9 Reasons Why Your Dog Is So Restless At Night + 9 Tips

9 reasons why your dog is suddenly restless at night · #1: Anxiety · #2: Cognitive dysfunction (a.k.a. canine cognitive disorder (CCD) or dementia) · #3: Pain · #4: ... SkiptoContent Yourdogusedtosleeplikeababyatnight.  Andsodidyou.Untiltheybecamerestlessallofasudden.  Pacing,panting,barkingaresomeofthethingsyourdogcouldbedoingatnight.Basically,anythingbutsleeping. Sonowyou’reworried,confusedand…underslept. Nottoworry!Thisarticlewillgiveyouaninsightintowhythisishappening.  Plus,whatyoucandotogetyourdogsnoozingatbedtime. Readonanddiscover: Thesymptomsandcausesofanxietyindogs.Whatcrittershavetodowithyourdog’soddbehavior. Whetherachangeinyourdog’slifeiscausingthemtoactthisway. Howasimplemental-stimulationdogtoycanputastoptoyourdog’srestlessness.Andmuchmuchmore… TableofcontentsWhyismydogrestlessatnightallofsudden?Specificsituations:9reasonswhyyourdogissuddenlyrestlessatnight#1:Anxiety#2:Cognitivedysfunction(a.k.a.caninecognitivedisorder(CCD)ordementia)#3:Pain#4:Lackofexercise#5:Callofnature#6:Achangeinyourdog’slife#7:“Whattodowiththistoy?”whining#8:Critteralert #9:LonelinessBonus:SideeffectsofmedicationHowdoyoucalmarestlessdogatnight?9tips#1:Beforeyoutakeatriptothevetdothis#2:Getyourdogthebestbedyoucan#3:Giveyourdogsomecalmingaids#4:Don’tcutshortontheexercise#5:Establishabedtimeroutine#6:Recreatealitterenvironmentforyournewpuppy #7:Havethecratedpuppysleepinginyourroom#8:Haveyourhousecheckedbypestcontrol#9:Getyourdogananxietycalmingwrap Whyismydogrestlessatnightallofsudden? Yourdogisrestlessatnightallofasuddenbecauseofamedicalissuesuchasdigestivetractproblems,aheadache,lossofbladdercontrol,orthey’rebotheredbynoisesthatwehumanscan’thear.Forexamplefromnocturnalcritters.Anotherreasonisarecentchangeinthedog’slife. Specificsituations: Situation1:Whyismyold/seniordogrestlessatnight?Yourold/seniordogcouldberestlessatnightduetocaninecognitivedisorder,alsocalleddementiaorcaninecognitivedysfunction.Orbecausetheyhavearthritisandareunabletolaydownwithoutfeelingpain.Ifit’sthelatter,they’llpacearoundinsearchofacomfortableplaceandpant. Situation2:Whyismydogpantingandrestlessatnight?Ifyourdogispantingandrestlessatnight,theymightbesufferingfromanxiety.Theycouldhavedevelopedanxietyduetobeingfearfulingeneral,havingnoisesensitivity,orseparationanxiety.Ifyourdogisolder,itcouldalsobebecauseofdogdementiaorarthritis. Situation3:Whyismydogrestlessandcryingatnight?Yourdogisrestlessandcryingatnightduetooneofthefollowingreasons:havingafavoritetoyandnotknowingwhattodowithitorlookingforaplacetohideit,beinglonelyifthey’reapuppythathasrecentlybeenseparatedfromtheirlitter,wantingtogopotty,orbeinginpain.   9reasonswhyyourdogissuddenlyrestlessatnight #1:Anxiety Ifyourdogissensitivetonoises,theycouldhavenoisesensitivity.Thistypeofconditioncouldbetriggeredbycertaintypesofnoisesatnight. Thunderorfireworksmightleaveyourdogrestlessandpantingallofasudden.  