“Let him play and romp; then he’ll be tired in the evening” – a typical sentence for promoting a dog’s sleep. And indeed – physical exertion contributes to a restful dog’s sleep, but this is not always enough for the four-legged friend to rest at night. These five tips will help your dog sleep better.
Utilization is indeed an essential factor when it comes to helping a furry friend sleep. Anyone who runs and plays a lot during the day is exhausted in the evening and looks forward to a well-deserved rest. But mental exercise is also essential.
- Physical and mental workload
In addition to the physical workload already mentioned through sufficient exercise and activity, mental workload also plays a role in good dog sleep. For example, you can try nose work, man trailing, clicker training, tracking, or dog sports such as dog dancing with your dog – here, muscles are required, and the head.
- The ideal place to sleep
Like people, dogs need a good place to sleep to snore comfortably and restfully. The place to dream, be it a dog basket or a dog bed, should always be comfortable and slightly elevated, protected from drafts and cold ground, and preferably with a back cover. You can find more on the subject in the guide “Sleeping place: How your dog can sleep peacefully.”
- Create a good sleeping environment
The dog basket and the room or the environment affect sleep. The room should be dark in the evening or at night. So that your dog sleeps well and is tired, it is also essential that it is not too loud and prevented from falling asleep or awakened from sleep by any disturbing noises – such as traffic noise that is too loud. Stress also hurts dog sleep. Arguing or having visitors around the house may keep him from getting tired.
- Establish an evening routine
So that your four-legged friend does not wake up at night because he has to lift his paw, you should take him out the door every evening before bedtime. So that he can relieve himself again before bedtime, it makes sense if you give him his evening meal a few hours before, and he can still digest it in peace.
- Rule out health problems
Sleep problems can also be related to health problems. If your dog suddenly can’t sleep properly, talk to your vet about possible other symptoms, such as loss of appetite or pain.
