Mary Allen
Puppies are lively and they are playful. On the one hand, the tiny four-legged friends are adorable. At the same time, puppies can get on your last nerve. It gets particularly tiring when your puppy doesn’t rest.
Is your pup hyper all the time? He bites, barks and whines all day long. And the dog doesn’t even stop at your night’s rest? This behavior is not only uncomfortable for you but for your puppy as well.
Puppy comes to a new apartment
When your puppy comes into its new home, it means stress at first. Because suddenly everything is new. In addition, the mother and siblings are suddenly gone. How would you feel in this situation?
Your puppy needs time and composure to get used to it. Because he has to settle in first.
Nevertheless, you should already set limits for your dog. One of the most common tips is to start toilet training your four-legged friend. That is not easy.
And with all of these chores, don’t forget that your little pup gets adequate rest. Sleep is one of those things that is often overlooked.
A puppy needs adequate sleep
Overall, your puppy should sleep around 16 to 18 hours a day. At eight weeks even about 20 hours a day. Your little dog needs this bedtime.
When he sleeps, he strengthens his bones and muscles. At the same time, the immune system has to get going. And the brain needs to evolve, as does the central nervous system.
Too little sleep makes your young dog tired. He is irritable and lethargic. His ability to learn is declining. Likewise his concentration and his performance. In addition, the immune system does not work properly.
Is your pup getting enough sleep?
Unfortunately, you only notice the consequences when your little dog barks incessantly. Or he bites, runs around restlessly, and does not come to rest.
This is not only nerve-wracking for us humans. It is a bad situation, especially for your dog. After all, your little dog can’t communicate when enough is enough. He can’t say he’s tired. Here you are in demand.
Why won’t my dog rest?
There can be many reasons for your young dog or puppy being restless. Have you ever wondered if you’re overexerting your pup? Maybe you are too busy with your new housemate.
Of course, it is very attractive to caress him. To cuddle or to call him by his name. However, too much attention is extremely problematic for puppies.
Because dogs need different amounts of time to settle in. Some are more anxious. They adapt more slowly to new circumstances.
Make sure your dog can retreat. Especially in the early days, puppies must have a suitable place to retreat to. The place should be quiet. And hardly frequented. But not too far from you.
What helps against restlessness in puppies
- Rest in the puppy’s everyday life
- Dog box as a retreat
- practice rest periods
Therefore, keep a close eye on what could be causing your puppy not to rest. Only then can you tackle the problem.
Bring calm into the puppy’s everyday life
Prepare a comfortable place for your dog. It should be calm and protected. Whether dog basket or dog blanket. That’s entirely up to you. And your dog.
Many dogs feel comfortable in sleeping caves. Others prefer a blanket. You can stretch out there. You will soon notice what your little one likes the most.
Then, once your puppy withdraws, leave him completely alone. This is especially true if you have children in the household. It is of course attractive to pet the little one. And to cuddle him. But he needs his rest.
Dog box as an ideal retreat
A dog transport box or a closed basket is ideal. This place serves two purposes. It is a place of retreat and educational support. Set up the box comfortably. You can hang a blanket over it. This is how you achieve a cave effect.
Gradually introduce your pup to this box. To do this, leave the door of the box open. A few treats inside should entice your dog.
Practice putting it down in the box. You have to have a lot of patience when it comes to training. Take your time. And practice. And this until your dog settles down in the box. Don’t forget the rewards.
Practice laying down at the sleeping place
Does your dog go to this place alone and lie relaxed in it? Then close the door for a moment. After that, open the door again and reward him. Slowly increase this time.
Your dog will come to rest in the closed box. This is very good, especially during the night. Does your pet need to go outside to loosen up? Then it will stir. Dogs avoid soiling their own sleeping space.
You can then react immediately. This not only makes your dog calmer. He’ll be housebroken faster. If your puppy pulls away, stop touching him. And don’t talk to him.
Practice rest periods
Train a signal for calm. Whenever your puppy lies down, you can give this signal. You can build on that later.
The trained signal can still be helpful when your dog is older. Because your animal will know immediately that rest is required now.
How can I teach puppies to be quiet?
Is your dog already very excited? Does he jump up, bark, and bite? Then you have to calm him down first. The fastest way to do this is with the following simple tips:
- Ignore your dog.
- Avoid all eye contact.
- Face away or leave the room.
With every bit of attention, puppies would turn up even more.
Small problems in dog training become bigger
In no case should you allow the dog to train you? It’s faster than we’d like to admit. Because puppies like to wrap us around our little fingers. Behavior often creeps in from us that later becomes the cause of mistakes in dog training.