How Do I Get My Puppy To Sleep Through The Night? Top Tips And Tricks
As we’re sure you might very well agree, nothing quite has the ability to put a smile on everyone’s face than the addition of a sweet new puppy to the family!
From playing games with them, all the way to snuggling up with them at the end of a fun day, there’s nothing quite like it.
Still, despite all the excitement that a new puppy brings to the home, it’s only natural that they should take some time to adjust to their new surroundings.
Due to this, it’s very common for new puppy owners to find that their new furry friend is struggling to adjust to a sleeping routine.
If you find yourself currently in this position, then don’t panic, because this is where we come in to lend you a helping hand.
To help you get your new puppy adjusted to your home and encourage them to get all the rest that they need throughout the night, this guide is going to be providing you with all the tips and tricks you need to know.
So, ready to discover how your new puppy (and yourself!) can I enjoy a restful night’s sleep? You know what to do – just keep on reading!
How To Get Your Puppy To Sleep Throughout The Night
Just like with human babies, puppies can certainly be a little unpredictable…especially when you’re trying to get them used to a routine!
Besides wanting to play all day with all of their energy, puppies are naturally curious, excitable and friendly, which is why it can be a little tricky to get them adjusted to sleeping throughout the night without any interruption!
Luckily, though, this is where we come in to lend you a helping hand.
Below, you will find a breakdown of all the best ways that you can help to encourage your puppy to settle down in the night and enjoy a restful sleep all through the night!
So, whenever you’re ready, let’s take a look at them when you’re ready:
1. Create A Schedule And Stick To it
If you’ve got an energetic puppy on your hands, then one of the best ways that you can help to settle them down and give them a routine is to, quite literally, create a schedule for them to stick to each day.
Just think about it: When you bring your new puppy home with you for the first time, it’s only natural that they are going to feel a little unsettled and out of place, especially in the beginning stages while they are getting used to you and your home.
Besides having lots of new faces to meet (and lick!) your puppy is also going to be getting used to their new surroundings, which can take a little while to happen.
This is why giving your new puppy a schedule as early as possible is such an invaluable piece of advice that we can share with you.
By giving your puppy a consistent schedule that they can stick to each day, not only will you be able to promote good behavior, but you will also help to speed up the time in which your puppy will need to become comfortable.
The sooner that your puppy feels comfortable in their new environment, the quicker they will begin to sleep soundly throughout the night as they aren’t going to feel unsettled, distressed or confused.
In other words, creating a daily routine for your puppy to stick to will help to strengthen your bond, encourage familiarity and help to promote feelings of comfort and relaxation.
By creating a daily routine for your new puppy, you will be giving them the perfect opportunity to allow them to adjust to their new home and know that they are safe, which will help them feel comfortable enough to enjoy a restful full night’s sleep.
2. Make Sure That Your Puppy Enjoys Both Play And Naps
This is another great piece of advice that we have to share with you, and it ties in closely to the point that we have shared with you above.
If you want to make sure that your puppy is sleeping throughout the night, we recommend that you ensure that you are including plenty of playtime and nap times throughout your puppy’s daily routine.
By making sure that you are incorporating these two things into your pup’s routine, not only are you going to be able to make sure that they are getting a mixture of both rest and activity, but they are also going to be able to get used to certain times for being awake and for being fast asleep.
While making sure that your puppy is getting a mixture of both playtime and naptime throughout the day might seem like a pretty standard thing to do, you’d be surprised how many newtime puppy owners find themselves overlooking them.
Even though it might take a while to achieve, separating certain times throughout the day for playing and sleeping will, in turn, help your puppy learn more quickly that during the night, they need to make sure that they are sleeping properly just like the rest of the house is.
3. Make Sure Your Puppy’s Crib Is Inviting
This is another great way to help encourage your puppy to snuggle down and enjoy a good night’s sleep!
You should make sure that you are making your puppy’s crib as cozy and comfortable as you can, as this will help your puppy sleep as they will begin to associate it with bedtime.
That being said, you should make sure that your puppy’s crib is filled with plenty of comfy blankets, bedding, and of course, their favorite toys so they can snuggle up with them when it’s time to sleep.