Accordingtoresearch,noisesensitivity,fearingeneralandseparationanxietywerethemostcommoncausesofanxietyindogs.  Othersymptomsofanxietyindogsinclude: Barking.Whining.Trembling.Increasedsalivating.Lossofbladdercontrol. Readingtip:9ReasonsWhyYourDogChecksOnYouWhenYou’reSleeping #2:Cognitivedysfunction(a.k.a.caninecognitivedisorder(CCD)ordementia) Vetscannotdiagnosedementiaindogsbyrunningcognitivetests.  Adogsufferingfromdementiacouldwakeupandbedisoriented.Thiswillcausetheolddogtobefearfulofthesurroundings.  Researchersfoundoutthatmostdogswhowereabove16yearshadCCD.Andthatthesymptomsincreasedassoonasdogsreached10yearsofage.  TheconclusionwasthatphysicalsignsofdiscomfortcouldbeseenintheearlystagesofCCD. #3:Pain Doesyourdogsleepandwakeupallofasudden?  Ifso,theirbodycouldbehurtingsomewhere. Adoginpainislikelytobe: Pacing.Panting.Restless.Vocalizing. Lickingthepartthathurts. Allofthiscanhappenduringthenight.Themainreasoncouldbeeitherjoint,muscle,orspinalpain.Butalsoaheadache.  Whatalsocausesdogstoberestlessandpantisarthritis.Thereasonisthattheyhaveahardtimefindingacomfortableposition.Andbecausethey’reinpain,theypant.  Andwhatifyourdogisrestlessatnight,droolingandlickingtheirlips?Thentheymighthaveadigestivetractproblem.  #4:Lackofexercise Ifyourdoghasspentthedayallalone,theyhavelikelynotdonemuch.Exceptforsleeping.Soonceyoucomehome,theyexpectmorethanjustawalkandfood. That’sbecauselackofexerciseoftenleadstopent-upenergy.Whichwillmakeyourdoglesslikelytosleep.  Butifyou’renotavailabletointeractwiththem,yourpoochwillbebored.Thisinturnwill“force”themtothinkoffunactivitiestheycando.  There’sonlyoneproblemhere.It’sthatyourdog’sideaoffunisdifferentfromyours.Soyoumightbebotheredbythe“solution”yourdoghasfoundforthemselves.  #5:Callofnature Well,thisoneisaprettyplainbutneverthelessvalidreason.Imean,ifyoufeellikeyouneedtogo,you’dgetupoutofbed,right?  Becauseifyoudon’t,youwon’tbeabletorelaxandcontinuethatnicedreamofyours.Thiscanhappenoccasionally. Butifyourdogstartsdoingitmoreoften,thebehaviorcouldindicateamedicalcondition.  Medicalconditionsthatmakedogsurinatemoreofteninclude: Kidneydisease.Gastrointestinaldisease.Neuro-musculardisease.UrinaryTractInfections(UTI).Hormonaldisease(suchasdiabetesorCushing’sdisease). Formoreinformation,headtoyourvet.They’llrunsomebloodand/orurinetests.  #6:Achangeinyourdog’slife Anylifechangescouldaffectyourdoginamajorway.Thisincludesswitchinghomes,partners,afamilymemberdyingorbeingborn,havinganewdog,andsoon. Let’stakemovinghouseforexample.Youmightthinkthatisnotabigdeal.Especiallyifyou’vedoneitseveraltimesinyourlifealready. Sure-it’salotofworkandtime.Butonceyoumoveintothenewhome,itseemslikeallthehassle’sover.  Butforyourdog,itcouldfeeltheopposite.It’sanewenvironment.Andtheyneedtoadjusttoitinordertofeelsafe.  Ontopofmovinghouse,yourdog’swalkingroutinehaschanged.Maybeduetoyourdedicationtosetupyournewhomeasap.  