For pet parents, few things are as essential as a good night's sleep, for both you and your furry companion. Yet coaxing your beloved dog to sleep through the night isn't always a walk in the park. Whether you're dealing with a young pup, an older dog, or simply seeking to establish a solid nighttime routine, mastering this aspect of their wellbeing is crucial. Let's delve into a comprehensive guide on how to get your dog to sleep through the night, including when puppies naturally start sleeping through and what to do when you need your dog to settle fast.
1. Establish a Consistent Routine
Dogs thrive on routine. Set regular feeding times, walks and play sessions during the day. This helps expend their energy, making it easier for them to settle down at night. As they get used to your routine of settling down in the evening, they are much more likely to follow suit and settle down with you.
2. Create a Comfortable Sleep Environment
Designate a cosy, quiet and dark sleeping area for your dog. The right bed makes a huge difference: older dogs and big breeds often benefit from extra cushioning for their joints, while anxious pups love a high sided design they can nestle into. Our collection of luxury dog beds and mattresses has options for every sleep style, and a familiar bed also gives your dog a clear signal that this spot means rest.
3. Exercise Their Body and Brain
A tired dog is a sleepy dog. Make sure your pup gets enough physical exercise during the day for their age and breed, and don't forget mental stimulation, which can be just as tiring. Enrichment activities such as snuffle mats and interactive puzzle toys for dogs work their brain and take the edge off any leftover evening energy. Just avoid vigorous play in the hour before bed, as it can leave them wired rather than tired.
4. Wind Down Together
Build a calm buffer between the busyness of the day and lights out. Dim the lights, lower the noise and keep interactions gentle. We personally love having snuggles on the sofa with our pups as part of their nighttime routine. Over time this wind down period becomes a cue in itself, telling your dog that sleep is coming next.
5. Try Calming Aids
For dogs who struggle to switch off, calming products can genuinely help. Pheromone diffusers, calming sprays and soothing supplements all have their place, and you can browse our full range of calming products for anxious pets to find what suits your dog. Licking and gentle chewing also release calming hormones, so a long lasting chew or a lick mat before bed can help a restless dog relax.
6. Dietary Considerations
Avoid feeding large meals right before bedtime. Opt for feeding your dog earlier in the evening to allow ample time for digestion and prevent discomfort. If your dog wakes early demanding breakfast, shifting their evening meal slightly later can sometimes buy you an extra hour in the morning too.
7. Toilet Breaks
Ensure your dog has had the opportunity to relieve themselves before settling down for the night. A final toilet break just before bed can prevent disruptions during the night, especially for puppies and senior dogs whose bladders need more frequent emptying.
8. A Comforting Presence
For puppies or dogs prone to anxiety, your presence can be reassuring. Consider leaving an item with your scent, like a piece of clothing, near their sleeping area, or tuck one of our soft dog blankets into their bed so it picks up the smell of home. You could also try something like a heartbeat sheep or warm buddy bear, which are designed to comfort your dog through the night by mimicking the warmth and heartbeat of littermates.
9. Positive Reinforcement
Encourage and reward your dog's calm behaviour at bedtime. Quiet praise or a small treat when they settle in their own bed teaches them that choosing sleep is a good thing. Never punish night waking; it only adds stress, which makes sleep harder for everyone.
10. Handle Night Waking Calmly
If your dog does wake in the night, keep the response boring. Quietly address genuine needs such as a toilet trip, keep the lights low, skip the play and conversation, and settle them straight back into bed. Minimal interaction stops night waking from turning into an entertaining habit.
When Do Puppies Sleep Through the Night?
If you are in the puppy trenches right now, take heart: most puppies start sleeping through the night at around 16 weeks of age, once their bladder control has matured enough to last seven to eight hours. Many get close much earlier. From eight weeks old, a lot of puppies can manage a solid six hour stretch, and by 12 weeks some will already be sleeping through, especially with a consistent routine, a final late toilet break and a cosy crate set up next to your room in the early weeks.
Every puppy is different, and toy breeds with tiny bladders often take a little longer. The good news is that night waking in young puppies is usually about comfort and company rather than just toileting, so the settling techniques above make a real difference from day one. For a full step by step plan, read our guide to getting your puppy to sleep through the night.
How to Make Your Dog Sleep Instantly
Plenty of owners search for how to make your dog sleep instantly, and while there is no magic off switch, you can get surprisingly close by stacking the right cues together. The fastest route to a sleeping dog looks like this: good exercise earlier in the day, a calm hour before bed with no exciting games, a final toilet trip, and then a settling activity such as a lick mat or long lasting chew in their bed, since licking and chewing actively release calming hormones. Finish with darkness, quiet or gentle white noise, and a consistent phrase such as "bedtime" that your dog learns to associate with sleep.
Used together and repeated nightly, these cues can take a dog from wide awake to fast asleep in a matter of minutes. What never works is forcing it: if your dog seems unable to settle night after night despite a good routine, pain, itching or anxiety could be the real culprit, and a vet check is the sensible next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much sleep does a dog need?
Adult dogs sleep around 12 to 14 hours a day, puppies can need 18 or more, and senior dogs often sleep 14 to 18 hours. Most of that is made up of daytime naps around a long overnight stretch. You can find a full breakdown by age in our guide to how much sleep dogs need.
Why does my dog wake up in the middle of the night?
Common culprits include needing the toilet, hunger, noises outside, being too hot or cold, boredom from too little daytime exercise, and anxiety. In older dogs, new night waking can signal joint pain or cognitive changes, so mention it to your vet if it persists.
Should my dog sleep in my bedroom?
It comes down to preference. Many dogs settle faster near their owners, and young puppies benefit from company in the first weeks. The key is that your dog has their own comfortable bed, wherever it lives. If your pup has claimed your duvet and you want it back, our tips to stop your dog sleeping on your bed will help you reset the boundaries kindly.
