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Written by Crystal Moore | Last updated 09/10/24
When a new puppy is introduced into your home, you can imagine that this is a very scary and overwhelming time in their life. They're in a whole new environment with people and possibly other animals they've never met before. Furthermore, if you're welcoming in a new puppy, they've most likely been separated from their mother and furry siblings, making it even more crucial that you help your puppy sleep through the night and ensure they're as happy and healthy as possible.
During this time, there'll be nights where you're awoken by your puppy but, you're not alone. The majority of dog owners, including myself, have experienced this, and by the time your puppy is snoozing away in their own bed or at the end of your bed, the bond between you both will have only grown stronger (and no more sleepless nights).
Puppies require a lot of sleep, and up until the age of around 6 months old, they'll sleep between 18 to 19 hours a day. The sleep will be broken up into numerous naps, which are often quite short but frequent across the entire day. This means you have a total of 5 to 6 hours spread throughout the day where your puppy is awake and eager to eat, play and have potty breaks.
As your puppy gets older, the amount of sleep they need will gradually decrease. When they reach around 6 months old, your puppy will need roughly 14 to 16 hours of sleep, whereas adult dogs sleep around 12 to 14 hours a day.
Getting a good night's rest, not only for your puppy but for yourself, is the ultimate goal. From my own experience and knowledge of other dog owners' experiences, I can assure you there are tips to help your puppy sleep through the night. You may have already tried some, but hopefully, you'll find a few new tips to help your puppy sleep better.
You might question how having a consistent routine helps with your puppy's sleeping patterns, but it truly can help with their sleep as well as many other aspects of your dog's life. Dogs thrive and find comfort when they know what to expect in their day. Most importantly, it can help reduce any stress or anxiety that they may feel. For example, as soon as Theo and I get up, he knows he'll get a toilet break in the garden, then have breakfast and go on our morning walk. When we're back home, he gets a Skipper's Fish Finger Skin and so on. He knows this routine so well that if I forget his fish treat, I assure you he reminds me by pawing open the treat cupboard in the kitchen.
Overall, a stable and consistent schedule reduces your dog's stress, brings in predictability and builds the steps to help them understand that when it is nearing the end of the schedule, it will be time to relax and dream of all their day's antics.
Deciding where your puppy sleeps is a crucial and personal decision for each dog owner. Although every dog owner has their own preference for where they want their dog to sleep, in the beginning, it might be the best option for your puppy to sleep in your bedroom as they adjust to their new environment. You can slowly start to teach your puppy where they should sleep after a couple of weeks or once they appear to have adjusted to their new home.
There's always been a debate among dog owners about whether dogs should sleep in bed with their owners. A recent survey showed interesting results that perfectly present the divide on this topic. Nearly half of dog owners in the UK (48%) share a bed with their furry companion. What's your take on this?
Other places dog owners may have their dog sleep are on a dog bed, on a blanket or in a crate. This might be in the bedroom or in another room of the house. Plus, don't be surprised to find your dog snoozing away on the sofa or the floor.
Wherever you choose for your dog to sleep and what they sleep on, it's important to prioritise your dog's happiness and comfort.
Before taking your puppy out on a walk, ensure they've had all their necessary vaccinations. If your puppy has not had all their vaccinations, you can exercise them outside in your garden. When your puppy is able to go on walks, it is important to take into consideration your dog's breed, exercise tolerance and age. For example, puppies and senior dogs may require shorter walks in comparison to adult dogs. Each dog breed varies in size and energy levels, and a quick search online about your dog's breed will provide you with a good idea of how much exercise they should be getting in a day. Along with physical exercise, it's great to mentally stimulate your dog through puzzle toys and games.
If your puppy doesn't appear tired, play with your puppy a couple of times in the evening for around 10 minutes. When they are sufficiently exercised, they should be much calmer in the evening, which will help get your puppy to sleep through the night.
Be careful not to over-exercise your puppy. Puppies are growing, which means their bones and joints are still developing. Over-exercising can do more harm than good.