We also highly recommend that you take the time to consider the placement of your dog’s crib. Is it in an area of the home where they feel the most comfortable and safe?
If it isn’t, then you should make sure that you move it to an area of the home where your puppy feels comfortable, as this will help to increase the amount of relaxation and comfort that they feel when it’s time to snuggle down for the night and get some sleep.
4. Keep An Eye Out For Overtired Behavior
When trying to make sure that your puppy begins to sleep all through the night without waking up, disturbing you or trying to play – what they do during their waking hours is going to be crucial.
Even though it can be tempting to let your puppy go wild and have fun (after all, puppy’s are known for having bounds of energy) it’s important that you make sure that your puppy doesn’t get overtired in attempt to wear them out for the night, as this can lead to negative behavior in the long run.
As we have already mentioned in a point above, you should make sure that you are factoring in plenty of naps throughout the day for your puppy, as this will help to ensure that they are supported and healthy, while also encouraging a healthy sleeping schedule during the night when it’s time to settle down for sleep.
In addition to this, if your puppy is feeling tired or it’s time for a nap – you should always make sure that you are encouraging your puppy to nap or sleep in their crate only.
This will help to reinforce to your puppy that when they are in their crate, it is time for them to settle down and go to sleep.
This will also help to make the crate a “safe space” for your puppy to go to when they are in need of comfort or familiarity when stressed.
5. Make The Sleeping Area Relaxing And Quiet
Regardless of whether you have plans to use a sleep crate or simply a bed, it is also very important that you are making sure that the sleeping area for your puppy is quiet, relaxing and dim.
Just like with us humans, when it’s time to settle down we need low-lights, a cozy bed and a relaxing ambience, and that’s exactly what your puppy is going to need, as well!
That being said, you should make sure that the area of the home that you have selected for your puppy to sleep in is quiet, dark and relaxing, as this will naturally indicate to your puppy that this is the place that they will need to go to sleep in (see also “Should You Let Your Puppy Sleep On Your Bed?“).
As well as this, if you are going to be keeping your puppy’s crate or bed in your room (or, at the very least, near a bedroom) you should also make sure that the TV is kept to a minimum, as this could potentially disturb your puppy and prevent them from enjoying a good night’s sleep.
Along with keeping the TV to a low volume, we also highly recommend that you speak in a soft tone so you don’t disturb the puppy while they are sleeping, opt for low-lighting and blackout curtains to help establish the difference between day and night, as well as to make sure that you don’t give in to playing with toys if your puppy is struggling to settle.
By sticking with these boundaries, you will help to teach your puppy when it is time to go to sleep.
This will then help to raise the chances of them settling down at the same time as you, as well as sleeping all through the night. It’s a win-win!
6. Avoid Giving Into Playtime At Night
Last but certainly not least, the final way that you can help to encourage your puppy to adopt a healthy sleeping routine is by refraining from giving into playtime during the night.
While this can be pretty hard to do (especially with those puppy dog eyes) by establishing the boundary that playtime is for during the day, you will help to teach your puppy very early on that the nighttime is for relaxing, settling down and, of course, for sleeping!
The Bottom Line
All in all, when it comes to teaching a puppy how to sleep throughout the night, you need to make sure that you have plenty of patience.
After all, it can take puppies a little while to get used to the routine that you want them to have, much like human babies do.
But, by making sure to follow the tips and tricks we have provided above, you should find that your puppy is sleeping right through the night with no problems at all.
Of course, it’s very important to make sure that you are allowing your puppy to have a potty break when they need it, even during the night.
If your puppy needs to go to the toilet, you should calmly pick them up and take them outside.
Then, when they are done, quietly bring them back in and ask them to get back into their bed, as this will help to maintain the boundary of sleeping during the night.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this guide, we hope that this has been helpful. Bye for now!
Hey everyone! My name is Sharon Isaacs, and I am one of the co-creators of PawPrintPets.com.
I knew from a young age that canines were the most interesting animals to me, and ever since I could study, read, and go to school I’ve been researching the best dog training practices.
I started PawPrintPets to provide in-depth guides and information to help you set up your canine companion for success, from the moment you have them.
