets take a little longer to grow adjusted to a new environment. 

Consider giving your dog familiar items to help them settle down, such as toys, blankets, or their bedding.

We want your dog to relax after a hard day’s work playing and exploring. Contact us today to try out CBD oil to soothe your dog’s anxieties, aches, and pains.