If you suspect that your puppy is only waking you up because they want to play, make sure to keep those late-night walks all business. Take them outside on lead, then immediately crate them afterward. Don't get angry, because you do want your puppy to ask to go outside when they need to — just be boring.
Spend a good 10–20 minutes playing with your pup (outside or inside) a couple of times during the evening. Play a game of tug or get them interested in chasing a flirt pole. Not only will this tire them out, but it will also give them some important physical exercise.
If a dog has not gotten enough exercise during the day, then this deficit will likely manifest as them running around, or having the “zoomies” at night. Essentially, a puppy's energy has to get out one way or another. You definitely want that energy to be used in a productive and fun way during waking hours.
Most commonly, your dog has either not been able to expend enough energy throughout the day to be ready for sleep and inactivity, or your dog is responding to a drastic increase in activity in the house each evening.
The most common reasons that dogs wake their owners up could be to use the bathroom, they are hungry for food, or they are just plain bored and want to be with you. These common reasons could come from any dog of any age but depending on the temperament and how your dog acts, it may be best to prepare.
When do puppies start to calm down? Most puppies start to calm down as they approach their maturity age, which is usually around 12 months, but for larger breeds it can be more likely to occur between 18 months and 2 years.
Begin by closing your puppy in the confinement area with a chew toy or other constructive activity, then quietly walk out of the room. Return immediately and reward them with praise and a treat. Repeat the process, slowly increasing how long you're away each time.
Adjust their schedule.
If your pet is constantly waking you up at 3 am because they are hungry, then adjusting their feeding schedule can help them sleep throughout the night. Or your dog may be waking you up because they have to go outside to use the bathroom.
Using a treat, give your dog his “settle down” command, reward him and get yourself into bed. Every time your dog jumps on the bed or cries to be let up, step out of bed, get a treat (leave a secure stash of treats on a bedside table), walk your dog back to their bed and repeat the “settle down” command.
Puppies typically learn to sleep through the night by the time they're about sixteen weeks of age. However, puppy owners can expedite the process by employing some tried-and-true dog training techniques, such as crate training. Don't be alarmed if you bring home a new dog and they struggle to sleep through the night.
Ignoring them at night won't help them build confidence and may make them worse which isn't what anyone wants. They need to be taught how to be independent slowly. We would never recommend ignoring your puppy when they cry at night, especially in their first few nights.
When your dog gets bored and everyone else in the house has gone to sleep at night, this could cause her to start whining at night for what may seem like no reason. She is likely looking for attention or for someone to play with her, or she may want to be let out into the yard to run around—regardless of the time!
If your puppy cries in the crate at night, your instinct will be to help him—and that's the right thing to do. Although sometimes people worry that getting him out of the crate might teach him to cry, that shouldn't deter you. In fact, you want him to know that you will help him if he's crying.
Puppies feel vulnerable at night if they are left on their own. They cry because they need company and comfort. Most puppies cry when they need to sleep through the night to go and pee.
Dogs are a naturally social species and it's normal for them to stay close to their social group which is why they can become anxious when left alone. When a puppy is first separated from their mother and litter mates, their usual response will be to whine, whimper or bark while trying to get back to them.
The most challenging time of raising a puppy is the adolescent period. Dogs become “teenagers” and seem to forget everything they have ever been taught. This period is individual to each dog, but it may begin when he's about eight months old and continue until he's two years old.
Approximately 35% of owners and trainers voted 8-9 months as the toughest age citing new challenging behaviors associated with their puppy's now larger size such as pulling on the leash or counter-surfing.
The “Witching Hour”
Many owners find that 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. bring out the worst in their puppies! If you know that a particular time of day prompts crazy biting, do your best to manage/prevent the behaviour and engage your puppy otherwise.
Melatonin can be an excellent supplement for your dog. The sedative qualities in melatonin make it effective in calming down and soothing anxious dogs.
They are TIRED. Being overtired is one of the most common reasons we see puppies exhibit overly bitey and nippy behavior. Young puppies need 16-18 hours of sleep each day.