Why does a dog sleep poorly?
Typically, dogs need an average of about 12-14 hours a day to get enough sleep. Large breeds, such as St. Bernards, do not wake up during the night. They can sleep soundly even during the day. Yorkshire terriers also love to nap. If the house is warm and quiet, the dog goes to its bed. Daytime naps can last from 20 minutes to a couple of hours. More active pets, in particular the Jack Russell Terrier, prefer to rest in fits and starts. Their sleep is short, but more frequent.
The dog is resting
It happens that the puppy stays awake at night, whines, howls, and wakes up the owners. The most common reasons for this behavior are a sedentary lifestyle, when the dog is not walked much during the day or is not taken outside at all, as well as stress. Pets' sleep may be disturbed when there is frost or a sharp rise in air temperature.
Weather
Dogs are sensitive to weather changes. If your pet can't sleep, he may be feeling a thunderstorm coming. It is believed that animals sense air vibrations, so they react to thunder before humans can hear them. Dogs' behavior changes when blood pressure drops, which usually occurs before precipitation.
Stress
If a puppy is taken away from his family, he will first miss his brothers, sisters and mother. The pet will walk around the house looking for them, may refuse to eat, and whine. For example, French bulldogs are sensitive to separation from their family; it is difficult for them to be alone. But dogs tend to adapt quickly if they are given due attention, taken care of, and educated.
There is nothing wrong with the dog feeling homesick for the first week or two. There is no need to put pressure on him, it is better to show understanding and patience. If he whines in the evening, ignore him and spend a lot of time with him during the daytime.
The dog is whining
Note! It is not recommended to separate the puppy from its mother before 2 months. Experienced breeders will never give a pet to new owners until it is 8 weeks old.
Affection and care
It happens that a puppy is taken from its mother at too early an age. The first days in a new place, he seems to be cheerful and cheerful during the day, but at night he begins to cry, whine, and scratch at the owner’s room. The above methods will not work here. The baby is scared, he is lonely, plus stress from a change of environment, and even his mother is not around. So he wanders around at night.
Try to recreate the puppy’s familiar environment a little. What is required for this:
Correct sleeping place. Not just a doormat, but a neat little house. As an option - a soft couch with high sides, or even your own chair. The main thing is that the puppy feels protected. Warm. This could be a hot water bottle or a plastic bottle. It is advisable to wrap them in a warm soft cloth
Then the puppy will think that he is next to his mother and will sleep peacefully until the morning. Attention. Spend as much time as possible during the day
There is nothing worse than taking a baby away from its mother and then leaving it to fend for itself.
Of course, affection and care are very important in properly raising a puppy, but do not overdo it. Otherwise, in the future you will get an impossible whim instead of a true friend of man.
Sometimes some owners will initially take the puppy into their bed to help it calm down and fall asleep. Should not be doing that. Because in the future it is not always possible to wean a dog from a childhood habit. If you really want to calm your baby down without extra effort, then place his baby bed next to your bed. Then lower either hand down, placing it next to the baby. After 12-15 minutes, the puppy usually stops whining and falls asleep. Now you can sleep too.
Gradually move the couch away from the bed, moving it to the place of permanent deployment. The puppy will also slowly get used to it, and then will sleep with you until the morning.
Do not lock your puppy alone at night. Some dogs are real watchdogs from a young age. Therefore, they wake up at night at any age. Then they go to the master bedroom and make sure everything is in place. Then the baby calmly stomps off to sleep.
If your baby drags some toy or a chewing bone from his veins to his sleeping place before going to bed, do not take them away from him. And especially don’t scold. With a toy, the puppy will fall asleep much faster, and the bone will allow you to sleep at night, because the baby will be busy with it, instead of trying to climb into the owner’s bed or even wake up everyone in the household.
How to train a puppy to sleep at night? With the help of the consistency of your actions - very quickly. Just remember that a dog is a socially active creature. She feels very bad without her master's attention. Therefore, give the puppy in full during the day what he does not receive at night.
Resting place for a puppy
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The puppy's place for sleeping should be something he likes. He will not want to spend time in it if it causes negative emotions. You should not send your puppy to his corner to rest as a punishment.
How to painlessly put your puppy to sleep in his designated place:
- Place the pet's rug or house so that it is not disturbed by a draft or the light of a lamp or street lamp. For small dogs - Yorkies and Chihuahuas, you can take a lounger. They come in different shapes and sizes, with and without sides.
