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.
Then visit your veterinarian to rule out a possible illness like a urinary tract infection or cognitive dysfunction in older dogs. “Oftentimes, dogs will try to wake their owners up when they are feeling anxious or uncomfortable, and these can be signs of underlying health conditions.
The most common reason is that the puppy is not tired at night. So make sure to keep your dog active during the day, but don't overdo it. The second reason might be that the dog wakes up because it is hungry or thirsty. This can be fixed by feeding or giving water to your puppy at specific times during the day.
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 you're being woken up most every night, though, your dog is probably bored. “Some days, we're guilty of not giving our dogs the proper amount of physical stimulation,” adds Levin. “Like days we've been out all day and too tired to do much besides let them out back when we get home.
Dog waking up at night? One option that works for many pet owners is making an active effort to wear them out throughout the day. This may include extra walks, a longer time spent outside, or more playtime. However, if you are at work during the day, then consider buying toys that will keep them occupied.
If they are kept awake until you sleep then they will sleep through those urges. Make sure your dog goes outside to potty before bed-even if that means they have to go on a walk. Give HUGE praise when they do anything they are supposed to. Create a nighttime routine: TV off, hallway light off, outside light off, etc.
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.
Zoomies also happen quite often at night. Especially with puppies who have been crated all day or have not been given enough opportunities to exercise. As soon as they get the chance to run around, they take it. Even adult dogs get the zoomies, although the younger the dog the more frequently it seems to occur.
Settling your puppy at night
They may be restless or whine for the first few nights - this is perfectly normal. Keep calm and carry on going. The adjustment period can be difficult, but you'll get there with persistence.
By the time your puppy is about 4 months old, they should be able to start sleeping through the night without needing the toilet. (Although small breeds take longer as their bladders are smaller.) If your puppy wakes up in the night needing the toilet, keep calm and don't give them too much attention.
Your dog waking up early can be from something as simple as boredom and habit, or may indicate a health issue. Sometimes, you'll catch Fido sneaking into your bed, no matter how comfy the doggy bed you spoiled them with is. Some sleep interruptions here and there are expected as part of the dog-owning journey.
A good general guideline is to take your puppy out at night before bed, then once more in the middle of the night, and again first thing in the morning. Limiting water intake a couple hours before bedtime, along with crating your pup overnight can help them make it through the night as well!
Stage 5: Adolescence (6 – 18 months) This can be the most difficult time during a puppy's development – adolescence. Your cute little puppy is becoming a teenager and will start producing hormones which may result in changes in behaviour.
Generally, most puppies will start to settle between 6 - 12 months, but as mentioned above there are a few other factors that can impact puppy energy levels. Some might say that female dogs are calmer dogs due to the fact they mature quicker than males, however a more impactful factor to consider would be their breed.
Puppy sleep regression at 3 months old may be caused by your puppy getting used to their new environment, hitting a growth spurt, or going through a fear period. At this point puppy sleep regression is most likely to be caused by your puppy teething or going through a growth spurt.
Speak With Your Dog's Veterinarian
In general, your dog's vet will be an excellent resource if your pup is anxious at night. A veterinarian can help determine if an underlying medical issue is causing the restlessness, or they can provide more specific solutions to help your dog rest better.
Night-time restlessness in dogs can be caused by various factors, including medical issues, anxiety, boredom, hunger, and environmental factors.
If your dog is restless, it could be due to several reasons. The dog may be in pain, experiencing separation anxiety, unfamiliar with its environment, or stressed. These are just a few causes of sleepless nights, and getting your pooch back to sleep depends on what's keeping it awake.
Make sure you close the drapes in their sleeping room to keep the morning sunlight from waking them up. If your dog is sensitive to sound, make sure your television is off and all their squeaky toys are put away. Playing ambient sounds or soft classical music can help them fall into a deep slumber.