In addition to physical exercise, it's important to exercise your puppy's brain with mentally stimulating activities. One important activity all dog owners should do with their puppy is regular training. Start with the basics, such as teaching your dog to stay, sit or give a paw, and of course, make sure to use positive reinforcement during your training sessions. It's essential that you teach your puppy new tricks as it not only engages their brain but also improves your puppy's behaviour and strengthens your bond.
Besides training, toys such as Snuffle Mats, Kongs and Puzzle treat dispensers are a great way to keep your puppy entertained and mentally stimulated. If you'd rather not purchase new toys, there are easy DIY alternatives using things you most likely have at home. For example, instead of using a Snuffle Mat, you can scatter treats across the grass in your garden for your puppy to sniff out. Or, instead of a puzzle treat dispenser, place treats in the cups of a muffin tin and cover them with tennis balls for them to uncover.
Additionally, other options include hiding treats around the house for your puppy to find (make sure you remember where you've hidden them all!), up-cycling a tennis ball by cutting a slice into it and filling it with some dog training treats, or filling an empty bottle with some treats and leaving the cap off for them to knock around.
Any of these mentally stimulating activities will be a great addition to your puppy's daily routine and help your puppy sleep at night.
To avoid accidents and your puppy becoming restless during the night, take your puppy outside for a toilet break as late as possible. It's important to take into consideration that the younger your puppy is, the more likely they'll require a toilet break in the middle of the night on top of a toilet break before you go to sleep. This is because they have smaller bladders and have less control over their bodily functions.
If your puppy is anything like Theo, they can sometimes get excited after a number 2. This excitement can spark zoomies or a second wave of energy. To prevent this from happening, try to make the toilet break as calm and boring as possible. However, this might not be avoidable as it can be a feel-good moment for them. Moreover, establish a feeding time that isn't too late to cause your puppy to need a wee or poo and not too early to cause your puppy to go hungry during the night. It's generally recommended to feed your puppy around 2 hours before bedtime.
It's believed, and studies have shown, that playing calming music or sounds can be effective at soothing both restless puppies and dogs. In fact, a 2020 study on the effects of auditory enrichment towards dogs was conducted by Abigail M. Lindig and two other researchers. The results from the study found that when the dogs were exposed to classical music, more time was spent sleeping and relaxing and showed altered heart rate variability. This experiment was repeated with different groups of dogs, and each outcome indicated reduced stress when the dogs were listening to classical music. On the contrary, increased body shaking and barking were present when the dogs were exposed to heavy metal. This area of research is still evolving. However, it can be concluded that playing calming music reduces stress and anxiety in dogs.
There are various genres that can fall under calming music, such as classical, jazz and lo-fi music. You may want to experiment with each genre to see what works best for your puppy. If you find that the calming music is too distracting, try playing white noise, such as TV static, raindrops or the hum of a fan.
Playing calming music to help your puppy sleep is an easy and cost-effective method and is especially useful during fireworks. The music helps to drown out the loud and startling noises from the fireworks outside.
If you've decided that your puppy will be sleeping in your bed, you don't need to worry about this step.
Getting your puppy to sleep alone can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be difficult. After around 2 weeks or when your puppy appears to be settled in the home, you can attempt to slowly move their dog bed to the location where you want them to sleep (hallway or another room). This can be a slow process as you'll move the bed a little further from your bedroom each night or every few nights to reduce the chances of separation anxiety. During this process, it might help to reward your dog with praise and a treat when they calmly settle into the new bed placement.
It's advised that you do not leave your puppy to cry at night as you need to keep in mind that they are in a completely new environment and most likely feel stressed or anxious. Leaving your puppy to cry will only worsen these emotions and make it harder for your puppy to adjust and settle into their new home. Allow your puppy to stay with you in your bedroom for the first 2 weeks or until they're settled. From there, you can slowly teach your dog to sleep alone.
Puppies tend to sleep through the night when they reach the age of around 3 to 6 months. This is because the younger your puppy, the more frequently they will need to go to the toilet.
If your puppy has woken up in the middle of the night, it may be because they need a toilet break. Take them out for a quick toilet break and keep everything as calm and boring as possible. When they get back to bed, soothe them with a soft voice and touch.
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