- Create convenience and comfort. The dog should be warm and soft.
- You shouldn’t forbid your dog to take his favorite toys with him.
Perhaps the pet does not like the chosen place. If it is located in the corridor, and the dog is eager to go to the master bedroom, you can arrange a corner for him in the room where the owner rests.
Load
How to fix the situation? Very simple. Make your puppy play during the day. Exhaust it so that your pet has no extra energy left. You need to keep your puppy occupied and not just wake him up. Try to distribute the load evenly. It is advisable to include training and intellectual games. For example, thimbles or various labyrinths.
Before going to bed, be sure to take a walk and feed the baby. Well-fed puppies sleep better. If the baby wants to relieve himself, he will involuntarily wake up and may begin to wake you up. The pet will decide to play at the same time.
Before bed rituals
What to do if your puppy doesn’t let you sleep at night:
- Walk your pet daily, including before bed. The dog must get tired and spend the accumulated energy, only then will its rest be complete.
- Feed the dog for the last time 3 hours before going to bed, give water two hours before.
- Make sure the puppy goes to the toilet. Otherwise his sleep will be disturbed.
- If an animal begins to whine, attracting the owner’s attention, you should not encourage this by feeling sorry for him. This kind of thing needs to be stopped immediately. If the pet receives affection from the owner, he will want to return to similar behavior next time. It's best to ignore the whining. You can use a deny command.
How to accustom a puppy to a leash and collar
The dog quickly gets used to the regime if the owner adheres to it.
Note! The pet usually goes to bed with the owner. When nothing bothers him, he is well-fed, healthy, and has spent the day actively, then his rest will be long. A tired dog will sit on a separate rug and relax.
Ban
Dogs are very dependent on their owners. This is especially true for small puppies. Impressionable little ones quickly remember prohibiting commands and obey their owners. If your shaggy friend is noisy or too annoying, it is acceptable to shush him. After this, the pet will probably calm down. With the right amount of patience, you can teach your baby the “Sleep” command.
Fidgets can be calmed down with the help of a newspaper. Roll it into a tube and tap it on the floor. Just don’t hit your pet under any circumstances! You cannot punish a child. Firstly, the baby simply will not understand what idea you want to convey. Mistrust will arise. Secondly, the night will begin to be associated with something bad. The puppy may resist and resist even more due to emerging fears.
What positions do dogs sleep in?
Pets prefer to sleep in different positions: on their stomach, back or side. Street animals usually curl up. This way the heat stays longer and the dog doesn’t freeze, and it also takes little time to get up on its paws. Stray dogs usually do not feel safe, so they do not take relaxed positions.
On the stomach
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Watchdogs love to sleep on their stomachs. If they hear a suspicious noise or rustle, they will rise up in a second to take action. Such dogs are always on the alert, ready to stand up for the owner and protect property.
On the side
Lying on your side is not very comfortable. But in this position the animal can fall asleep soundly. Often, owners notice how the pet twitches its paws, as if running away from being chased. The muscles in this position are not completely relaxed; the dog will instantly wake up if he senses something is wrong.
On the back
In the supine position, the dog is as relaxed as possible. Only pets who feel completely safe sleep this way. They know that they are not in danger and their owner will protect them at any time.
Note! Dogs lie on their backs during hot weather. This way, heat leaves the surface of the body faster; on the belly, the fur is usually not as long and thick as in other places.
Psychological factors
The reasons why dogs want to get into a person's bed lie in the nature of pack animals. The ancestors of domestic pets lived in large packs, and modern dogs are also pack animals. They felt a sense of security and warmth by clinging closely to each other while sleeping. Only the outcasts were forced to sleep separately from the pack. Therefore, puppies strive to be closer to those from whom they expect protection.
Animal psychologists say that by the pet’s posture you can determine how much it trusts the members of its “pack”. If the dog turns its most unprotected part - its back, then it trusts the person, feels protection and comfort. Such close contacts, however, do not contribute to building the correct hierarchy. Highly organized animals require a hierarchical structure.
Puppies are immediately born dominant, subdominant and low-ranking, so from the very beginning alphas strive to occupy the corresponding position. The leader of the pack is always higher on the social ladder than his relatives. This also applies to location in space. The dog's bed is located one level below the owner's bed or sofa. So he understands that the owner is the leader, and the dog must obey him.
