There’s no doubt that dogs are loyal creatures, but if their need for attention stems into the night, it is not right to your sleeping pattern.
It is most times difficult to have a good sleep without your dog whimpering late at night or early hours of the morning.
If your dog typically wakes up in the middle of the night, whimpering for you to wake up, you might have probably wondered a few times, ‘doesn’t my dog realize it’s 3 am’.
Well, he doesn’t. Nonetheless, it doesn’t have to be this way; your dog can be taught to sleep through the night.
If you have a dog that sees sleeping as a nightmare, excellent are ways to help your dog sleep more soundly at night:
1. Let your dog out before bedtime
It is essential you let your dog out before bedtime but make that the last thing your dog does before bedtime. Making his last potty break a more ‘mid-evening’ potty break than a ‘bedtime’ potty break.
2. Be consistent
Consistency is the most important thing to help both humans and animals learn behaviour. If you allow your dog to wake up in the middle of the night for three consecutive times, it becomes a pattern for your dog, the fourth and fifth night is just acceptable.
That’s why you try to make your dogs potty break at night the last thing he does until you both wake up in the morning.
3. Limit water before bed
Your dog should stop drinking water at about 2 hours before bedtime unless your dog has issues with their health such as heart disease or diabetes, then water should not be restricted from your dog.
4. Give your dog plenty of exercise
Depending on your dog’s breed or size, your dog should exercise at least half an hour to 2 hours a day. The bigger the dog, the longer the exercise. A long walk a few hours before bedtime is a great way to ensure a good night sleep for even both of you.
5. Avoid too much activity before bed
Tiring your dog out, so he sleeps all through the night sounds like a good idea. But it is better to exercise earlier in the day. Tiring your dog out before bedtime will only want him to desire water, and that will make your dog want a middle of the night break.
6. Try melatonin
Pet manufacturers sell melatonin for dogs just as humans buy melatonin for themselves. Melatonin is a natural sleep hormone that dogs tolerate very well, but take your dog to the vet doctor to make sure your dog is free from health issues that might conflict with it.
7. Consider your sleep habit
Dogs are loyal creatures; when you don’t sleep, they are awake to keep you company. Maybe you wake up in the middle of the night, and you take your dog out for a walk, you have sleep issues.
It’s better that you have a consistent time you sleep that you sleep today by 10 pm, tomorrow at 2 am, your dog becomes confused, and it affects its sleep pattern.
8. Check out any medical conditions
This is mostly considered if you have an old dog that’s still struggling to snooze, it might be worth considering any underlying medical conditions.
Take your dog to the vet, discuss any change in behaviour and sleep pattern.
Some medications might help your dog sleep well. The good sleep your dog has or will have after these ways are followed to ensure good sleep for your dog, will have an effect on your life and relationship with your dog.
What are those things you do to ensure your dog gets enough sleep? Care to share with us? Freely let us know in the comments.