• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. To see what cookies we serve and set your own preferences, please review our Cookie Policy. Learn More.

The Dog People by Rover.com

Powered By Rover.com

Tips, stories, and reviews for people who love dogs, powered by Rover.com, the world's largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

  • The Dog People by Rover.com
  • Dog Breeds
    • Golden Retriever
    • Australian Shepherd
    • German Shepherd
    • Pomeranian
    • Shih Tzu
    • Border Collie
    • Labrador Retriever
    • Boxer
    • Beagle
    • Dachshund
    • Chihuahua
    • Poodle
    • Yorkshire Terrier
  • Dog Love
    • Cute
    • Funny
    • Heartwarming
    • Quizzes
    • Trending
    • True Stories
  • Dog Names
    • Best Girl Dog Names
    • Top Boy Dog Names
    • Unique Dog Names
    • Cute Dog Names
    • Best Puppy Names
    • Dog Name Generator
    • Tough Dog Names
    • Food Dog Names
    • Romantic Dog Names
    • Literary Dog Names
    • Country Dog Names
  • Dog Videos
  • Life with Dogs
    • Dog Safety
    • Dog Behavior
    • Dog Psychology
    • Dog Nutrition
    • Dog Training
    • Health and Wellness
    • Recipes
    • Can My Dog Eat…?
  • PuppyHQ
    • Dog Adoption
    • Puppy Essentials
    • Puppy Names
    • Puppy Training
  • Shopping
    • Shop Rover Goods
    • All Dog Product Guides
    • Dog Gift Guides
    • Safety and Training
    • Toys and Chews
  • Cats!
    • Cat Breeds
    • Cat Names
    • Cat Psychology
  • Grooming
  • Get Rover
    • Dog Boarding
    • Pet Sitting
    • Dog Walking
    • Doggy Day Care
    • House Sitting
    • Search Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers
    • Shop Rover Goods
    • Sitter Resources
  • Languages
    • en-CA
    • en-GB
    • fr-FR
    • es-ES
    • de-DE
    • it-IT
    • nl-NL
    • nb-NO
    • sv-SE
    • fr-CA

Teach Your Puppy to Sleep Through the Night: A Dog Trainer’s Method

Share1.5kPin It128

Teach Your Puppy to Sleep Through the Night: A Dog Trainer’s Method

Training Your Dog
By Shoshi Parks

Share1.5kTweet0Pin It128

So, you adopted a puppy. Congratulations! You’re in for a whirlwind few months of joy, excitement and love.

Unfortunately, like any new parent, you’re also in for some challenging, wakeful nights. Which may cause you to wonder, how do you get a puppy to sleep through the night?

Advertisement

From the day your new pup comes home—whether she’s eight weeks or four months old—it’s up to you to set her up for successful nights. Mistakes made in the beginning can haunt you for weeks to come. Luckily, our training tips can help keep you on the right path!

View this post on Instagram

I’m awake! I’m awake! #imawake #alarmclock #stillsleepy #backtobed #sleepypuppy #pupper #puppergram #realdogmomsofchicago #puppiesofchicago #puppies #puppiesofinstagram #puppiesofig #puppylove #brusselsgriffon #grumpygriffons #griffs #griffstagram #griffsofinstagram #cutenessoverload #cutepetclub #theellenshow #dailyfluff #everydayimbrusselin

A post shared by Manny_and_Gizmo (@manny_and_gizmo) on Feb 21, 2018 at 5:21am PST

How to Get a Puppy to Sleep Through the Night

Get them plenty of exercise

Your puppy is much more likely to sleep through the night if they’ve been tired out during the day. Even if your puppy is not yet allowed on walks because he hasn’t been fully vaccinated, it’s super important to provide him both mental and physical stimulation inside the home and, if you’re lucky enough to have one, in an enclosed yard.

Play with toys, chase each other around and work on training games. Outside, you can begin getting your puppy comfortable with a leash and walk them in laps around the property. Feed your dog from puzzle toys (instead of from a dog bowl) to engage their brains while they eat.

Respect their potty needs

Take your puppy out for a potty break right before bedtime. Due to their development, puppies are typically unable to hold their urine for more than a few hours at a time. If they have the opportunity to do their business right before bedtime, you’ll have more time to rest before they need to potty again.

View this post on Instagram

Not interested… . . . . . #dogbed #dogcare #plsbirdsong #plspet #cozydogs #comfydogs #dogbedswithstyle #uniquedogbeds #luxurydogs #luxurydogbed #dogbedsofinstagram #ilovemydogs #ilovedogs #happydogs #dogsarebetterthanpeople #lovemydogs #dogslifestyle #dogsareawesome

A post shared by Birdsong Dog Beds (@birdsongpets) on Feb 21, 2018 at 6:36am PST

Establish a bedtime routine

Make bedtime feel like bedtime. When bedtime rolls around, make your home feel comfy-cozy. Dim the lights, put on some soft classical music, and give your puppy a soft nest to snuggle up in. Try including an item of your clothing in their bedding so your pup feels close to you.

Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) collars and diffusers release a calming pheromone (a synthetic version of the hormone released by a nursing mother dog) that can also help to soothe your puppy. Toys that emit a “heartbeat” can also help get your puppy to sleep.

Create a soothing sleep environment

Decide where your puppy will sleep, and stick to it! Choose your puppy’s overnight bed in advance. That way when they start whining and giving you the sad eyes, you’ll be less tempted to allow your pup to sleep with you.

If you let your puppy sleep with you in the beginning, you’re more likely to have a dog that sleeps with you all their life. There’s nothing wrong with sleeping with your dog, as long as you’re the one making the choice!

View this post on Instagram

New bed comfy, I wonder how it tastes?! Gonna try not to eat it this time but no promises. ? #puppyeyes . . . #sleepypuppy #puppynap #dogbed #cavapoo #puppiesofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #cavapoopuppy #cavoodle #puppy #puppydog #dogsofinstagram #kingcharlescavalier #cavalier #poodle #pupgram #teddybear #nycdogs #dogsofnyc #nycpup #dogsofnewyork #doggystyle #instadog #hellskitchen #nyc #newyork

A post shared by Balki Barktokomous Eagle (@balkibarkeagle) on Feb 20, 2018 at 5:27pm PST

With puppies, less is more with sleep environments

A crate or confinement space is usually better in the beginning. Until your puppy has grown enough to be able to hold their bladder through the night, allowing them to sleep in your bed is likely to end in soggy sheets. If you don’t want to wake up in a wet spot, have your puppy spend the night in a crate or confinement space with a soft nest of bedding.

If you’re using a confinement space, you can put a potty pad next to puppy’s bed so they can potty in the middle of the night without waking you.

Crates = mid-night potty breaks

If your puppy sleeps in a crate, you’ll probably have to do a middle-of-the-night potty break. Puppies simply cannot hold their urine for more than a few hours—physically, their bodies aren’t made for it. They also don’t like to be forced to sit or sleep in their own mess. These two things together mean that, if you’re crating your puppy overnight, you’ll probably have to get up in the middle of the night to let them out.

Unless you have a tiny breed, a good rule of thumb is that a pup can hold their bladder for about as many hours as they are months old (i.e., a three-month-old pup can hold it about three hours, a four-month-old about four hours).

Just like small children, they may be able to hold it a little longer overnight if they’re exhausted, but they’re still unlikely to make it all the way until morning.

If you take your pup for a potty break, stay calm and quiet and don’t engage in any play or excessive snuggles.

View this post on Instagram

Winter mood by @anni_xvii ?

A post shared by Dog&Teepee (@dog_and_teepee) on Feb 20, 2018 at 9:56am PST

Play it cool when getting your puppy to sleep through the night

Don’t acknowledge whining and barking. One of the fastest things a puppy can learn is that whining and barking bring you running. If they know that all they have to do is make some noise to get your attention, you’re never going to get a good night’s rest.

The first few days your pup is home, try earplugs, white noise and other noise-canceling options to block out whining and barking. In some cases, confining your dog in your bedroom may help to quiet your dog because they know that you are there.

Take into account what sleeping through the night means

“Sleeping through the night” may mean waking up at 6 a.m. Just like any new baby, when puppy is small and learning how to sleep through the night, she’s likely to be rejuvenated and full of energy first thing in the morning. Waking up early to take puppy for a potty break and give her some attention is a normal part of pet parenthood.

If you’d like to extend your sleep, try confining puppy in a larger space instead of a crate so she can potty without waking you. If that doesn’t work, see if your puppy is willing to let you sleep a little longer after a potty break if she gets to join the snuggles.

 

Share1.5kTweet0Pin It128

Shoshi Parks

Shoshi Parks, Ph.D. is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-ka) and Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT). She owns Modern Hound Dog Training in San Francisco and teaches dog training classes at the San Francisco SPCA.

sidebar

By Shoshi Parks

Share This Article

Share1.5kTweet0Pin It128

Popular Posts

  • How Do Dogs Choose Their Favorite Person?
  • 14 Muddiest Dogs on the Entire Internet
  • 15 Dog-Safe Plants You Can Add to Your Garden Right Now
  • TLC From B.C. Rescue Turns Fierce Feral Cats Into Calm Kitties
  • 19 Best Pug Gifts for People Who Love ‘Em
  • Most Unusual, Unique Dog Names
  • Arborist Brothers-in-Law Start Nonprofit to Rescue Cats From Trees [Video]
  • Esther the Wonder Pig and Her Dog Brother Phil Are Besties for Life
  • 10 Therapy Animals Bringing Joy to the World
  • Struggling to Find a Gift for a Dog Lover? Try a Dog DNA Test This Holiday Season

Learn More

  • About Rover.com
  • Download the App
  • Rover Store
  • Sitter Resources
  • In The Press
  • Terms of Service
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • User Terms
  • Privacy Statement
  • Cookie Policy

Need Help?

  • Help Center
  • Join the Team
Advertisement
© 2022 Rover.com. All Rights Reserved.