Sowhileit’sunderstandable,yourdoghasnocluewhat’sgoingon.Andwhy.Alltheyknowisthatwalksarebeingdelayedand/orarelastingshorter. Astoyou,you’vebeensobusywithchoresrecently,thatyouhadbarelyanytimetorealizethismightbedistressingyourdog.  Soonceyouseethemrestlessatnight,itcomesasabigsurprise. #7:“Whattodowiththistoy?”whining Haveyourecentlygivenyourdoganewboneorachewtoy?  Sometimesdogsseecertaintoysashigh-valueones.Orinotherwords,asfavorites.Asaresult,thedogwouldwanttodosomethingspecialwiththattoy.  Theyhaveseveraloptions: Chewonit.Sleepwithit.Carryitaroundandwhine. They’lldothelatterwhentheywanttohidethetoybutareunsureofwheretodothat.It’snormalifyourdoghasn’tpreviouslyhiddentoystobeconfused. Theconfusioncouldalsostemfromthefactthattheyknowtheyshoulddosomethingwithit.Buttheyhavenoideawhatitis.  It’skindoflikeapersonwho’snotstrongatmaths.Andwhenthey’representedwithacomplicatedmathproblem,theybangtheirheadsagainstthewall.Yep–frustrating.  Buthey,aftersometimeyourdogwilleitherchewonthetoyorfindahiddenplace. #8:Critteralert  Alotofdogparentswonderwhytheirdogsseemtobelookingatorbarkingatnothing.Inreality,there’salwaysareason.Mostoftenwe’reunabletohearwhatourdogscan. Butthisdoesn’tmeanyourpoochcanseeparanormalstufflikeghosts.  Meaning,atnightyourdogcouldhearcatsoropossumsthatareroamingtheneighborhood.Asthentheseanimalsgounbotheredbypeopleorpetdogs.  Or,therecouldbesomecrittersinthehouse.Andsinceeveryoneelseisasleepatnight,thesoundscouldbemorenoticeableforyourdog.  Yourdogisunsettledbecausetheycannotgohuntthecritterdown.Itcouldbebecausethecritterisoutsidethehousewhileyourdogisin.Orthecrittersareintheatticorcellar. Examplesofcrittersyoumighthaveathomeinclude: Bats.Squirrels.Mice/Rats.Raccoons.Opossums. #9:Loneliness Haveyourecentlygotapuppy?  Iftheansweris“yes”,thereareseveralthingsyouneedtoconsider.  Thepupmissestheirmomandlittermates.Plus,thepuppyhasn’tbondedwithyouyet.So,theyhavenoonetocomfortthematthemoment.Andtheyfeelallalone. What’smore,ifyou’veputthepupinacrate,they’llfeelisolated.Afterall,dogsaresocialanimals.Ifthere’snooneintheroomwiththem,they’llmostlikelybescared. Asaresult,thepupwilltrytodrawyourattentionbybarking,whining,andscratchingatthecrate.Whileallthey’retryingtosayis“Please,don’tleaveme!”. Readfurther:13reasonswhyyourdogissuddenlysad Bonus:Sideeffectsofmedication Isyourdogundermedication? Ifso,theremightbesomesideeffects.  Dogswhotakesteroidsforexamplecoulddrinkmorewaterandurinatefrequently. Wheneveryouhavetogiveyourdogmedicine,checkwhatsideeffectsarelisted.Lookwhetherinsomnia,restlessness,andincontinenceareonthelist.  Howdoyoucalmarestlessdogatnight?9tips #1:Beforeyoutakeatriptothevetdothis Whateveryouthinkthereasonmightbe,it’sstillbesttoruleoutanymedicalcondition.Checkwithyourvetwhetheryourdogisfeelingundertheweather. Butbeforeyourushtothevet’soffice,createajournal.Keepaneyeoutforanypatternsthatmightoccurandnotethemdown.  