If dogs constantly walk around the house restlessly, this can be a sign of excess energy, stress, anxiety or longing. In some cases, dogs also wander at night because they suffer from dementia, arthritis, or gastric torsion.
Occasional and brief walking around is generally not a cause for concern. On the other hand, if your dog wanders back and forth every day for a very long time, then this can indicate existing illnesses.
Here is a rough overview of the most common causes:
Possible causesMost affected dogs#1 LongingsDogs in heat + sensitive breeds#2 StressDogs that need a lot of attention + lap dogs#3 DementiaDogs over 10 years old#4 Breed-specific behaviorGuard dogs + Great Dane species#5 FearSmall dog breeds + sensitive dogs#6 Stomach twistLarge dog breeds#7 Excess EnergyShepherd Dogs + Hunting Dogs + City Dogs + Apartment Dogs#8 ArthritisLarge dogs + old dogs#9 Hearing or smelling somethingSniffer dogs + guard dogs#10 Increasing blindnessOld dogs + sick dogs
Then let's take a closer look at the causes.
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#1 Desires
In very sensitive dogs, the desires are often so strong that they walk back and forth restlessly. Potential triggers here are:
- Strong sex drive – for example when female dogs are in heat
- Bowel movements – for example if the dog suddenly gets diarrhea and has to go outside
- The master – e.g. when the master is not at home
- Strong hunger – for example if food was forgotten
- Favorite toy – e.g. if your favorite toy is in the garden
- Attention – for example if the usual daily cuddle session didn't take place
By far the most common cause here is a strong sex drive. The only thing that helps here is castration. Because this greatly reduces the production of sex hormones.
Uncastrated male dogs are almost permanently horny. Unneutered female dogs, on the other hand, only come into heat for around 3 weeks every 6 months. [1]
If your dog is restlessly running back and forth near the front door, then he is usually waiting for a certain person.
To find out the exact cause, a dog camera or recording with a cell phone can help. After that it's just a matter of satisfying the longing.
Longings such as a strong sex drive, the owner or hunger can cause dogs to walk around the apartment restlessly. The solution here is to identify the corresponding cause and satisfy the longings.
#2 Stress
Constant wandering can also indicate emotional or environmental stress in dogs. Possible triggers here are:
- Severe weather – e.g. upcoming storms, thunderstorms or hail
- Noise – e.g. fireworks or loud trains
- Post-traumatic stress disorder – e.g. violence in upbringing
- Grief – e.g. after separation from mother
- Veterinarian – e.g. before or after a visit to the vet
- Threat to territory – e.g. if your own basket smells like other animals
If there is no recognizable trigger, then this could also indicate what is known as “Cushing’s syndrome”. [2]
Here, a brain disorder causes the dog to produce too much of the stress hormone “cortisol”. Affected dogs also often walk restlessly around the apartment.
When dogs are under severe stress, other symptoms usually appear:
- Constant panting
- Unusually heavy shedding
- Nervous behavior
- Tremble [3]
The following measures can help reduce stress:
- Give your dog more time and attention
- Go on two long walks every day
- Reduce any noise
Incidentally, all lap dog breeds are most sensitive to stress. Because they are considered particularly sensitive and trusting.
Severe or chronic stress often leads to restless pacing in dogs. Typical causes here are an upcoming storm, noise or sadness. In almost all cases, more attention and physical and mental activity help.
#3 Dementia
According to studies, around 28% of all 11-12 year old dogs suffer from dementia. For 15 and 16 year old dogs the figure is a whopping 68%. [4]
Affected dogs run around more often at night because they have simply forgotten that it is their own home. Other typical symptoms include:
- Disorientation
- Incontinence
- Ignoring the simplest commands
- Sudden night activity
- Irritability [5]
Unfortunately, dementia is currently still an incurable disease. However, the following measures can be used to mitigate the effects:
- Night lights
- Mental busyness
- Dog diapers
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If old dogs walk restlessly around the house at night, this could be a sign of dementia. Here dogs often behave very defiantly and are disoriented. Although dementia is incurable, the spread can be slowed down.
#4 Breed-specific behavior
Compared to humans, dogs are significantly more instinct-driven. Guard dogs in particular therefore tend to always be on the lookout for potential dangers.