Trying to get into bed with its owner, the dog tries to compete for leadership. It is more difficult to train such a dog and more difficult to demand obedience from him. The dog strives to sleep in a person’s bed, but he himself does not allow anyone to encroach on his sleeping place - this is the right of the leader of the pack. The man himself gives up part of his leadership, and the dog knows how to manipulate the man in order to achieve his own.
There are also more “prosaic” reasons that are not related to the psychology and nature of the pet. For example:
- the apartment is too cold, and the pet is looking for a warm place;
- the dog needs attention, close contact allows you to compensate for this;
- The dog in the owners’ bed “hides” from the excessive attention of small children or other inhabitants of the home.
A feeling of fear, lack of security, the need for a “family,” stress are factors that force a dog to seek comfortable mental and physical conditions in a person’s bed.
Ways to adjust biorhythms
Anyone who decides to get a dog must understand that the daily routine will have to be adjusted to the animal. You need to walk your pet in the morning and evening; it’s good if he spends at least half an hour outside. Active animals require dog games, physical activity, and training every day. Do not forget about proper nutrition, which is also carried out according to a schedule. Only if all the rules are followed will the dog have a sound and healthy sleep; he will not wake up his owners by barking and whining.
How to put a dog to sleep, what to do to establish the animal’s routine:
- Do not leave your pet alone for a long time. If he sees his owner only in the evenings, then he strives to spend more time with him, flirting and forgetting about sleep.
- Go to bed at the same time as your pet. When the owner is awake, the dog will not want to go to his place. If you sit up until the morning several times, it will be difficult to switch your dog to a different mode.
- Play actively with the dog during the day, preferably in the fresh air. People who prefer to lead a quiet lifestyle and do not like walking are not recommended to have active pets.
Accustoming to loneliness
So far this method is considered one of the most effective. The dog is gradually accustomed to its absence. First, the owner leaves the home for a few minutes, but arrives before the puppy feels afraid.
Gradually this period is increased to 30 minutes or more. It is believed that if an animal maintains self-control for an hour and a half, it can stay at home for a longer period. Everything that could be damaged is removed from visible places - breakable objects, slippers, flowerpots, etc. When leaving the apartment, they say “password” - for example, “Wait”!
Some breeders believe that they can reduce a dog's attachment to themselves by ignoring them. Although the tactic requires some effort from a person, it gives a good result, reducing dependence. However, there is a lot of controversy on this topic. But the technique is considered successful if the dog was taken from a shelter where it was abused.
Ignoring the dog is one of the methods of therapy
Owner behavior matters
When training a dog, the behavior of the person himself is of great importance.
It is important that the dog does not become agitated. Therefore, when leaving, the owner should not show much concern or pay more attention to the pet than usual.
The same applies to returning home. Excessive sensitivity only increases fear.
Parting…
During their absence, they try to accustom the animal to certain signals, which will make it clear that the owner will soon come home. For example, you can set a timer on your TV for a certain time. So, 5 minutes before arrival, the device will turn on, which will inform the pet about the owner’s return.
Many dogs become anxious when they hear certain sounds that indicate their owner is about to leave. This is the jingling of keys, the removal of a coat from a hanger, the process of putting on shoes. To make the animal less likely to react to these actions, it is recommended to repeat them many times during your stay at home.
The dog reacts to the ringing of keys
The puppy does not sleep in his place
How to get your dog to always sleep in his place:
- If the puppy is small, it is better to buy him a house, show him, and put bedding on the bottom. You can take a cardboard box if it is not too cramped for the dog. If he wants to sleep in the owner’s bed and you can’t persuade him to lie down in his place, put the purchased kennel on the bed and let the dog inside. As soon as she falls asleep, move the house to the floor, to a place intended for the pet. Gradually he will get used to laying down on his own and will look for familiar bedding.
- Place a toy on the dog's mat that he uses during the day, attracting his attention.
- The puppy can be fed next to a box or house to create pleasant associations. If you plan to place the animal in an enclosure, bowls are placed inside it. The dog must receive everything it needs while in a fenced area.
- In the evening, you need to tire your pet and actively play with him. About an hour before bedtime, postpone noisy activities so that the dog calms down. To relax him, you can scratch his belly or the area behind his ears.
- As soon as the dog settles down on its own territory, you need to praise it. A kind word from an owner is the best incentive for a pet.
The owner's praise
While the dog is getting used to its new home and place to sleep, there is no need to put it far from its owner’s bed. If something bothers the dog, it will let the owner know. Repeated actions every day will help the animal get into the mood for sleep, this applies not only to evening pastimes, it is important to follow a diet and during walks.