Considerthis: Atwhattimeisyourdogrestless?Howmuchdoestherestlessnesscontinue?Whatdotheydointhemeantime(dotheypant,bark,whine)?Doyounoticeanyrecurringeventhappeningjustbeforeyourdoggetsrestless? Havingananswertothesequestionscanhelpyourvetdecipherthesituationquicker.  #2:Getyourdogthebestbedyoucan Comfortaboveall.  Ifyouhaveadogthat’sagingorapoochthatunderwentsurgery,asuitablebedisamust-have.  Olddogstendtosufferfromarthritis.Andoperationpatientsneedtimetorecoverandasoftspacewheretheycanlieunbothered.  Here’sanexampleofanorthopedicdogbed:thePetFusionUltimateDogBed,SolidCertiPUR-USOrthopedicMemoryFoamonAmazon.  Besidesthememoryfoamthatadjustsbasedonyourdog’sposture,italsohashead-supportingbolsters.Anddogslovetoputtheirheadonanelevatedsoftsurface. Note:Evenifyouhaveaperfectlyhealthydog,adogbedisstillsomethingeachdogbenefitsfrom.  #3:Giveyourdogsomecalmingaids Ifyourdogisanxiousatnight,youcangivethemcalmingaids. Suchonesare: Valerian.Hempoil.L-theanine.Chamomile.L-tryptophan. Note:It’sbesttopurchasesuchsupplementswiththeapprovalofyourvet.Also,ifyourdogsuffersfromsevereanxiety,consultyourvetforthemosteffectiveoptionstogivetoyourfurryfriend. #4:Don’tcutshortontheexercise Addressyourdog’sexerciseneeds.Thesevarydependingonage,size,andpersonality.Thegoldenrulethoughisthateachdoggets30minutesofexerciseaday.  Butbesidesphysicalexercise,youshouldconsidermentalaswell.  Andhere’sthething… It’simportantandachievableevenifyou’renotavailabletointeractwithyourdogatthemoment.  Nottomentionthatitsavesyoufromunwantedbehaviors.Someofwhicharebarkingandchewingoffurnitureandothervaluableitems. Withthisinmind,youcangetyourdog… Mentalpuzzles Mentalpuzzlesprovideyourdogwithentertainmentthroughouttheday.Andarewardonceyourdoggetsthehangofthetoyinquestion. Interactivetreatdispenser  SuchonesaretreatdispenserslikethеLC-dolidaDogPuzzleToysforBeginner onAmazon.Thisinteractivetoypromotesfunandslowfeeding. Snufflemat Thenthere’salsotheAWOOFSnuffleMatPetDogFeedingMat.Itstandsoutwithitscooldesign.Plus,itcouldbefoldedlikeabagandputsomewhereafteryourdogisdone.  Nottomentionalltheamazingfeedbackitgets.Frompeoplewithsmalldogstodogparentswithbigones.Anditalsokeepsolddogsengaged.  SomedogparentsbuyitasaB-Daypresenttotheirpooches.Theaimistokeepthedogsengagedwhiletheirhumanisatwork.Othersgetittoalleviatetheirdog’sanxiety.  StuffedKong Lastbutnotleast,there’sthesofamousStuffedKong.It’softenrecommendednotonlybybutdogtrainersbutalsobyvets.  Ithelpsdogscopewith: Anxiety.Barking.Boredom.  Teethcleaningball Youcouldalsogetatoythathasthebestofbothworlds.Forexample,atreatdispenserteethcleaningtoysuchastheIdepetDogToyBall,NontoxicBiteResistantToyBall. Ihavethisoneathome.AndmydogLissaiscrazyaboutit.Idon’tevenfillitwithtreats.AllIdoisthrowit,thenLissagoestofetchit.Andonceshehasit,shenibblesonit.  Adogsitter/walker Ifyoucan’tspendenoughtimewithyourdog,getsomeonewhocan.Thiscouldbeapetsitteroradogwalker. Oroneofyourrelativesorfriends.  