When dogs don't sleep at night, it's usually due to separation anxiety or excess energy. However, under certain circumstances it can also be an indication of allergies, sleep apnea, stress, dementia, stomach problems or other pain.
There is usually only reason to worry if it occurs multiple times, the dog is weak during the day or other pathological symptoms occur.
Below you will learn about the 10 most common causes, how to recognize them and what to do in specific cases.
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#1 Separation anxiety
Young dogs in particular have problems being alone at night. The reason? They are surrounded by family 24/7 during the day and then suddenly not anymore.
This most often affects sensitive dog breeds and especially young dogs. Other typical signs of this are:
- Restless walking around
- Dog is shaking
- Ears laid back
- Dog doesn't sleep at night
- Whining and whining
- Constant change of berth [1]
In addition to loneliness, loud noises, the presence of strangers or even violence in upbringing can also be the cause. Proven methods for dealing with separation anxiety include:
- Put your own clothes in the basket so the dog can smell you
- To start, position the basket near the bedroom
- Increase the distance of the basket a little more each week
- Associate loneliness with something positive, like a toy [2]
Overcoming fears also strengthens your dog's self-confidence. So you kill two birds with one stone.
Dogs with separation anxiety often cannot sleep when lonely and instead wander around restlessly. Here it is important to gradually get your four-legged friend used to being alone. With a little patience, every dog will eventually be able to sleep through the night on their own.
#2 Stomach pain
Dogs only evolved from pure carnivores to omnivores when humans were domesticated. Their digestive system is therefore comparatively primitive.
This explains why even small things can cause stomach pain. Typical triggers for this are:
- Eating too quickly
- Dog eats grass
- Food allergies
- Human food leftovers
- Food intolerances
- Toxic foods [3]
For dogs, toxic foods also include everyday things like onions, grapes, garlic and avocados. It is important to be particularly careful here.
You can usually recognize stomach pain in the evening if the dog constantly licks its own lips, doesn't sleep at night and drools heavily. Other symptoms include:
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When dogs struggle with stomach pain at night, they are usually restless. Among other things, it can be recognized by the fact that they suddenly vomit, do not sleep at night and constantly change their berth. A change in diet can help here.
#3 Allergies
It's not just people who struggle with allergies more often, but dogs too. According to statistics, one in five four-legged friends is said to be affected.
Doctors call the triggers “allergens”. In theory, however, almost anything can be an allergen. The most common triggers are:
- Chemicals in cleaning products
- Certain foods
- Pollen, grass and mold spores
- Hair of strange animals
- Cigarette smoke [5]
The symptoms can vary depending on the species. However, it usually causes severe itching, which means dogs cannot sleep at night. Other symptoms include:
- Swelling and redness
- Sudden vomiting
- Dog sneezes and snorts
- Nose constantly running
- Physical restlessness
- Watery eyes [6]
Since there is no cure for allergies, it is important to identify the triggers using an allergy test. You should then prevent these if possible.
Allergies can cause such severe symptoms in dogs that affected four-legged friends cannot sleep. In most cases it can be recognized by severe itching and constant sneezing. It is important to take preventive measures here.
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#4 Dementia
Dementia is a chronic brain disease that causes both memory and general mental performance to steadily decline.
Older four-legged friends are most commonly affected. According to studies, one in three dogs over the age of 11 is said to suffer from it. [7]
Dementia can usually be recognized by the dog wandering at night, appearing confused and not sleeping at night. Other typical symptoms are:
- Sudden ignorance
- Dog is disoriented
- Increasing detachment
- Sleep disorders
- Dog stares at walls
- Repetitive behavior [8]
Just like in humans, dementia in dogs is still considered incurable. The nighttime restlessness here is usually triggered by fear.
Because as the disease progresses, everything suddenly seems strange. Intelligence toys are particularly suitable for prevention.
Demented dogs often struggle with fear because their memory loss makes even their own home and family seem increasingly alien. This can often be recognized by the dog being confused or not sleeping at night.
#5 Excess energy
Until a few decades ago, even in Germany, dogs were kept primarily as working animals. A lot of exercise is part of the daily program there.
