Nighttime Rest for Pups and Older Dogs: Practical Advice

Helping Your Dog Sleep Through the Night

Many people who have cared for a puppy know the struggle: the puppy naps all day, and when you're ready for bed, he's full of energy and wants to play.

Older dogs usually don't have this problem, but I still hear from clients occasionally. It comes up most often in seniors with CCD (Canine Cognitive Disorder, a form of senility).

What can you do to help your puppy or senior dog sleep through the night? Here are some suggestions.

Learn how to help your pup sleep better at night so that you can too!

Photo by Sarah G. on Unsplash

10 Tips to Help a Puppy Sleep All Night

These strategies focus on preparing your puppy for bedtime earlier in the evening so that both of you can get a good night's rest.

1. Make sure your friend is tired.

Every dog needs an early evening walk. I can't say exactly how far, because it varies by breed and individual personality, but your puppy should be tired by the time he comes back inside. If he's still bouncing around, you need to walk longer. If you have a large breed puppy and walking isn't enough to tire him out, consider using a bicycle.

2. Feed the dinner meal in the early evening.

His last meal should be in the early evening so he doesn't need to wake up to relieve himself in the middle of the night. Some experts suggest a late meal so the dog sleeps better with a full stomach. That's true—dogs do sleep better on a full stomach—but puppies will also have to get up and go out in the middle of the night if they eat late.

3. Arrange his area.

I'm not a fan of crates, but most puppies need some form of confinement for at least a week or two to learn housetraining. I let my puppies sleep next to me in a box or an end table, and many times the dog will want to sleep next to me as he grows older.

4. Use appropriate bedding.

This depends on the breed and how warm you keep your room, so use common sense when making up his bed. Dogs often like to lie on a dirty t-shirt, so providing a freshly washed towel or clean comforter may actually make it harder for your puppy to sleep.

5. Let the activity and play wind down as bedtime approaches.

This isn't a problem for many dogs, but puppies left alone most of the day need activity at night and want to play then. If you want to wrestle or play fetch, do it early, and when it gets later, rest. Your puppy will do the same, and be calm and more likely to sleep through the night when bedtime comes.

6. Take him for another walk outside just before going to bed.

This can be much shorter than the earlier walk, and the dog needs time to sniff around and urinate and defecate without being rushed. (If your puppy does wake up in the middle of the night and needs to urinate again, don't make it a play session. Take her out, let her do her business, and then return her immediately to the sleeping area.)

7. Take him to a quiet room/special sleeping area.

Since dogs are social animals, I think it's vital that you allow your pet to sleep in the same room as you. For the first few days, I drape my hand over the side of the bed until my puppy has fallen asleep.

8. Turn off all of the lights.

Your puppy is more likely to sleep through the night if his environment is dark. No TVs, computer monitors, etc.

9. Make sure he does not have fleas or any other medical problem.

A puppy with fleas crawling all over him will be uncomfortable when bitten and will wake up scratching. If your puppy has mites, he also won't be able to sleep without waking up to scratch.

10. Play some soothing music.

Although the tips above are proven to work, some people who couldn't get their dogs to sleep through the night have reported success using music. Just open the video below on your laptop or cell phone and put it in the room where your dog sleeps.

Dogs are social animals and will sleep better if close to their family.

cc-by flickr.com ingodibella3693428915

Training Takes Time

If you're the proud new owner of a puppy that won't sleep through the night no matter what you do, don't worry too much. All puppies eventually learn to sleep longer hours during your bedtime, so in a few months, things will be much better.

What If My Senior Dog Won’t Sleep Through the Night?

For adult dogs, especially those with CCD, some things are a little different. These seven strategies may help him feel more comfortable and sleep more soundly.

Let your dog have access to your room. Even if you didn't allow this before, many CCD dogs need more social time.
Give your dog a comfortable place to sleep. If your dog is developing arthritis, an orthopedic dog bed will help a lot. If he doesn't use it, try putting a dirty t-shirt with your smell on it on top of the bed.
Take your dog for a short walk before bedtime. He must be on a leash, and since he may have arthritis, this must be a “sniff” walk and shouldn't really go anywhere.
Allow him to sleep with a full stomach. Some senior dogs stop eating much, so they go to bed hungry and wake up just to see if there's anything in the bowl. You should provide a good meal before bedtime (unless he's having accidents in the house). If he won't eat, consider warming his food for a few seconds in the microwave.
Treat his pain. If your dog is in pain, he'll find it difficult to sleep, so look into pain relievers and other alternatives.
Supplement your CCD dog’s diet with coconut oil and omega-3 fatty acids. There are no exact doses available yet for these natural supplements, but this is the best thing to try for your dog. (Talk to your vet if you need more help with this information.)
Consider consulting your veterinarian for a prescription. Selegiline (Anipryl) is a drug available to treat Parkinson's in humans and may help your dog. There may be other drugs available where you live, and if your dog is in pain from arthritis, this is your best option.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Questions & Answers

Question: Our dog wakes up between 2 am and 3 am. We give her melatonin. Is there anything else we can give her?

Answer: Besides the behavioral changes that you can make that were outlined in the artilce, you could also try the lavender essential oil. It has the effect of reducing anxiety so if your dog wakes up and is too high-strung/nervous, it will help.

Mix 10 drops of the oil with about a cup of water. Spray it on your dogs front legs and her side so that she can smell it when she relaxes and curls up. DO NOT spray it right in her face!

Question: Our dog wakes up in the middle of the night and starts chewing on his feet and licking his belly. What should we do?

Answer: Dogs with severe itching caused by allergies or infection are not able to sleep through the night.

This article will help you determine why your dog is scratching so much: s.com/dogs/dog-scratching-all-the-t…

If you can figure it out, and provide the appropriate treatment, your dog will be a lot more comfortable, and both of you will be more likely to sleep through the night.