Nocturnal noises and suspicious moving shadows, may cause your pup to bark and this is understandable. This is also good to know he is alert and letting you know of any unusual goings on around your property. The thing is, if your dog is constantly awake at night, barking at shadows that aren’t actually anything, it could fast become a problem meaning he isn’t getting good quality sleep and is constantly anxious.
There could be multiple reasons why your pet is becoming restless, some which include; ageing, a sudden change in environment or not getting enough exercise during the day. Your canine companion makes such a great partner and will bring copious amounts of joy into your life, but it can become challenging if they’re keeping you up at night. Take a look at these ways to help your canine get a good rest.
Create a Comfortable, Quiet Sleeping Environment
Create a warm, safe, noise free and comfortable sleeping environment for your dog to encourage a good night’s sleep. Dogs are sensitive to noise and light, so ensure they are not near things like a ticking clock or a noisy road for example. Make sure they have their own pet bed with warm blankets for the colder months. Ensure the room is dark and no shadows are being produced from anything that could make them restless.
Don’t let them share your bed with you as this could affect your sleep as well as theirs. It may seem a good idea to snuggle up with your pet but by doing this, you may disturb each other when you move about. Skin infections and allergies are also something to think about.
Set Them a Nightly Routine
Just like humans, dogs respond best to a consistent nightly routine to help their bodies recognise when it’s time for bed. Consistency is the key, so make sure you persevere with a routine to help them learn what they have to do.
Keep the hour before bedtime relaxed
Do not get them hyped up and avoid giving them too many treats
Take them for a short walk to let them do their business
It’s best to stop bad behavior patterns before they even happen. If they start waking up at night and you ignore this, this can also become a pattern that will be hard to break.
Take Them for Plenty of Exercise
Different breeds will need varying amounts of exercise and this can range from 30 minutes to two hours a day. Making sure they get enough is imperative to them sleeping soundly at night and generally the bigger the dog the more they will need.
Give Them a Calming Supplement
Depending on your dogs breed, some are naturally more anxious than others and even by trying all of the tips above, they may still experience restlessness. Taking a natural supplement like PetCalm may assist your pup in getting a better night’s sleep and of course in turn help you get better night’s sleep!