So, you’ve got a new puppy. Congratulations! You’ll be in for a whirlwind of joy, excitement, and love in the coming months.
Unfortunately, like every new parent, you’ll also be in for some challenging nights as your puppy learns how to be alone and sleep through the whole night. So, why is your puppy waking up every 2 hours and what can you do about it?
From the day your new puppy comes home—whether they’re only eight weeks or four months old—it’s up to you to get them set up to try and get a good night’s rest. It’s important to know that mistakes, in the beginning, can happen. Luckily, we’ve got a few tips you can use to help keep you on the right path!
Your puppy is much more likely to sleep through most of the night if they’ve been tired out during the day.
Even if your puppy hasn’t been allowed on walks yet because they aren’t fully vaccinated, it’s really important to provide your puppy with both mental and physical stimulation inside the home or if you’ve got an enclosed garden.
Is Your Puppy Getting Enough Mental And Physical Stimulation?
Getting your puppy interested in playing with some toys, chasing each other around or working on training games. You can begin to get your puppy comfortable on a lead and walk them in laps around the property (if possible). An item that’s good for mental stimulation is puzzle toys (rather than from a dog bowl) will help to keep them engaged while they eat.
Take Your Puppy Out To The Toilet Right Before Bedtime
Because of their fast development, a puppy won’t typically be able to hold in their urine for more than a few hours at a time. So, if you can give them the opportunity to do their business right before bedtime, you’ll have more time to rest before they need to pee again.
Make Bedtime Feel More Like Bedtime
As bedtime approaches, make your home feel comfy and cosy. You can do things like dim the lights, put on some soft classical music, and give your puppy a soft nest to snuggle up in. You can even try to include an item of your clothing in their bedding so your puppy feels close to you.
An item that may be useful to your puppy is Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) collars and diffusers. They release a calming pheromone (a synthetic version of the hormone released by a nursing mother dog) that can also help to calm a puppy before bedtime.
Decide Where Your puppy Will Be Sleeping
Getting ready your puppy’s overnight bed area in advance is important. That way, if they start to whine and give you sad eyes, you’ll be less tempted to allow your pup to sleep with you.
It’s important to know that 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. Although there’s nothing wrong with sleeping with your dog, just as long as you’re the one making the choice!
Why A Crate Or Confined Space Is Better In The Beginning
Until a young puppy has grown enough to be able to hold in their urine through the night, allowing your puppy to sleep in your bed is likely to end in soggy sheets. So, if you don’t want to wake up in a wet spot, have your puppy spend the night either in a crate or an area blocked off by a baby gate with a soft nest of bedding.
When readying the confined space, you can put a pee pad next to the puppy’s bed to encourage them to go in the middle of the night without needing to wake you.
If your puppy sleeps in a crate, you’ll need to do a middle-of-the-night pee break.
As puppies simply can’t hold their urine for more than a few hours, they also shouldn’t be forced to sit or sleep in their own mess. This means that if you’ve started crate training your puppy and want to use a crate overnight, you’ll probably have to get up in the middle of the night to let them out.
Unless your puppy is a tiny breed, a good rule of thumb to go by is a pup will hold its bladder for around as many hours as they are months old (for example a three-month-old pup can hold it about three hours, a four-month-old about four hours). Similar to children, they may be able to hold it a little longer overnight if they’re exhausted, although they’re still unlikely to make it all the way until the morning.
When taking your puppy for a toilet break, be sure to stay calm and quiet and don’t engage in any play or excessive snuggles.
Don’t Acknowledge Whining
One of the first things a puppy will learn is that whining and barking bring their owners running. So, if your puppy knows that all they have to do is make some noise to get your attention, then you’re never going to get a good night’s rest.
If your puppy is waking up every 2 hours, then try some ear plugs, white noise or other noise-cancelling options that will help to block out whining and barking. In some cases, confining your puppy to your bedroom can help to keep them quiet as they know that you are there.
How Long Does Sleeping Through The Night Mean?
Just like any new baby, as your puppy is still small and learning to sleep through the night, they’re likely to be rejuvenated and full of energy first thing in the morning. It’s important to realise that getting up early to take your puppy for a pee break and give them some attention is normal of being a pet parent.
If you’re looking to extend your sleep, then you’ll need to confine the little bundle of joy in a larger space rather than a crate so they can pee without waking you. If that won’t work and if you’re prepared to, then see if your puppy is willing to let you sleep a little longer after a toilet break if she gets to join the snuggles.
Make Sure Your Puppy’s Bedding Is Comfortable
Puppies can be pretty resilient when it comes to finding a space to sleep. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t like to be comfy, too. Some puppies will prefer lots of fluffy towels or blankets to nestle in, while other puppies may seem to prefer cold, hard floors.
If your puppy gets too cold or warm, they may wake up whining, so pay attention to their preferences and try adjusting their bedding as needed to help them sleep longer.
You’ll need to experiment with what bedding you’re using in your puppy’s crate at night to see what they’re most comfortable with, whether it’s super soft and warm or just a crate pad and blanket. Although if your puppy is prone to shredding or eating blankets or towels, you’ll want to choose chew-proof bedding to make sure they stay safe.
What About A Security Blanket?
Blankets like the Snuggle Puppy are cute enough to warm your heart but, more importantly, it’ll give your puppy some much-needed comfort as they’re settling into their new home. The transition from sleeping in close proximity (fur-to-fur) with their littermates to suddenly sleeping alone can become distressing for many puppies.
Using an item like the Cuddle Buddy, with its “real-feel” heartbeat (which puppies can both hear and feel) along with its gentle warmth heat source, is a “super stuffy” that, for many owners, has eased this transition.
Play Calming Sounds
Turning on some mellow music can help lull your puppy to sleep, as well as helping to mask other sounds that might wake them up.
If you think that music is too distracting for you or your puppy, then use an item like a fan for white noise or use a sound machine. You can find many YouTube playlists of calming music for dogs or find them on Spotify to play on a smart speaker.
When Should You Expect Your Puppy To Start Sleeping Through The Night?
By the time they reach 4 months, most puppies will sleep through the night. Although, with some help, diligence, and proactive training, you can help to get your puppy there even earlier!
So, if you’re currently finding that your puppy is only sleeping for 2 hours at a time, depending on their age, your puppy may need some more time to acclimate and settle at night. Just remember to be patient, compassionate, and consistent as it’ll be worth it in the end — for both of you.
