Give Your Dog a Good Night’s Sleep
Give Your Dog a Good Night’s Sleep
by Bill Taylor
Is there anything more peaceful and pleasing than the sight of your dog curled up on their bed and fast asleep? If you’re a doting dog parent, nothing will give you more joy than to watch your furry friend fall asleep. Chances are you’ve even taken a zillion pictures of your dog’s cute face while they’re dozing off.
That is, of course, if you can get your dog to sleep through the night. Ensuring that your dog gets sound sleep is a challenge for many pet parents. This is because dogs are extremely sensitive to ambient factors, such as loud noises, external lights, as well as the weather.
Any change in their usual living environment can keep your dog up all night. Needless to say, any sleep disorders or issues aren’t ideal for their health. It could take a toll on their immunity, brain development, and cognitive abilities.
Also, when your dog doesn’t sleep well, you don’t get the right duration of shut-eye as well. This, in turn, means both of you’ll wake up feeling exhausted and groggy the next morning.
The good news is that ensuring a good night’s sleep for your pooch isn’t rocket science. You just have to identify and resolve the root cause of their sleep troubles. Also, simple lifestyle adjustments, such as creating an exercise routine or getting a comfortable bed can go a long way to ensure your pooch enjoys long hours of peaceful slumber.
In this blog, we’ll discuss a few effective tips to ensure that your dog gets the right amount of sleep every night. Let’s get started.
Create a Routine
We’d all lose sight of our days and nights in the absence of some form of structure. Your pet dog isn’t an exception. If your pooch has been struggling to fall asleep at night, it’s time you outline a proper routine for them.
When are they supposed to wake up? How many daytime naps are permissible? When are they going to have dinner? Are they going out every day for a walk or playtime? Make sure you define a daily routine that answers all these questions.
Of course, you’ll need to take the right measures to ensure that your canine companion follows the routine. As a ground-rule, make sure you don’t give them any heavy meals right before bedtime.
Also, you should ensure that they go to bed around the same time every day. It’ll help them associate that particular time of the day with sleep. This, in turn, will make it easier for them to doze off. Make sure you follow the routine throughout the week, even on weekends.
Prioritize Exercise
Dogs are active creatures who love to run around and play. It’s a way for them to release their pent-up energy. If your dog doesn’t get enough exercise throughout the day, they’re going to be restless and anxious during bedtime.
That’s why you should make it a point to include some exercise time in your pooch’s daily routine. This could be as simple as going to the neighborhood park for a walk. You could even play catch or other games with them. Or you can dial things up a notch by taking them on hikes and runs on the weekends.
Get a Separate Bed
How many times have you let your dog sleep on your bed? If you’re like most dog parents, chances are this has happened more often than you’d like to admit. When your dog looks at you with their irresistibly cute face, you have to make space for them in your bed.
But this could be one of the major reasons behind your dog’s sleep issues. This is because whenever your dog moves on the bed, it’s going to disrupt your sleep. And as you keep tossing and turning, it’ll interrupt your dog’s peaceful slumber as well.
That’s why it is a better idea to get a separate bed for your pooch. While you’ll find a plethora of dog beds in various bed stores, make sure you buy one that fits your dog’s needs. It should be soft, comfortable, and big enough to fit their body.
You can even find specialized beds for senior and arthritic dogs. Make sure you get more information about different types of dog beds before purchasing one. Depending on the weather you could also consider adding a fuzzy blanket to make their bed warmer.
Check for Underlying Health Issues
Sometimes, the reason for your dog’s sleep troubles could be an underlying physical ailment or infection. Several factors, including allergies, ticks, fleas, etc., could be disrupting your dog’s slumber.
They could even be in pain due to an underlying infection or injury. If your dog’s sleep patterns aren’t improving despite all your efforts, it’s wiser to consult a veterinarian.
What techniques have you used to ensure that your dog gets enough sleep? Share your suggestions in the comments section below.