Foroneofmyfreedaysduringtheweekend,Iliketogetawayfromthecityforaday.AndIcan’talwaysgetLissa.ButI’mnotokaywithmydoghavingonly2walks.  That’swhyI’veaskedoneofmydog-lovingfriendstospendafewhourswithher.Preferablynotjustwalkingherbutalsoplaying.  Sincehedesthatoccasionally,Lissa’susedtohim.Plustheyhavealotoffun.AndIgetmypeaceofmind.It’sawin-winforallsides. #5:Establishabedtimeroutine Ican’temphasizeenoughtheimportanceofaroutinefordogs.Bythis,Imeanfeeding,walking,andsleepingroutine.  Dogslovehavingaset-in-stoneschedule.Andyouwilltoowhenyourealizehowmuchitcanhelpyou. Byestablishingafeeding,walkingandsleepingschedule,you’llbenefitfromyourdog’sbiologicalclock.  Yourdogwillgetusedtotheroutineandyouwon’thavetoworrywhenthey’llgopotty.Orwhetherthey’llfeellikegoingtobedornot.  #6:Recreatealitterenvironmentforyournewpuppy  Thismightsoundtrickytodo.Butit’snotthathard.  Option1 Allyouneedisawarmbottleofwaterwrappedinablanket.Andatickingclock.  Iknow,itsoundsweird.Butallofthishasapurpose.  Thetickingclockwillplaytheroleofaheartbeat.Astothebottle,itservesasasubstituteforanotherpup’sbody.  Option2 AnotherthingyoucandoisbuyaspecialcompaniontoyliketheSmartPetLoveSnugglePuppyBehavioralAidToy.Itwillcomeofusenotonlyatnightbutalsoduringthedaywhileyou’reaway.  What’sspecialaboutitisthatithasaheartbeatfunction.Plusit’swarm.Preciselywhatthepupisusedto. Youcanchooseeitherofthese2optionsandgowithitforthefirstfewnights.It’llhelpyourpuppyadjustsmootherinyourhomeafterleavingthelitter.  #7:Havethecratedpuppysleepinginyourroom Yourpuppywaswiththeirlittermatesuntilnow.Butallofasuddenthepupisleftallbythemselves.Andinanunknownplace.Thatcanbeverystressful.  Toavoidyourpupgettingtoostressedout,havethemsleepinyourroom.It’sbesttoleavetheminacratefortheirownsafety.Despitebeingclosedoff,they’llsenseyourpresence. Thatwillalreadyserveasreassuring.Afterspendingseveralnightslikethat,youcanstartmovingthecratefurtheraway.Butdoitstepbystep.  #8:Haveyourhousecheckedbypestcontrol Ifyoususpectyourdogmightbereactingtoanocturnalcritter,haveyourhousechecked.Youmightbesurprised. #9:Getyourdogananxietycalmingwrap Ifanxiety’storturingyourdogatnight,tryananxietycalmingwrap.Thisisacommonandeffectivemethodofcalmingananxiousdogdown. CheckoutthisMellowShirtDogAnxietyCalmingWrap.Itcomesindifferentsizes.  Plus,itprovidescomfortduring:  Crating.Barking.Fireworks.Thunderstorms. Andthat’snotall.Youcanalsouseitwhenyourtravelwithyourdog. Relatedposts: DoDogsGetTiredOfBarking?TheTruth+7Anti-BarkingTips 15AmazingReasonsWhyYourDogSleepsOnYourBed+9Tips 13OddReasonsWhyDogsWakeUpInTheMiddleOfTheNight 9ReasonsWhyYourDogSuddenlyPoopsInTheHouse(Again) Postnavigation 9ReasonsWhyYourDogWalksSlowly(Dangers&9Tips)15ReasonsWhyYourDogIs(Suddenly)Overly-Affectionate Hithere, It’sPetyahere… OnthissiteIsharesimpletipsthatempowerdogparentsallovertheworld. FindoutmoreaboutDogsAndClogsandme. Youcanalsofollowmeon: Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn. Searchfor: