Trainer Tips to Help Your Puppy Sleep Through the Night

When Do Puppies Start Sleeping Through the Night? Most puppies will sleep through the night by the time they're about 4 months (16 weeks) old. TrainerTipstoHelpYourPuppySleepThroughtheNight Author:CathyMadson,MA,CBCC-KA,CPDT-KA Published:September14,2017 Updated:September15,2021 Thispagemaycontainaffiliatelinks.Weearnacommissionforqualifyingpurchases–atnocosttoyou.Ourmissionistohelpsavedogs'andcats’livesthroughoureducationalcontent.Tohelpuscreatemoreveterinarian-andtrainer-approvedcontent,pleaseconsiderbuyingoneofourweb-booksforyourselforasagift. Hasyournewpuppybeenwakingyouupatnight?Areyouwonderingwhyyourpuppywon'tsleep?Whileyournewpuppy’ssleepschedulemightnot(yet)beinsyncwithyours,therearequiteafewrecommendedtricksandtipsyoucantrytohelpbothofyougetasmuchsleepaspossible. Justlikehumanbabies,puppiesrequirealotofattentionandmanagementwhiletheygrow.Thankgoodnessthatpuppyhooddoesn'tlastaslongas"babyhood!"Sleeptrainingforapuppytakestime.Andinsteadofdiaperchanges,yourpupwillneednighttimepottybreaksuntiltheyarematureenoughtoholditthewholenight.Andeventhen,theirmorningmightstartafewhoursbeforeyouprefer. Thereareafewreasonswhyyourpuppymaynotsleeppeacefullyafteryoubringthemhome: Theyaren'tusedtosleepingwithouttheirlittermatesandmother.Thiscancauseisolationdistress. Theycanfeeluncertainabouttheirnewsurroundings.Everythingsmellsandlooksdifferent,andtheymayhearsoundsthey'veneverheardbeforethroughoutthenight.Thischangemaybeexcitingforthem,makingithardtosettledownandsleep,oritmaybeoverwhelmingandmakethemnervous. Youngpuppieshavesmallbladders.Mostcannotholditthroughoutanentirenight,andmanypuppiesinstinctuallydon'twanttosoilwheretheysleep,they'llwhineorcryintheircrateiftheyfeeltheurgetogo. SkiptoSection:WhereShouldYourPuppySleep?CreatingaComfortableCrateSpacePre-BedtimeExercise&EnrichmentLast-ChancePottyBreakYourPuppy's"SecurityBlanket"UseCalmingDogPheromonesNoiseMakingTechniquesWhenDoPuppiesStartSleepingThroughtheNight? Essentially,it'saboutyourpuppy'sadjustmentperiod,theircomfortlevels,andtheirbiology.Somepuppiesadjusttotheirnewhomequickly,whileotherscantakeafewweeks. Makepeacewiththefactthatyou’rejustnotgoingtogetafullnight’ssleepforafewweeks.Oh,thejoyofraisingapuppy!Butthetimeanddedicationyouputinnowwillhelpyoureachthatpointsooner(beforesleepdeprivationmakesyoustartspeakingintonguestoshadowpeople). Whenitcomestotrainingyourpuppytosleepthroughthenight,cratetrainingisincrediblyusefulandhasmanyadditionallifetimebenefitsbeyondnighttimesleep.Youdon'thavetouseacrateforyourpuppy'sentirelife,butwhenusedcorrectly,theircratebecomestheirsafeplaceandmanydogspreferit.Plus,it'sanimportantmanagementtoolwhenpottytrainingapuppy.Checkoutmybehaviorandtrainingtipsin"CrateTrainingYourPuppyatNight"togetthemostoutofanighttimecratesetup. Belowaresomeofmyfavoritetechniquesforhelpingyourpuppysettleand"must-haves"forsettingupapeacefulsleepingareaandhelpsoothethemintoablissfulsleep. WhereShouldYourPuppySleep? Whileyoumayeventuallywanttoletyourdogsleepinbedwithyou(oryourkids),itreallyisbestifyourpupstartsoutsleepinginacrate—youcanalwayslettheminthebedlater,oncethey’refullypotty-trained,sleepingsoundly,andhappilyacclimatedtotheircrate.Cratetrainingisalwayseasierwhenstartedyoung,ratherthantryingtogetthemcomfortablesleepinginacratelaterinlife. Whetheryouputtheircrateinyourbedroomorinaseparateroom,that’sadifferenttopicaltogether.Checkoutthisarticletolearnmoreaboutcratesetupforyourpuppy'scomfortandsafety. CreatingaComfortingCrateSpaceforYourPuppy Thetypeofcrateyouchoosecanhelporhinderyourpuppy'sabilitytofallandstayasleep.Somepuppiesdobetterwithafullviewoftheirsurroundings,butI'vefoundmostpreferamore"den-like"crate.Ifyou'redebatingwhattypeofcratetopurchaseorhowtomeasureadogcrate(especiallytofityourpuppyastheygrow),learnmorein"ChoosingtheBestDogCrateforYourDogandYourLife."Inthatarticle,you'llseewhatIpersonallyuseandtricksformakingacrate"grow"withyourpuppy. UseaCrateCovertoHelpYourPuppySleep Justlikeyou,yourpup’ssleep-wakecyclesareinfluencedbymelatonin,ahormonethatisaffectedbytheamountanddurationoflightintheenvironment.Melatoninisasleep-inducinghormoneanditsproductiongoesupwhenthelightsgodown.So,acratecovercanreallyhelpwithlongdayswhenthesunrisesearlyandsetslate.Besuretoalsoturnoffthelightsintheroomwhereyourpupissleeping.Thismeansturningoffthephone,tablet,andTVscreens,too. Ifyouchoosetouseawirecrate,youmaywanttoconsideraddingacover(makesuretochoosethesizethatfitsthecrateyouhave).It'snotnecessary,butitcouldpossiblyhelpblockoutexcesslightandnoise. Ifyourpuppyishelpedbyhavingtheircratecovered,thisislikelyabetteroptionthantowels,sheets,orblankets,asthisfitsmoresnuggly,possiblyallowsbetterairflow,andlooksnicer.Mostimportantly,properlyfittedcratecoversarelesslikelytogetpulledthroughandeaten.However,ifyourdogdoeshaveahabitofpullingtheircratecoveringthroughthesidesofthecrateandeatingthem,Irecommendagainstcoveringtheircrateatall. MidWestHomesforPetsDogCrateCover Availableat: MakeSureYourPuppy'sBeddingisComfortable Dogscanbeprettyresilientwhenitcomestofindingaspacetosleep,butthatdoesn’tmeantheydon’tliketobecomfy,too.Butcomfortisintheeyeofthebeholder!Somepuppiespreferlotsoffluffytowelsorblanketstonestlein,whileothersseemtoprefercold,hardfloors. Ifyourpuppyistoowarmortoocold,theymaywakeupandstartwhining,sopayattentiontotheirpreferencesandadjusttheirbeddingasneededtohelpthemsleeplonger. Youmightneedtoexperimentwithwhatbeddingyouputinyourpuppy'scrateatnighttoseewhattheyaremostcomfortablewith,whetherit'ssupersoftandwarmorjustacratepadandblanket.Ifyourpuppyispronetoshreddingoreatingblanketsortowels,youwillwanttochoosechew-proofbeddingtomakesuretheystaysafe. ProTip:Foryoungpuppies,lookforabedormatthat’swaterproof,oratleasteasilywashable,andalsochew-proof! ThebeddingoptionsIrecommendbelowaredurable,comfortable,andwashableorwaterproof,makingthemagoodfittocozyupthebottomofyourpuppy'scrate.