- The reason? We are able to objectively assess how safe our lives are today. Dogs can't do that.
- The result? Even today, survival is still the #1 priority of dogs. They therefore patrol the apartment more often to protect themselves.
What looks to us like restless walking back and forth is actually an instinctive protective mechanism.
Some dog breeds have even been specifically bred to patrol independently without company. The “Mastino Napoletano” is the best example here.
But many other Great Dane species also instinctively tend to this behavior. However, this is relatively rare for smaller and very trusting dogs.
Restless pacing can be an instinctive defense mechanism in dogs. Patrolling is most commonly seen in guard dogs and some Great Dane species. Sometimes they also wander back and forth at night.
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#5 Fear
If your dog behaves restlessly or even nervously, this can also indicate existing anxiety disorders. Typical causes here are:
- Separation anxiety
- New surroundings after moving
- Loud noises
- Barking from a more dominant neighbor dog
- Alzheimer [6]
Very old dogs in particular often become increasingly anxious. Deteriorating memory usually leads to confusion and disorientation.
In addition to walking back and forth, there are usually other symptoms:
- Constant panting
- Repetitive behavior
- Incontinence
- Sudden aggression [7]
For treatment, the cause should first be identified. Regardless, the following measures can also help:
- Distraction with a new toy
- Calming supplements
- Anxiety-relieving medications
Antianxiety medications should only be used if all other measures have failed.
Restless running around is one of many symptoms of existing anxiety disorders in dogs. It is usually accompanied by heavy panting, repetitive behavior and incontinence. Treatment here is specific depending on the underlying cause.
#6 Stomach twist
As the name suggests, gastric torsion is when the stomach rotates around its own longitudinal axis. According to studies, 0.6% of all dogs suffer from this disease. [8]
The most common symptoms of this are:
The exact cause of this is not yet known. However, according to statistics, large dog breeds are most often affected by this.
This is a medical emergency. If left untreated, gastric torsion is associated with severe pain and is usually fatal.
Early action is therefore the be-all and end-all. In most cases, surgical intervention is necessary for gastric torsion. The mortality rate here is around 25%. [10]
Stomach torsion causes such severe pain that affected dogs cannot sleep and instead walk restlessly around the house at night. If you notice any further symptoms, you should consult your vet immediately.
#7 Excess energy
While for some dogs a single short walk is completely sufficient, for other breeds even three long walks are not enough.
In this case, restless wandering is just a symptom of a lack of physical and mental activity. Other typical symptoms of this are:
- Hyperactivity
- Yelp
- Constant digging
The restless behavior is partly due to a diet with too much sugar and carbohydrates. Here it helps to take a look at the nutritional information of the food.
Shepherd and hunting dogs are generally considered to be the most active breeds. Excess energy can also be the result of living conditions:
- A large dog kept in an apartment that is too small
- Active dogs kept in large cities without wide meadows
Regardless of breed, every dog should get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. The following tools can help to keep you more physically and mentally occupied:
- Another dog as a play partner
- Use the dog as a jogging partner
- Frisbees or balls to throw
- Coffee wood chewing bones
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Restless walking around the house can be a sign of excess energy. Here the dog just needs more mental and physical activity. Most often, this type of hyperactivity occurs in hunting and sheepdogs.
#8 Arthritis
Studies have shown that around one in five dogs will suffer from arthritis as they age. This refers to chronic inflammation of the joints. [11]
In this case, lying down and getting up is often associated with so much pain that affected dogs prefer to walk back and forth restlessly instead of sleeping.
Other symptoms of arthritis include:
- Stiff gait
- Painful sensation when standing up
- Swollen joints
- Aversion to jumping [12]
Unfortunately, arthritis is still an incurable disease. However, the symptoms can be treated very well. Help with this:
- Medication for pain relief
- Physiotherapy
- Diet adjustment [13]
Arthritis can make lying down and getting up so painful for dogs that they walk around the house restlessly at night instead of sleeping. In addition, affected dogs usually walk a little stiffer. Although this disease cannot be cured, it can be easily treated.
#9 Hear or smell something
In comparison, dogs hear and smell by…