How To Teach A Puppy To Sleep Through The Night: Proven Tips For Restful Sleep

By Norma Jeanne Laurette

Introduction

​​Although bringing a new puppy home is exciting, those first nights can be exhausting. Young puppies rarely sleep through the night right away because of small bladders, limited self-soothing skills, the sudden change of being taken away from their mother and littermates, and being relocated to a home where everything is new. With proper environmental management, consistent routines and patience, puppies will gradually learn to sleep for longer periods of time until they sleep peacefully through the night. Although how long it takes can vary from dog to dog depending on breed, size and temperament, most puppies learn to sleep though by 12 to 16 weeks of age and many a lot sooner (R2) (R5).

Sleep Requirements & Realistic Expectations

​In their early weeks, puppies need approximately 18 to 20 hours of sleep per day to support growth and development, and as they mature, they gradually begin to sleep for longer periods at night.
 
A useful guideline is that a puppy should be able to hold its bladder for roughly its age in months plus one hour, which means at the beginning, it’s realistic to expect one or more trips outside through the night. This will decrease as bladder control improves (R4) (R8).

Some young puppies can hold their bladder throughout the night because, much like humans, their bodies enter a deeper state of rest and physiological “shutdown” during sleep. Reduced activity, slower metabolism and less fluid processing mean urine production slows down significantly. This natural night time effect can override the common guideline that a puppy can typically hold its bladder only for about as many hours as its age in months plus one.

Most young puppies wake mainly because they need to eliminate, although separation anxiety caused by being removed from their mother and littermates can also contribute. Medical issues such as, but not limited to UTI’s (urinary tract infection) are less common but should be ruled out by a veterinarian if waking is excessive or accompanied by other symptoms including frequent urination, excessively licking the genital area, straining, whimpering or crying while urinating, blood in urine, pink or cloudy urine and foul smelling urine (R6) (R10). For more information about house training see my article entitled Potty Training A Puppy: The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide.
 
Being aware of how much sleep a puppy requires, some of my clients attempt to force their puppies to sleep most of the day. This is not necessary in fact, forcing a puppy to relax when its full of energy can cause frustration, stress and anxiety. As long as the opportunity is there, most puppies will remove themselves for a nap when they need to. It’s important to allow a puppy to sleep undisturbed when it so chooses, but just as important to not attempt to force it to sleep when it’s not ready.

A Consistent Routine

Dogs thrive on predictability and as a result, meals, exercise, play and bedtime should be at roughly the same times every day. This helps establish their internal body clock (R1) (R2).
 
In the evening:

• Provide physical exercise and mental stimulation up to an hour before bed such as; walks, play, short training sessions, canine enrichment (games, puzzle toys, chewing) so your puppy is pleasantly tired.
• Avoid high-energy games in the last 30 to 60 minutes before bed to prevent over-stimulated.
• Feed the last meal 3 to 4 hours before bed to allow for digestion before settling in.
• Restrict access to water an hour before bed then take a final outdoor elimination break right before calling it a night (R2) (R3) (R5).

 
For 50 canine enrichment options see my article Canine Enrichment: Best Options For Mental Stimulation & Boredom Prevention.
 
A consistent wind-down sequence such as a short, slow, sniff walk or cuddle time, followed by a calm trip outside to eliminate before entering the sleeping area will let your puppy know when it’s time to sleep.

A Comfortable & Secure Sleeping Space

Many experts recommend starting with a properly sized crate, just large enough for your puppy to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably, but not so spacious that one end becomes a bathroom. Another option is to use an exercise pen with newspapers or pee pads at one end to allow for night elimination. A tarp can be placed under the X pen with the edges outside of the pen to protect the rug or floor, and to prevent your puppy from chewing on the tarp. Place the crate or exercise pen beside your bed so your puppy can hear and smell you. This can help to reduce separation anxiety caused by leaving its mother and littermates (R9) (R1).
 
Make your puppy’s space inviting:

• Provide soft, washable bedding but remove it if your puppy chews or soils it.
• Give your puppy a worn T-shirt that smells like or a blanket from its litter so it doesn’t feel alone.
• Add a safe chew toy or hard bully stick to help your puppy settle. Your bully stick needs to be hard to prevent your puppy from ingesting too much, resulting in a need to eliminate.
• Cover three sides of the crate or X pen with a light blanket for a den-like, darker environment that encourages melatonin production and rest.

(R1) (R7)
 
Introduce the crate or X pen in a positive manner during the day with meals, treats, chew and canine enrichment options, while introducing closed-door sessions so it never feels like punishment. At bedtime, use a calm cue (“go to bed”) and reward your puppy for entering quietly. For more information about crate training see my article Crate Training A Puppy & Why A Crate Is Only One Option.

Snuggle Puppy

I know many puppy imprinters who swear by the Snuggle Puppy. A Snuggle Puppy is a soft, stuffed toy designed to comfort young puppies, particularly when they are adjusting to sleeping away from their mother and littermates. Many have a battery-operated device inside that produces a rhythmic heartbeat, and some include a reusable warming pack that provides soothing warmth. The combination of softness, warmth and a simulated heartbeat can help a puppy feel less alone, which can help it relax, settle and sleep more comfortably. It can be especially valuable during the first few nights in a new home or during the day when teaching a puppy to sleep independently. For your puppy’s safety, if it starts to tear the Snuggle Puppy apart, it’s time to take it away.