(IevenusethePetFusionblanketformyselfsometimeswhenmypupsfeellikesharingitwithme—it'sthatcozy!) K9BallisticsTuffCratePad Availableat:   PetFusionPremiumPetBlanket Availableat: BrindleMemoryFoamOrthopedicDogBed Availableat: BurnSomePuppyEnergyBeforeBedtime Makesuretogiveyourpupplentyofmentalenrichmentandexercisethroughouttheeveningandbeforebedtime.Ifthey’rejustloungingaroundatnightwhileyou’rewatchingTV,they’relikelytogettheirZZZsinearlysothey’llbewideawakewhenyou’rereadyforbed. EveningPuppyExercise Spendagood10–20minutesplayingwithyourpup(outsideorinside)acoupleoftimesduringtheevening.Playagameoftugorgettheminterestedinchasingaflirtpole.Notonlywillthistirethemout,butitwillalsogivethemsomeimportantphysicalexercise.It’llalsohelpgetthingsmovingtohelpthem“clearthepipes”beforebedtime. EveningBrainGamesandTraining Usethecommercialsduringyoureveningtelevisionshowstopracticesomebasictrainingcueswithyourpuppy.Notonlydoesthisworktheirbrainsandtaketheedgeoff,butitbuildsyourrelationshipwithyourpuppyandpromotesasolidtrainingfoundation.Apuppy'sattentionspanisprettyshort,sokeeptrainingsessionsshortandsweetandspreadthemoutthroughouttheday. Ditchtheregularfoodbowlanduseapuzzlefeederforyourpuppy'seveningmeal.Belowaresomeofmyfavoritefoodpuzzlesandinteractivefeeders.They'refunfordogsandtrickyenoughtoengagetheirbrains,yetnotsodifficultthatadogwillbecomefrustratedandgiveup. IrecommendstartingwiththeWestPawTopplforyourpuppy'sfirstinteractivefeeder,astheopeningiswiderthanaKongtoy—makingiteasiertode-stuff(andforyoutostuffandthencleanafterward!).Asyourpuppyissuccessfulwitheasierstuffedtoys,theycanmoveuptomoredifficultpuzzles! YoucanseemypuppyFozzieBeargoingtotownonhisToppltoyduringcrateacclimationinthisvideo:   WestPawTopplInteractiveFeeder Availableat: KONGPuppyChewToy Availableat: DifflifeSnuffleMat Thissnufflematprovidesavarietyofhidingspotsfordryfoodortreats,encouragingyourdogtousetheirnosetofindtheirmealandhelpingtoslowdowneating. Availableat:   CalmingPre-BedtimePuppyActivities Licking,chewing,andsniffingarepartofwhatIcallthe"CalmingTrifecta."Youcanusethesethingstohelpapuppysettleandgetmorerelaxedpriortobedtime.Therepetitivenatureofthesethingsisself-soothingtoyourpuppy(muchhowactivitieslikeknittingareforus).ThesnufflematIrecommendedaboveisagreatwaytoworktheirnoseindoors,oryoucanscattertheirfoodinthegrassofyouryardforthemtosniffout.Freezeyourpuppy'smealintheirToppltomakeitlastlongerorusealickingmatsmearedwithatinybitofpeanutbutterorwetfoodforagoodlicksession. HyperPetIQTreatLickMat Spreadabitofyourdog'swetfood,peanutbutter,pureedpumpkin,orlow-fatgreekyogurtonthismattoprovideasoothingenrichmentactivity. Availableat: Findmoreideasforcalmpuppybedtimeactivitiesinmyarticle"3WaystoCalmDownaHyperorAnxiousDog." LastChancePottyBreak! Takeyourpuppyoutforabathroombreakaslateaspossible—ideally,thelastpersontobedshouldalsotakeyourpuptotheirpottyspot.Thishelpsemptythemout,decreasingthechanceofthemneedingtogointhemiddleofthenight.Keepthislastpottybreakcalmandboring.Youdon'twantyoursleepypuppyfindingtheirsecondwind! Onthisnote,consideryourpuppy'seveningmealtime.Youdon'twanttofeedyourpuppytoolateintheeveningthattheyneedtogo#2inthemiddleofthenight.However,ifyoufeedthemtooearly,theymaybehungryatbedtimeandthatcanmakethemrestless.Onewaytopreventlate-nighthungeristousefoodpuzzleswithsmall"snack-sized"portionsoffoodastheirpre-bedtimeenrichment. Whenitcomestoleavingwaterinyourpuppy'scrate,Ialwaysrecommendfreeaccesstowateratalltimes.Waterisa"primaryresource"—meaningyourpuppyneedsittosurvive.Andtherearesomemedicalconditionsthatrequireaccesstodrinkingwateratalltimes.But,ifyourpuppyiswakingupcontinuallyduringthenightbecausetheyneedtourinate,speakwithyourveterinariantofirstruleoutmedicalreasons(suchasaurinarytractinfection)andthendiscusswiththemwhetherrestrictingaccesstowaterbeforeandduringthenightisagoodchoiceforyourpuppy. KeepingaPuppyPottyLogcanreallyhelpyoudetermineyourpuppy'snaturalpottyschedule,whichcanhelpyouadjustfeedingtimestoincreaselongersleeptimeatnight. PROTIP:Itcanbehelpfultosetanalarmforyourselfduringthenighttowakeupandtakeyourpuppyforaquickpottybreak.It'sallaboutbeingproactive—withanalarm,yourpuppywon'twakeupfeelinglikethey'rereadytoburstandstartwhiningorcryingintheircrate.Astheymature,youralarmcanbesetlaterandlaterastheycanphysicallyholditlonger.Formoretipsonpottytraining,checkout"HowtoPottyTrainaPuppy." GiveYourPuppya"SecurityBlanket" TheSnugglePuppyiscuteenoughtowarmyourheartbut,moreimportantly,it'llgiveyourpupsomemuch-neededcomfortastheygetsettledintotheirnewhome.Thetransitionfromsleepingincloseproximity(skin-to-skin...orfur-to-furperhaps)withtheirlittermatestosuddenlysleepingalonecanbedistressingformanypuppies. Thiscuddlebuddy,withits“real-feel”heartbeat(whichdogscanbothhearandfeel)anditsgentlewarmthheatsource,isa"superstuffy”thatreallycanhelpeasethistransition.Thereviewsandphotospeoplehavesubmittedforthisproductareabsolutelyheartwarming,youreallyshouldcheckthemout. SmartPetLoveSnugglePuppy Availableat: WhenIpickedupmypuppyFozzieBearfromhisbreeder,IbroughtaSnugglePuppyalongandmadesurehismom'sandlittermates'scentswereonitbeforeheadingbackhome.Iliketobelievethathefoundhavingafamiliarscentpairedwiththeheartbeatsoundandheatpackverycomfortingashelearnedtosleepinhiscrate. Hecertainlylovedtocuddlewithit,andevenafterhetransitionedtosleepingoutsideofthecrateoncehewasoldenough,hestillcarriedtheSnugglePuppyaroundtouseasapillow,asyoucanseeintheinsetphoto. TheSnugglePuppycanlastforyears.Evenwhenyourdogdoesn'tneeditatnight,justtakeoutthebatteriesandheatingpackandyourdogwillstillcarryitaround!AnotherimportantfeatureoftheSnugglePuppyisthatit'swashable(justdon'tforgettoremovethebatteriesfirst!*). AnotherPreventiveVetstaffreview:"MaryBerrywashavingadifficulttimesleepingaloneinhercrate—ourguesswasthatshewasmissinghermomandlittermates.ThefirstnightweputtheSnugglePuppyinsideMaryBerry’scrate,shesleptsoundly,onlywakinguptobeletoutforabathroombreak.ShesleptsosoundlywiththeSnugglePuppy,wewouldbringitwithuswhenvisitingfriendssoshehadacomfortablepieceofhometorestwith.IhighlyrecommendtheSnugglePuppytohelpyournewpuppysleepthroughthenight!" *SafetyTip:Speakingofbatteries,besuretokeepacloseeyeonyourdogwhenthey'refirstinteractingandsnugglingwiththeirSnugglePuppy!Ifyourdog'sideaof"snuggling"thistoyinvolvesmouthing,chewing,ordisemboweling,besuretotakethetoyawayfromthem.Batteriesareverydangerousfordogsiftheyareswallowed. SoothingScentsforYourPuppy Usingdogappeasingpheromones(alsocalledDAP)canhelpyourpuppyfeelsecureandcalm,asthesemimicthepheromonestheirmotheremitsduringnursing.Pheromonesworkformanypuppies,butnotall.Butthere'snodownsidetotryingitoutwithyourpup,soit'ssomethingIregularlyrecommend.TheAdaptilpheromonediffusercoversalargespaceandlastsfor30daysbeforeneedingarefill.YoumighteventryaspritzfromanAdaptilsprayonbeddingshortlybeforeplacingyourpuppyintheircrate.(Justoneortwospritzesareallyouneed!) AdaptilDiffuser Availableat: AdaptilCalmingTravelSpray Availableat: Ifyouusethediffuserplug-in,makesureit'soutsideofyourpuppy'sareasotheydon'tdecidetomakeitachewtoy.Here'saphotoshowingtheAdaptildiffuserpluggedinoutsideofPreventiveVetpupFinnegan'splaypen: PlayCalmingSounds Turningonmellowmusiccanhelplullyourpuppytosleep,aswellasdodoubledutyofmaskingothersoundsthatmightwakethemup.Acommongo-toforcalmingmusicfordogsisclassical,butifthat'snotyourpuppy'sjam,tryoutsomesoftrockorreggae.Youcanlearnmorehereaboutwhattypesofmusichelpcalmdogs. Ifmusicistoodistractingforyouoryourpuppy,turnonafanforwhitenoiseoruseasoundmachine.IpersonallyusetheSNOOZwhitenoisemachinelistedbelow.Ilovetheconvenienceofsettingatimerwithanappandbeingabletochangethepitchasneededtoblockoutcitynoiseoutside.YoucanalsocheckoutYouTubeforlongplaylistsofcalmingmusicfordogsorfindthemonSpotifytoplayonyoursmartspeaker.Orconsidersettingupadog-specificspeaker,likethisone,which comespreloadedwithoveranhourofThroughaDog'sEarmusiconanSDcard(alsoavailablethroughYouTube),specificallycreatedtohelpcalmanxiousorfearfuldogs. SNOOZWhiteNoiseSoundMachine Availableat:   WhenDoPuppiesStartSleepingThroughtheNight? Mostpuppieswillsleepthroughthenightbythetimethey’reabout4months(16weeks)old.Butwithsomehelp,diligence,andproactivetraining,youmaybeabletogetyourpuppythereevenearlier! WhenIbroughtFozzieBearhome,hesleptmorepeacefullyduringthenightby10weeksold,butIstillneededtotakehimoutfornighttimepottybreaksuntilhewas15weeksold.Asyoucanseeintheinsetphoto,wehadsometoughnightsourselves! Everypuppyisdifferentandyoursmayneedmoreorlesstimetoacclimateandsettleatnight.Justremember,yourpatience,compassion,andconsistencywillbeworthitintheend—forbothofyou. Beyondsettinguptheirsleepingareatobemoreconducivetolongersleep,therearesometrainingtechniquesyoucanstartaswell—learnhowinCrateTrainingYourPuppyatNight. What'sworkedbestforyouinhelpingyourpuppysleep?Letusknowinthecomments! RelatedArticles Comments Pleasedonotaskemergencyorotherspecificmedicalquestionsaboutyourpetsintheblogcomments.Asanonlineinformationalresource,PreventiveVetisunabletoanddoesnotprovidespecificmedicaladviceorcounseling.Athoroughphysicalexam,patienthistory,andanestablishedveterinary-patient-clientrelationshipisrequiredtoprovidespecificmedicaladvice.Ifyouareworriedthatyourpetishavinganemergencyorifyouhavespecificmedicalquestionsrelatedtoyourpet’scurrentorchronicmedicalconditions,pleasecontactorvisityourveterinarian,ananimal-specificpoisoncontrolhotline,oryourlocalemergencyveterinarycarecenter. Pleaseshareyourexperiencesandstories,youropinionsandfeedbackaboutthisblog,orwhatyou'velearnedthatyou'dliketosharewithothers.