How To Help Your Puppy Sleep Through The Night: Positive Training Tips For Peaceful Nights

By Norma Jeanne Laurette

Introduction

Bringing a new puppy home is exciting, but those first few nights can also be exhausting, particularly when your puppy is waking every few hours, crying or having accidents. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Your puppy has just left its mother and littermates, and entered a completely new world where everything is different, which can be frightening and stressful. Young puppies also have small bladders and little bladder control, and they have yet to develop the ability to sooth themselves and settle independently. However, with patience, compassion and consistency, your puppy will become more comfortable in its new home, develop bladder control and learn to sleep for longer stretches until everyone is enjoying a peaceful night's sleep.

How Much Sleep Does A Puppy Need?

During early development, puppies require a lot more sleep than adult dogs and can sleep 18 to 20 hours a day. But this doesn't mean they can immediately sleep through the night in fact, there is almost always an adjustment period. Throughout the process, we need to have fair and realistic expectations, knowing that their bladder control and ability to settle will improve over time.
 
Some puppies begin sleeping through the night right away, while most require time to adjust. 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.

Although puppies need opportunities to take undisturbed naps throughout the day, I've had clients who tried to make their puppies sleep most of the day. Puppies will rest when they need to, so not only is this unnecessary, forcing a puppy to settle when it’s full of energy can cause frustration, stress and anxiety leading to emotional and behavioural problems. Instead, provide a comfortable area your puppy can retreat to when it so chooses. For more information about stress and anxiety see my article Stress & Anxiety In Dogs: How To Cure Stress & Anxiety And Protect Your Dog’s Emotional Wellbeing.

How Long Can A Puppy Hold Its Bladder

Although it varies from puppy to puppy, a general guideline is that a puppy should be able to hold its bladder for approximately its age in months plus one hour (R1) (R2). For example, a two-month-old puppy should be able to hold its bladder for approximately three hours, a three-month-old puppy for four hours and a four-month-old puppy – five hours. Also keep in mind that it’s difficult for a stressed puppy to hold its bladder at all and impossible for a puppy with a urinary tract infection. For more information about housebreaking see my article Potty Training A Puppy: The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide.

Establish A Consistent Bedtime Routine

Because dogs thrive on predictability, establishing reasonably consistent mealtimes, exercise, training, play and bed time routines can help your puppy adjust to its new home. Start by meeting all of your dog’s needs throughout the day including healthy meals, training, exercise, mental stimulation and naps whenever your puppy chooses them. For information about a healthy diet for your puppy, see my articles Dog Nutrition Guide: Essential For Your Dog’s Health & Longevity and Dog Nutrition Guide: A Complete Raw Dog Food Diet.
 
Evenings should gradually transition from high-energy toward quieter, more relaxing activities (R2) (R3). Early in the evening you can provide a short walk, positive training session, enrichment activity or game to help your puppy burn off excess energy without becoming over-stimulated. As bedtime gets closer, avoid exciting games and spend the final part of the evening being calm together, such as a slow, leisurely sniff walk or quiet cuddle time, followed by one last elimination opportunity right before bed. Over time, these familiar patterns help your puppy understand what to expect and recognize when the day is winding down. For a list of 50 enrichment activities see my article Canine Enrichment: Best Ideas For Mental Stimulation & Boredom Prevention.

Comfortable Sleeping Environment

Your puppy's sleeping environment can make a big difference in how easily it settles at night. Although many people assume that puppies should sleep in a crate, this is only one option. While some puppies settle comfortably in a crate, others become distressed when confined to a small space. An exercise pen is an excellent alternative because it provides additional room for your puppy to move around, stretch out and change sleeping positions, while also allowing space for a designated elimination area if that’s your choice.
 
Regardless of which option you choose, placing your puppy's sleeping area beside your bed can help it feel more comfortable and sleep peacefully. Remember that your puppy has spent its entire life surrounded by its mother and littermates, so suddenly expecting it to sleep alone in an unfamiliar environment can be frightening. Being able to hear and smell you nearby can provide reassurance while your puppy adjusts to its new surroundings (R3) (R4).
 
Provide comfortable, washable bedding and a couple appropriate, safe chew toys. If your puppy chews or destroys its bedding or toys, remove anything that could create an ingestion hazard. Crates and exercise pens should always be introduced in a positive manner during the day first, instead of expecting your puppy to accept confinement for the first time at bedtime, and it should never be used for punishment. For more information about positive 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 soft stuffed toy designed to provide comfort to young puppies adjusting to life away from their mother and littermates. Some versions include a simulated heartbeat and warming pack to remind the puppy of sleeping beside its mother and littermates. Although every puppy is different, many find these toys comforting during their first nights in a new home. As with any toy, remove it if your puppy attempts to destroy or ingest any part of it.

Can Your Puppy Sleep In Your Bed?

Many people have strong opinions about this question but mine is that this is always a personal choice. Our dogs are welcome to sleep on our bed whenever they choose, and our puppies are allowed to join us from the day they come home. Not only does this speed up the bonding process, the puppy is more likely to sleep longer because it feels safe. We put little bells on their collars so we can hear them moving during the night and take them outside when necessary. After decades of raising numerous puppies, this arrangement has worked well for us and there has never been an accident on the bed.
 
Another option to taking your pup out in the middle of the night is putting a tarp with newspaper or pee pads beside your bed. When your puppy wakes up and you hear the bell, place your puppy on the newspaper or pee pads to eliminate then bring it back into the bed.
 
This may not be the right choice for everyone as sleeping arrangements should always take both yours and your puppy's individual needs into consideration. The most important question is where you want the adult dog to sleep long term.
It’s better to start with the sleeping arrangement that works best for your family instead of causing stress for your dog by changing it later.

What Should You Do When Your Puppy Cries At Night?

When your puppy cries during the night, begin by figuring out why it's crying instead of automatically assuming it wants attention. If several hours have passed since its last bathroom break, assume it may need to eliminate and either put it on the newspaper beside your bed or calmly and quietly take it outside. Once your puppy eliminates, quietly praise it then return to bed (R1) (R5).
 
Because I don’t believe in allowing a puppy to cry itself to sleep, as it can harm its emotional wellbeing, I never ignore a puppy that’s become increasingly distressed. If your puppy has recently eliminated but continues to cry, it helps to understand why. Is it stressed, frightened, uncomfortable, hot, cold, not feeling well or simply having trouble settling into its new surroundings without its mother and littermates? Young puppies are learning to feel safe in their new home, and some require more reassurance than others. If your puppy is sleeping in a crate or exercise pen beside your bed, you can place your fingers through the bars to provide comforting contact, while speaking softly to it, then gradually withdrawing your attention as it begins to relax.
 
If your puppy still continues to cry, reassess the situation. It could need another bathroom break, especially if it’s stressed, or it could need a more comfortable sleeping environment or additional reassurance while it adjusts. For more information about empathy verses rules see my article Where Rules Meet Compassion: Balancing Structure & Empathy In Dog Training.

Frequent waking can occasionally have a medical cause. If it’s accompanied by unusually frequent urination, straining, discomfort, blood in the urine, foul-smelling urine, or any other signs of possible illness, contact your veterinarian.

Additional Tips

Don’t overdo the exercise and mental stimulation during the day in hopes that the puppy will sleep longer at night. An overtired or over-stimulated puppy can become cranky and have a difficult time settling. During the night, maintain a quiet, dimly lit, comfortable sleeping space and minimize unnecessary noise and movement as much as possible while your puppy is adjusting. Some puppies find gentle background noise such as a fan soothing, particularly when they're becoming accustomed to sleeping away from their littermates. Most importantly, be patient while your puppy develops bladder control, becomes familiar with its new routine and learns that its new home is a safe place to sleep. If sleeping difficulties persist in spite of appropriate management, consult your veterinarian to rule out possible medical causes, and a qualified positive behaviour expert to help adjust your program to ensure success.

Summary

Teaching your puppy to sleep through the night is a gradual process that involves understanding your puppy's developmental needs, establishing predictable routines and creating a safe, comfortable environment where it can learn to relax. With patience, consistency and positive training, those interrupted nights will soon become less frequent and eventually, a distant memory. In the meantime, remember that your puppy is only little for a very short time, so even during those sleepy early mornings, try to enjoy those precious moments together!

References

(R1) Chewy. How To Get a Puppy To Sleep Through the Night.
(R2) ManyPets. How to Help Your Puppy Sleep Through the Night.
(R3) Whole Dog Journal. How to Get a Puppy to Sleep Through the Night.
(R4) Rover. How To Crate Train a Puppy at Night.
(R5) Preventive Vet. How to Help Your Puppy Sleep Through the Night.

​Photo By Greg Ceci