When bedtime rolls around, you may have your routine that helps you relax into a deep sleep, but does your dog? If they don’t understand that it’s time to unwind, it can cause stress in both of your lives. Whether you have a puppy at home or you’re helping your adult dog get a better night’s sleep, we can help you both feel great in the morning
Training Your Puppy
From the very first night, you should set your puppy up for success to sleep through the night, every night. This stage in their life is going to require a lot of work on your part, but it will be worth it in the long run. They might not sleep through the night because they need frequent bathroom breaks. Using a crate during this training period helps immensely. During your night time routine, make sure everything in the house is quiet and starts to calm down. Once they are in their crate, they should be calm and understand that it’s time to sleep once they are in the their safe place.
Their crate should be big enough for them to stand up and turn around, but not big enough to use it as a bathroom. Adding a towel or an old shirt that smells like you can help them sleep through the night. It can also be helpful to put a chew toy in their crate to comfort them. Adding a small, non-noise making toy can help them calm down and sleep soundly.
Help Your Adult Dog
When your adult dog starts to wake up through the night, it can cause a lot of disturbances, leaving you very tired in the morning. There are a few things you can do to put a stop to this behavior:
- Late Night Bathroom Break: Your pup needs lots of water living in the desert, but right before bedtime isn’t one of those times. We recommend letting them drink as much water as they want throughout the day, but going into the evening, cut back on the water intake. Otherwise, you may find yourself letting your dog out multiple times.
- Full Belly: Reduce the water intake, but make sure your dog has a full belly before bed. This will help curb any hunger pains they may get in the middle of the night. No more whining for treats at 3 am!
- Get Plenty of Exercise: One of the best things you can do for your pets is increase their exercise throughout the day, if their physical ability allows for it. If your dog isn’t getting a sufficient amount of exercise throughout the day, they will be riled up and fussy at bedtime. Wear them out so they really need to get a good night’s sleep.
In addition to these tips, make sure you have a comfortable, warm space set up and ready for your dog every night. Whether that's a pet bed in your room or somewhere else in the home, a designated area will also help signal that it’s time to relax for bedtime.
If you have any questions about helping your dog sleep through the night, please feel free to reach out to our team! Contact us online!