Your puppy might appear to be sleeping all the time at times. And you are correct — depending on their breed, puppies need to sleep between 15-20 hours per day during the first few months of their lives.
But why do they never seem to want to sleep when you are sleeping and instead try to keep you up all night when they need all that sleep?
We’ll look at some of the potential causes of your dog’s difficulty sleeping through the night in this article, along with some solutions.
SPOILER ALERT: Training is the key to teaching your dog to sleep soundly at night (and to allow you to do the same)!
HOW MUCH SLEEP DO PUPPIES NEED?
An average puppy sleeps for about 18 hours per day. That means they are only awake for six hours each day.
It is crucial to leave sleeping dogs alone because even if your puppy is sleeping through the night, they will still require numerous naps during the day to catch up on their rest. Avoid keeping your puppy up all day to “tire them out,” as this will likely cause them to become overstimulated and overtired, which could result in undesirable behavior. You should let your pup sleep whenever they need to.
HOW TO ENCOURAGE GOOD SLEEPING HABITS
You must provide your puppy with a secure location where they can rest and settle as they adjust to their new home. Keep in mind that a puppy may require some time to adjust to their new environment and routine.
For the first few days, it can be beneficial to sleep in the same room as your puppy because it strengthens your relationship, gives them a sense of security, and teaches them your routine. They realize they should be sleeping as well if they can see you are. Move your puppy out of your room once they begin to sleep well. (Or you move to your own. ).
To help your puppy feel more at ease, purchase a blanket or toy that smells like their mother, other puppies, or their former home. Place the item in their bed. Your puppy will gradually get used to the smells of their new home and family as the smell on this fades.
Additionally, you can purchase calming dog toys that simulate the sensations of your puppy’s mother and other puppies in the litter by using heat packs and heartbeat sounds. A warm towel or blanket wrapped up for your puppy to cuddle against, similar to how they would with their littermates, can also produce a similar effect. Warm the towel or blanket on a radiator or in a dryer (but not too hot! ), which can sound like a heartbeat.
Give your puppy a shirt, towel, or blanket that has your scent on it to prevent them from getting lonely and to help them calm down when you’re not around.
Because too much light may disrupt their sleep cycle and keep them awake, you should also make sure their sleeping area is quiet and dark. Although it has also been discovered that white noise or soothing classical music can help puppies unwind
Puppy housetraining and sleep training are both aided by crate training, which also helps puppies feel more secure. You can create a “den” by covering the sides with blankets; this will undoubtedly help your puppy unwind. Introduce the crate as their special safe place from the moment you bring your puppy home if you are crate training them.
The majority of puppies will cry at some point during the night, and if they do, you should go comfort them. You want to earn their trust in the beginning. However, when comforting them, avoid making a big deal out of it or starting to play with them because doing so will wake them up and encourage their crying behavior in an effort to get your attention. They might need to be taken out to the toilet!.
What To Expect On Your Puppy’s First Night Home
The first night your puppy spends at home will most likely go one of two ways:
To put in your dog’s dog crate at night, ask the breeder, foster family, or rescue organization for a toy, towel, or small blanket that smells like your puppy’s mother, siblings, or previous home. They’ll feel at ease and at home with these comforting smells. Get more crate training tips here.
The likelihood that your puppy will initially be able to sleep through the night decreases with age. Because dogs don’t like to soil their sleeping spaces, if your puppy needs to go outside at night, they will begin to cry and fuss. Take them for a brief walk outside when you hear them crying, then bring them back inside and place them back in their crate. By the time they are ready for a dog bed, most puppies consistently sleep through the night by 3 or 4 months of age.
FAQ
Can a 4 month old puppy sleep through the night without peeing?
Your puppy should be able to begin sleeping through the night without having to use the restroom by the time they are about 4 months old. (Although small breeds take longer as their bladders are smaller. ) If your puppy awakens in the middle of the night to use the restroom, remain composed and avoid giving them too much attention.
How long can a 4 month old puppy sleep at night?
Even though this might be the case, keep in mind that your puppy will typically require 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night.
Should I take my 4 month old puppy out in the middle of the night?
You’ll probably need to take your puppy out for a potty break in the middle of the night if it sleeps in a crate. Puppies’ bodies aren’t physically designed to hold their urine for more than a few hours. Additionally, they dislike being made to sit or sleep in their own mess.
What age do puppies start sleeping through the night?
By the time they are about sixteen weeks old, puppies usually learn how to sleep through the night. Puppy owners can speed up the process, though, by using tried-and-true dog training methods, like crate training. If you bring a new dog home and they have trouble sleeping through the night, don’t panic.