For this reason, even today, shepherds and hunting dogs still have an enormous amount of energy that they have to get rid of every day. Otherwise, hyperactive behavior often occurs.
This is particularly common when keeping active breeds in big cities or small apartments. Typical symptoms of excess energy are:
- Dog runs wildly
- Whimpering in frustration
- Dog doesn't sleep
- Constant barking
- Furniture chewing
- Dog seeks eye contact
- Restless behavior [9]
Here you can get creative and implement methods to exercise your dog physically and mentally day after day. Proven measures here are:
- Purchase of many toys
- Playdates with other dogs
- Ball throwing machine for indoors and outdoors
- Take your dog jogging
- Chew toys and snuffle mats [10]
Having another pet as a play partner can also work wonders. In addition to dogs, cats and mini pigs are also suitable here. But this is not absolutely necessary.
When dogs cannot let out their energy on a daily basis, dissatisfaction and frustration take hold. Among other things, four-legged friends usually become restless and hyperactive, which means they cannot sleep at night. More utilization is the solution here.
#6 Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders in dogs. These are voluntary pauses in breathing during sleep.
Overweight dogs and brachycephalic breeds are particularly affected. This refers to four-legged friends that have a particularly short snout. This includes:
- Bulldog
- Shih Tzu
- pug
- Boston terriers
- Pekingese
- Chihuahuas [11]
This can usually be recognized by the fact that the dog snores a lot and loudly. In addition, short pauses in breathing can often be heard at irregular intervals. Other symptoms include:
- Dog panting in his sleep
- Irritability during the day
- Sleep with your eyes open
- Severe fatigue
- Constant change of sleeping place
- Restless behavior [12]
In most cases, sleep apnea is caused by being overweight or having excess fat. For this reason, treatment first involves changing your diet.
In individual cases, sleep apnea can also be triggered by swelling from allergies. Here I recommend carrying out an appropriate allergy test.
When dogs struggle with sleep apnea, subconscious pauses in breathing are more common. In practice, this usually results in the dog waking up and no longer being able to sleep due to the release of hormones.
#7 Unsatisfied desires
Toddlers and babies usually cry or otherwise verbally alert you when something is wrong.
It's similar with dogs. The only difference is that they don't scream, but instead become more and more restless or even start to bark. Typical triggers here are:
- Hunger or thirst
- Mental boredom
- Strong sex drive
- Nocturnal urge to urinate
- Lack of attention [13]
When dogs have to go out at night, their bladders often become so tight that they cannot sleep. Here it is important to adapt your lifestyle accordingly.
The best way to recognize it is if the dog suddenly scratches on your door at night or generally always seeks eye contact. Many four-legged friends also start jumping.
In addition to physical exercise, you should also exercise your dog mentally. Intelligence toys or homemade food dispensers are recommended for this purpose. [14]
If dogs' longings and needs are not met, this usually results in physical restlessness. In the evening and at night it is often noticeable that they do not sleep, start to whine or even go into the house.
#8 Stress
A variety of stress factors can cause the dog to constantly release stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. This is completely normal.
The problem? These hormones also mean that your dog is always on alert. The most common triggers include:
- New environment
- jealousy
- Cushing's syndrome
- New routine
- presence of strangers
- Nightmares [15]
This can usually be recognized by the dog being restless at night, not sleeping or even pacing back and forth nervously. Other classic signs of this are:
- Strong thirst
- Dog is shaking
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Retracted tail
- Constant panting
- Dog licks his lips
- Whining and whining [16]
Dogs can literally “chew away” stress. A chewing bone is ideal here. You can also proactively get your four-legged friend used to the stress factor.
Stress can cause dogs to wake up at night and be unable to sleep. In most cases this is due to a new environment or the presence of strange animals. Here it is important to gradually get your four-legged friend used to it.
#9 Other pain
If your dog is struggling with pain, you shouldn't expect him to communicate it. Dogs inherited this behavior from wolves.
Because as a free-living wolf it is dangerous in front of other predators. Weakness due to existing…