Note! The operation of accustoming to a place must be consistent. You can’t let an animal into bed today and leave it outside the door tomorrow, scolding it for disobedience.
Not all pet owners know how to make their dog fall asleep quickly. You can't force a dog to lie down where he doesn't want to. He must like his place. Coercion will only discourage desire and make the learning process painful. The correct daily routine, the necessary attention to the dog and daily walks will contribute to a calm and quick fall asleep.
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Sleep phases
After falling asleep (slow sleep phase), the animal’s body temperature drops, the heart rate decreases, the body is in a relaxed state, and breathing becomes deep. At this stage, the animal can wake up from any rustle. After which the REM sleep phase begins, which lasts about 10-15 minutes. During this period, rapid eye movement is observed, the animal may move its legs and whine. Pets may snore in their sleep or sleep with their eyes open.
There are two phases of dog sleep: REM and NREM.
REM sleep
REM sleep is deep sleep. It is in this phase that the activity of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems becomes more active. During sleep, the dog's whiskers begin to twitch, his lips begin to twitch, and his eyes move intensely under closed eyelids. The tail begins to whine in its sleep, twitch its paws and smack its lips. It is believed that it is during this phase that the animal dreams (chases a cat, runs after a ball, or eats something tasty).
While you may be able to imagine your dog snuggling up to you in bed, this can happen later after he is fully house trained. It is important to keep your puppy indoors, but not isolated or feel too confined. Never use a small box; this can make the puppy very stressed and often leads to more nighttime barking and other problems.
A small enclosed area that includes a comfortable dog bed works best. It should be located in a quiet area of the house. It is recommended not to have it in your own bedroom; if your puppy can't sleep simply because he feels you are so close and to him, you should interact and play no matter what time it happens.
A dog's dreams, just like a person's dreams, directly depend on his lifestyle. If the dog is a hunting dog, then in a dream he will constantly run and catch prey. But if the dog is a guard dog, then in a dream it will grumble, growl and protect the house from an invisible enemy.
Despite the fact that during the rapid phase of sleep the four-legged dog behaves so restlessly, and this phase is very short and makes up only 25% of the total amount of sleep time, it is still deep sleep and the nervous system also rests.
Lower the lights and lower the volume on the TV. While you don't need to resort to whispering, a calm and quiet voice can help give the general idea of a calm and calm environment. If there is any belief that your Chihuahua puppy is not sleeping because he needs to go to the bathroom, you should listen to it.
You want the lamps to be very low and keep talking to a minimum. Once the deed is done, put him back on the bed, give him a quick pat and walk away. It's hard to do, but you will be helping him in the long run.
slow sleep
Slow or light sleep is characterized by decreased muscle tone. The dog's breathing normalizes and calms down, and the heart rate slows down. NREM sleep is characterized by the absence of dreams and serves to restore the dog's physical strength.
Continuing our research on how long dogs sleep, let's talk about why, when going to bed, the dog begins to spin like a top.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytaboutru
One of the best ways to train your Chihuahua puppy to sleep at night is to show him that absolutely nothing interesting, or anything at all, happens at night. There is no play, there is no pleasure, and no one talks. He will not calm down, and he will not sing a lullaby. In fact, life is so boring when it's dark, lies retreat and put off until the morning, when there is interaction, fun, pleasure and attention.
If the puppy simply urinated and eliminated, and he stayed only to get attention, he should be allowed to sleep on his own. Owners who rush every time there is a yelp or whine will actually train the puppy to call all night long. This can create a foundation of terrible habits that are not easy to change.
Ignoring
The owner gets up to drink water and notices a fluffy ball sitting modestly in the corner. The baby happily rushes forward. How can I stay here? I want to cuddle and play, because the baby is behaving well.
After a couple of such sessions, the dog will begin to play at night. She will persistently draw you into the process, even if you are currently sleeping. In extreme cases, the baby will start walking around the rooms, sighing, fidgeting... It is unlikely that you will fall asleep. How to fight?
Option one - ignore. If you get up in the middle of the night, just go about your business. Pretend that there is no puppy nearby. You can't pet, talk, or even look. The baby may compulsively spin around and try to start a game. Do not pay attention. If your pet is in the way, gently move it away with your foot. Leaning down and touching with your hands may feel like encouragement.
Typically training takes from 2 to 5 days. Sooner or later, the baby will understand that there is no one to play with at night, so he will prefer to sleep.
