Is Your Dog Restless at Night? Here's What's Going On

Is your dog restless at night? Aging, anxiety and lack of exercise are some of the common causes. Here's some help in getting him to rest (so you can, too). Skiptocontent DigitalEdition CustomerService GiveaGift PhotoContestVoting Menu DigitalEdition CustomerService GiveaGift PhotoContestVoting Bookstore Subscribe GiveaGift DogHealth&Care DogFood DogTraining Puppies Lifestyle DogBreeds Bookstore SubscribetoDogsterMagazine Menu DogHealth&Care DogFood DogTraining Puppies Lifestyle DogBreeds Bookstore SubscribetoDogsterMagazine Search Searchfor: Search Searchfor: DogHealth&Care DogFood DogTraining Puppies Lifestyle DogBreeds DigitalEdition CustomerService MyAccount Menu DogHealth&Care DogFood DogTraining Puppies Lifestyle DogBreeds DigitalEdition CustomerService MyAccount HomeDogHealth&CareIsYourDogRestlessatNight?Here’sWhat’sGoingOn Biggerspacemightbethereasonwhyyourdogissleepinginbedwithyou.Photography©grki|GettyImages. DogHealth&Care IsYourDogRestlessatNight?Here’sWhat’sGoingOn Isyourdogrestlessatnight?Aging,anxietyandlackofexercisearesomeofthecommoncauses.Here’ssomehelpingettinghimtorest(soyoucan,too).  By ElizabethVecsi , February4,2021 Shareonfacebook Facebook Shareontwitter Twitter Shareonlinkedin LinkedIn Shareonpinterest Pinterest Shareonemail Email Afteralongdayatwork,youlookforwardtoarestfulnightofsleep(withorwithoutyourdogsinthebed!).Butyourdogmayhavedifferentideas.Isyourdogrestlessatnight?Whilesleeplessnightscanbecommonfornewpuppiesorevensomeyoungerdogs,therestlessnesswillusuallydiedownoncethedogmatures. However,ifyounoticethatyourdogisnolongersleepingthroughthenight,isconstantlychangingpositions,orpacingaroundtheroomorthroughoutthehouse,theremaybeamoreseriousunderlyingissuethatneedstobeaddressed. Adogwho’srestlessatnightmaysignifydifferentageorbehaviorissuesthatrequiresomegentleintervention. What’sgoingonifyourdogisrestlessatnight?Photography©hedgehog94|GettyImages. IsYourDogRestlessatNight?DogRestlessnessandActivityDuringtheDay Ifyoudon’tprovideyourdogwiththedailyexerciseherequires,itcouldresultinbehavioralissues.Simplyput,puppiesanddogsneedtomoveandexpendtheirenergy.Theyneedtoplayandruntoburnoffenergy—plusit’saperfectwaytoworkonyourbond,includingthepracticeofsomeimportanttrainingcues. Itcouldbeaseasyasawalkoragameoffetch.Ifyouhaveanolder,calmdog,hemaysimplyneedashortstrolldowntheblocktoburnsomeenergy.Ifyouhaveayoungand/orexcitabledog,youmayneedadailyplaysessioninthebackyardtoadequatelytirehimout.Remember:Atireddogisahappydog! “Becauseexercisedecreasesanxietyoverall,lackofexercisecancontributetoanxiety-basedconditions.Morespecifically,lackofexerciseandmentalstimulationcanleadtoattention-seekinganddestructivebehaviors,”saysStephanie-Borns-Weil,DVM,DACVB,headofthebehaviorclinicatTuftsUniversity’sCummingsSchoolofVeterinaryMedicine.“Ideally,ayoung,healthydogshouldhaveaminimumof20-30minutesofdailyaerobicexercise.Somewaystogetyourdog’sheartrateelevatedincludelongwalks,running,flyball,gamesofFrisbeeorfetch,andswimming.Swimmingisespeciallygreatforolderdogsasitisnotasdemandingandputslessstressontheirjointsthanotherkindsofaerobicexercise.” Sufferingfrominterruptedsleepyourself?Herearesomenaturalrestlesslegsyndrometreatments>> AnxietyCanCauseDogstoGetRestlessatNight Isyourdogrestlessatnighteventhoughhe’sgettingenoughexerciseduringtheday?Whileactivitycandefinitelyhelp,canineanxietycanhavemanycausesandmaybesubtleenoughthatsomedogownerswon’tnecessarilynotice.Thiscanaffectadog’ssleepscheduleandresultinadogwho’srestlessatnight. Talktoyourdog’sveterinarianifmedicationiswarranted,orevenanappointmentwithaboard-certifiedanimalbehaviorist.Also,therearecalmingsupplementsonthemarketthatcanbebeneficial,butbesuretocheckwithyourvetfirstbeforeyoupurchaseanythingtobesureifit’ssafeandappropriateforyourparticularpet.  AgingandDogsWhoAreRestlessatNight Stilllookingtofindoutwhyyourdogisrestlessatnight?Asdogsgetolder,theycaneasilybecomerestlessatnight—andthereasonwhyisprettycommon.Agetypicallybringsonjointandmusclepain,whichcanmakesleepingmoredifficultduetodiscomfort.Theonsetofdementiacanalsocausesleepdisturbancesindogs.Itisimportanttotryandhelpthequalityoflifeforaseniordog.Again,aconsultationwithyourveterinarianishelpfulinacaselikethis. Foranolderdogwithtypicalachesandpains,youmightwanttoconsiderprovidinganorthopedicdogbed(youngeranimalsmaybenefitfromthis,aswell). Plus,isyourdog’sissuethathewakesupwaytooearly?Here’showtocope>> Thumbnail:Photography©grki|GettyImages. ReadmoreaboutdogbehavioronDogster.com: HaveaFearfulDog?KeepThese6ThingsinMind SoundsThatScareDogs—AndWhattoDoAboutThem MyDogStaresatMe—IsThatNormal? Tags: Behavior,Health&Care Comments 5thoughtson“IsYourDogRestlessatNight?Here’sWhat’sGoingOn” Myfeveredpetisadog,butIdon’twanttospendmoneyforacutedog,wherecanIborrowacutedogforaday?anywebsite?(Alsoifanyoneisinthemoodofaboyfriend–I’mlookingforacutegirl…)[email protected] Thanks!!! Reply MyLaceywillbe7inFebruarythelast3weekssheisawakemostofthenightthensleepsduringtheday,nothingneworchangedinmyapartment,sheeats,plays,goesoutsideinthesnowforawalk,wouldlovetofindoutwhatiswrong,wenttothevetrecentlynothingwrongverygoodhealth.I’mbaffled. Reply Ihadthesamethingwithmydog.Wentonfor3months.Finallytookhertothevet.Turnsoutshehadacoupleofrottenteeththatweregivinghersomuchpain.Haditsorted,andshewokeadifferentdog.Sleepslikeababyagain. 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