Why does my dog barely sleep? What to Know

Reasons Your Dog Won’t Sleep at Night

If your dog is restless or unable to settle in for bed at the end of a long day, it’s definitely something to pay attention to. Most puppers are happy to snooze and an unwillingness to do so is a clear sign of a problem.

The most common causes of sleep issues in dogs are:

A new environment: Moving isn’t just stressful for humans. Adjusting to a new home is difficult for a dog who’s suddenly overwhelmed with new sights, sounds, and smells. If you’ve recently adopted your doggo, this amplifies his stress since he doesn’t know you yet either.

Change in routine: Dogs get used to a schedule like humans. If you’ve recently started working a different shift or he’s getting less attention, your pupper may feel out of sorts and have difficulty settling.

Change in household: The addition (or loss) of a household member or fur friend is hard on your dog. Your pup may feel uncertain about his place in the pack or anxious about the change. Consider consulting a trainer to help your dog adjust to a new puppy sibling.

Skin problems or allergies: Skin issues or allergies are incredibly uncomfortable. Problems like food allergies, hot spots, or flea infestations can make settling impossible due to excessive itching and should be treated as soon as possible.

Illness: Your dog can’t voice if he’s feeling off, but his actions can. Restlessness is often a precursor of things like tummy trouble or kidney issues, which require more frequent potty breaks. Always check with your vet if you think that something is wrong with your dog.

Pain: Discomfort caused by arthritis or other ailments can make laying down uncomfortable, especially if your dog’s bed isn’t well-padded. A restless dog paired with drooling, pacing, or gagging with no vomit can mean bloat — an emergency condition requiring immediate veterinary care. Signs of pain include a stiff gait, whining, a change in breathing, panting, the repeated licking of a specific location, or an awkward posture. Any sign of pain is cause for a vet visit.

Anxiety: Whether it’s ongoing general anxiety or a sudden spike in anxiousness caused by storms or fireworks, a stressed dog will refuse to settle. He may pace, hide, or vocalize excessively. Anxiety can cause physical side effects too, so it’s important to take it seriously and treat the underlying cause for a happier, healthier fur friend.

Youth: Puppies are prone to sleeping problems thanks to seemingly unlimited energy. Your puppy may struggle to adjust to your sleeping schedule, which makes establishing a routine a must.

Age-related illness: As your dog ages, he may develop dementia, which can cause sundowners syndrome, a condition that leads to restlessness in the afternoon and evening. Canine cognitive dysfunction is another sleep-stealer, rousing dogs from sleep at random and causing disorientation.

Nightmares: Doggos can have nightmares just like us — some even appear to sleep walk! Your pup may snarl, cry, or yelp in his sleep, signaling that his dream isn’t so pleasant. Nightmares can be triggered by a trauma or linked to an overall anxiety disorder.

Sleep apnea: Usually seen in short-snouted (bulldogs, mastiffs, and pugs) or obese dogs, dog sleep apnea restricts airflow while your pooch is sleeping and actually causes him to stop breathing, which jolts him awake.

Lack of exercise: An under-exercised dog is not a happy dog. He’s also unlikely to be a good sleeper. If your pup refuses to settle at night and still wants to play, chances are, he needs more walks or playtime in his routine.

Temperature issues: One of the simplest reasons Rover may not be sleeping through the night is that he’s hot or cold. So, you may want to experiment with a dog bed designed for the summer or a bed made for the winter.

Disturbances – Noises and Smells

Bumps in the night can affect dogs just as much as us. Remember, dogs have much better hearing than us; so if you’re kept awake by the next-door neighbours or a prowling cat outside, think how much worse it could be for your pet. They may even be hearing things you can’t hear! If your dog appears to fall asleep fine, but keeps waking up, you may want to investigate noise. Is the TV too loud, is the washing machine too close by, or perhaps you are talking too much?

For obvious sources of noise you can control, remember to keep the volume down while it’s doggy naptime. If there are noises you can’t control, or can’t even hear, you may have to think about where your dog sleeps. Is there a quieter part of the house, or a room with thick soundproof windows? You may want to consider adding extra soundproofing if it’s really bad. Disturbances don’t just extend to the auditory. Some very sensitive pups may not like sleeping next to strong smells, such as rubbish bins or chemicals. Spend some time thinking about your pet’s sleeping arrangement and if you’d be happy nodding off there.

How to get your dog to sleep peacefully at night

Now you know a couple of reasons why your dog might be restless at night not sleeping so let’s look at how to fix these issues with some universal possible fixes.

Like I said earlier dogs need the exercise to keep their energy down and their bodys healthy. A good way to make sure your dog is calm for bedtime is a good exercise session. When I say this many people imagine running and are like no thanks, but it can be super easy things like fetch or a walk. If you have a calm dog they may only need a simple walk down the block to burn off the energy they have or if you have an excitable one a long play session in the back yard can help out a lot. If you believe your dog could benefit at night from a good play session do it! There is no harm and it will strengthen the bond between you and Fido.

Sometimes exercise just doesnt do the trick and isnt the right method for the cause. In these situations, it may be a better idea to use one of the many calming agents out there for dogs. When getting a supplement or anything to help with your dogs anxiety make sure to contact your vet to make sure it is right for your dog. Supplements like CBD oil or CBD infused coconut oil can be incredibly beneficial to your dogs health while still being an anxiety reducer that can help calm your dog. There are also things like anxiety blankets to make your dog feel like they are being held making them relax and fall asleep better. No matter what you get there should be products for dogs, as products for humans could be harmful to your furry friend

Older dogs with pains and even younger dogs can benefit from a truly orthopedic dog bed. An orthopedic dog bed is made to relieve the pressures that come from dogs lying down that can be uncomfortable if your dog faces joint or muscle pains. Many dog beds are claiming to be memory foam or orthopedic but many arent and can keep your dog staying restless at night. A true orthopedic bed can help reduce joint pain and prevent worsening to allow your dog old or young to keep getting the best sleep throughout their lifetime.

Check out or line of Orthopedic Dog Beds

BuddyRest was founded on the idea of supporting older dogs and based our first products on helping joint pains in dogs. We know dog sleep science and hope this blog helped you out.

THAT’S WHY Your Dog Should NOT Sleep With You In Bed!

Some days you want nothing more than to just go straight to your comfortable bed and fall asleep, yet your furry friend has other ideas. If youre winding down for the night and your dog just doesnt seem ready to relax or they look anxious there may be a reason. A dog being restless at night and not sleeping can be a common problem that is easily fixed, let’s talk about how!