How to make your dog to sleep through the night:

There’s nothing more frustrating than a dog who scoots around downstairs all night making noise. Here, we explore 5 tips for helping your dog sleep from sunset to sunrise.

1. Set up a routine

Keeping things consistent day to day helps your dog to recognize when it’s time for bed. Try to take them on walk at around the same time each day, preferably before and after you go to work. The same applies to meals: feeding your dog a few hours before bed will help him or her digest the food comfortably. While it may be a bit more difficult to get timings right on weekends, try and stick to your routine as closely as possible.

Just before you and your pet hit the hay, keep the hour before bedtime as relaxed as possible. Avoid excessive treats or exciting activities. Most importantly, ensure your dog does his business just before bed, so he won’t be needing the toilet again come 3 am.

2. Give your dog plenty of exercise

Similarly to tiring out energetic children, exercising your dog throughout the day can lead to a night of uninterrupted sleep. Depending on their breed or size, your dog should spend a minimum of half an hour to 2 hours a day exercising. Generally, the bigger the dog, the more exercise they’ll need. A long walk a few hours before bed is a great way to ensure a good night’s sleep for the two of you.

3. Don’t share your bed

Like consistency with dinner time, it’s helpful for your dog to go to the same bed every night. So that he can recognize when it’s time to sleep. While it may be tempting to take your furry friend to bed with you, sharing your bed with your pet can have a negative impact on your sleep quality.

Studies show that 63% of pet owners who share their bed with their four-legged friend experience poor sleep. Despite the obvious sleep disruptions through movement and possible barking, sharing your bed with your dog increases the risk of skin infections and has terrible effects for those with asthma or allergies. It’s also more difficult for your dog to sleep, if you’re tossing and turning throughout the night, he or she most likely will be as well. As a solution, check out one of our dog beds to give your pet their own space.

4. Consider your dog's sleeping environment

As well as ensuring they’re not snoozing on your sheets, it’s helpful to make sure they’ve got a comfortable place to sleep. A good quality dog’s bed accompanied with a warm blanket will help your dog sleep in no time. It may also help to have a low sound nearby to help your dog drift off. For example, a clock that can offer a rhythmic ticking sound, or white noise from the radio. Also, do your best to reduce loud outside noise or excess lighting in the room they’re sleeping in.

5. Check out any medical conditions

If your dog is still struggling to snooze, it might be worth considering any underlying medical conditions. This might be the case if it’s an older dog that hasn’t usually had problems with sleeping. Take your dog to the vet and discuss any changes in their behavior, appetite, movement and sleeping pattern. Some medication may then be in order to help your dog sleep.