Can My Puppy Sleep In My Bed?

Although many have strong opinions about this, my opinion is that this is always a personal choice. Our dogs are allowed to sleep on our bed if they so choose, so our puppies are on the bed from the day they come home. To set us up for success we put little bells on their collars so if they wake in the night we can take them out to prevent accidents on the bed, and after decades of raising many puppies, we’ve never had one.
 
The more important question to ask is what you want long term. Dogs learn patterns and routines, and changing them can cause stress and anxiety, which can lead to behaviour problems and compromise emotional wellbeing. Because of this, it's better to establish the sleeping arrangement you want for the rest your dog’s life from the onset, instead of introducing one routine and changing it later (R3) (R6).

Night Time Elimination Breaks

When your puppy cries, it’s important to first understand the likely cause. If it’s been a few hours and you’ve reached or are close to the age-related bladder capacity, take a calm, boring trip outside to eliminate. Put the leash on and take your puppy outside with quiet and minimal talking and no play. Praise your puppy calmly immediately after eliminating, then go straight to bed. Keep the lights low and interaction brief so your puppy doesn’t learn that getting up at night means fun and extra attention (R7) (R1). Setting an alarm slightly before the usual waking time can prevent your puppy from learning that crying gets attention (R8). Gradually extend the intervals between outside breaks as your puppy matures and you achieve success. For more information about house training, see my article Potty Training: The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide.
 
If your puppy has recently eliminated and starts crying after all of its needs have been met, give it a few minutes to see if it settles on its own. Mild fussing or attention behaviour can be briefly ignored. If your puppy continues or becomes increasingly distressed, calmly reassure it without turning the interaction into playtime. Slide your fingers between the bars and speak softly to your puppy to provide quiet contact until it relaxes, then gradually move away. Your goal is to help your puppy feel safe while also giving it opportunities to learn how to settle independently.
 
If your puppy still doesn’t settle, don’t allow it to become increasingly distressed. Take it outside for a quiet bathroom break, even if it recently had one. Check that it isn’t too hot or cold, thirsty (if it’s hot), uncomfortable, frightened or over-stimulated. Keep the interactions calm and quiet rather than turning it into playtime. If your puppy’s physical needs have been met but it still can’t settle, stay close and provide quiet reassurance until it calms down. Some puppies need more support than others before they are capable of settling independently, particularly when they are very young and adjusting to a new home.

Additional Tips for Success

• Ensure sufficient exercise and mental stimulation during the day without over-tiring your puppy, which can cause crankiness.
• Use white noise or a fan to mask household sounds and provide comfort.
• Keep the sleeping area dim and quiet, and minimize your own night noise and movement as much as possible during the adjustment period.
• Be patient and consistent, you should begin to see progress within 1 to 4 weeks and often sooner (R6) (R2).

 
If challenges continue beyond the expected age milestones, it’s important to look at other possible contributors. If your puppy shows signs of being unwell in any way contact your vet, and if it shows continued signs of separation anxiety, consult a qualified and experienced positive behaviour expert.

Summary

Teaching a puppy to sleep through the night is not about forcing it to sleep longer, it’s about supporting natural development with structure, comfort and consistency. If you maintain a consistent routine and respond appropriately to meet its needs, both you and your puppy will soon be enjoying peaceful nights.

References

(R1) Dogster. How to Get a Puppy to Sleep Through the Night: 6 Vet-Reviewed Tips. https://www.dogster.com/dog-health-care/help-puppy-sleep-through-night/
(R2) ManyPets. How to help your puppy sleep through the night. https://manypets.com/uk/articles/how-to-help-your-puppy-sleep-through-the-night/
(R3) Whole Dog Journal. How to Get a Puppy to Sleep Through the Night. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/puppies/how-to-get-a-puppy-to-sleep-through-the-night/
(R4) PetsRadar. How to get a puppy to sleep through the night: 5 tips from a vet. https://www.petsradar.com/advice/how-to-make-puppies-sleep-5-tips-to-help-you-and-your-puppy-get-through-the-night
(R5) Chewy. How To Get a Puppy To Sleep Through the Night. https://www.chewy.com/education/dog/new-dog/how-to-teach-your-puppy-to-sleep-through-the-night
(R6) SpectrumCare. Puppy Sleep Training: Helping a Puppy Sleep Through the Night. https://spectrumcare.pet/dogs/training/puppy-sleep-training
(R7) Preventive Vet. How to Help Your Puppy Sleep Through the Night. https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/how-to-help-puppy-sleep-through-the-night
(R8) Pupford. How to Get Your Puppy to Sleep Through the Night. https://pupford.com/blogs/all/puppy-sleep-through-night
(R9) Rover. How To Crate Train a Puppy at Night. https://www.rover.com/blog/crate-training-at-night/
(R10) Chewy (additional notes on medical issues). https://www.chewy.com/education/dog/new-dog/how-to-teach-your-puppy-to-sleep-through-the-night
 
Photo By Greg Ceci