Is it bad to let a puppy sleep through the night?
If you’re concerned about potential toilet accidents, you may want to consider setting an alarm and taking your pup out for a potty break in the night.
However, if your puppy is able to hold it through the night without incident, then letting him or her sleep through is perfectly fine. Just be sure to provide plenty of opportunities for your pup to relieve themselves.
At What Age Can Puppies Sleep Through the Night?
This is a common question, and it’s no wonder why. Having your puppy wake you up is annoying and exhausting! But what does sleeping through the night actually mean?
Puppies are a lot like human babies. They need a lot of sleep for their brains to develop (about 18-20 hours a day!). As with babies, puppies will often wake up pretty early. For your puppy, “sleeping through the night” might mean waking up at 5:30 or 6:00, when going to bed at midnight.
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As your puppy grows, he’ll get used to operating on your schedule. For the first few months though, the reality is that you might need to train yourself to become a morning person!
Most puppies will be able to sleep for about 6 to 10 hours at around 16 weeks old. So, at this point they’ll likely sleep through “your night”, meaning the same amount as you.
Why is my dog waking me up in the middle of the night?
If your dog normally seeps through and has just started waking you up in the middle of the night, there could be several reasons for this.
The first thing to consider is whether your dog is getting enough attention and stimulation throughout the day. Dogs that are not sufficiently mentally stimulated during the day may start waking up during the night due to excess energy.
Another possibility is that your dog may need to go to the bathroom. If you have a puppy or an older dog with incontinence issues, this could be the reason they are waking you up in the middle of the night.
Another common reason that dogs start waking up in the middle of the night is changes in their environment, such as a new baby in the house or construction work happening outside. Dogs are highly sensitive to changes in their surroundings and may become anxious or stressed when something is different.
If your dog seems agitated or restless at night, try to provide them with a safe space, such as a cozy bed or crate, to help them feel more secure.
Sometimes it can be something as simple as a boiler firing up when the heating comes on or a fox setting off a sensor light outside. Or a neighbour working a shift pattern. It can be worth setting up a video camera to explore all these possibilities.
If your dog is still waking you up at night despite these changes, it might be time to talk to your vet about potential health issues. Dogs can develop sleep issues due to pain and other medical conditions, so it’s important not to ignore any changes in their behavior or sleep routine.
How to Get Your Puppy to Sleep Through The Night? 4 Simple Tips
It is not uncommon for a new puppy to wake up in the middle of the night needing to go outside to relieve themselves.
But should a 12 week old puppy sleep through the night without having to go out? Is there anything that can be done to help them achieve this?
In this blog post, we will explore when puppies can generally stop needing bathroom breaks at night and how you can help train them to do so.