If your dog won’t let you sleep, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible reasons why it has been doing it and what you can do about it.
So, why won’t my dog let me sleep? Common reasons why your dog won’t let you sleep are that it is bored, hungry, it has separation anxiety, it thinks that there is something wrong with you or that it has learned that the behavior is rewarded.
It might actually be doing it for a number of different reasons and it could be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason and there are a number of things you can do about it.
Reasons why your dog won’t let you sleep
Below are some possible causes and what would make each of them more likely to be the main reason.
Boredom
If it does it when you are trying to sleep during the day, the cause might be that it is bored and hoping to get exercise. This would be more likely if your dog only stops you from sleeping when it has not gotten exercise already and it does not do it when it has. In this case, it could help to exercise it earlier than usual and to try to sleep afterward.
If it does it at night, it might also be the case that a lack of exercise is causing it to be energetic. This would be more likely if it does not let you sleep at night on days when it has not gotten any exercise. In this case, it would help to ensure that it is able to get the daily amount of recommended exercise for its age and breed.
Hunger
Another possible cause is that it is hungry and it does not want to have to wait to be fed until after you sleep. This would be more likely if it only stops you from sleeping before it has been fed and not after.
Encouraging the behavior
Another possible cause is that it has learned that the behavior gets rewarded. If you tend to give your dog things such as toys, treats or extra attention, when it stops you from sleeping, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.
Something causing it to be hyper
It might also be the case that it has been doing it because something has been causing it to feel very energetic. One reason might be that it has been eating something that it should be which would be more likely if it stops you from sleeping more when it eats certain foods.
It thinks there is something wrong
Another possible cause is that it thinks that there is something wrong with you when you are sleeping. This would be more likely if it tries to wake you up and then it calms down when you do wake up and if it only does it when you are trying to sleep during the daytime. In this case, the easiest option would be to try to get it to stay in another room when you are sleeping.
Separation anxiety
If you sleep in a different room to the one your dog is in, the reason why it has been doing it could be that it has separation anxiety. This would be more likely if it shows signs of being anxious when you are leaving it such as by crying or pacing.
An issue with the room it stays in
If your dog does not let you sleep at night, it might also be the case that there is an issue with the room it stays in. It could be the case that the room is too hot, bright or noisy. This would be more likely if it only does it when it has to stay in a certain room.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.
If your dog always stops you from sleeping
It would help to consider the timing of when your dog does not let you sleep since the timing might have something to do with it. If your dog does not let you sleep during the day, it would be more likely to be due to things such as thinking there is something wrong or wanting food or exercise. Whereas, if it does it more at night, it might be due to things such as wanting to pee, hunger, an issue with the room it sleeps in or separation anxiety.
The body language it shows
It would also help to consider the body language it shows. If it seems to be anxious, by doing things such as crying, pacing or shaking, it would be more likely to be due to separation anxiety or thinking that something is wrong with you. Whereas, if it shows signs of being excited such as by wagging its tail, it would be more likely to be due to things such as learning that the behavior gets rewarded or wanting food or exercise.
What to do about your dog not letting you sleep
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Avoid encouraging the behavior
As mentioned above, it might have learned that stopping you from sleeping results in it getting rewards. Instead, it would help to avoid giving it rewards when it stops you from sleeping and to get it to wait in another room while you are doing it. It would also help to reward it when it does let you sleep.
Ensure that it is getting adequate amounts of food and exercise
Since it might be doing it due to being hungry, thirsty or wanting exercise, it would help to ensure that it is able to get the daily amount of food and exercise for its age and breed and that it has access to water whenever it might want it.
Give it distractions
Another option would be to give it distractions when you are sleeping. Doing this should help you to sleep without it noticing.
Crate training
Another option would be to give it crate training and to get it to stay in the crate when you are trying to sleep.
Get it to stay in another room while you sleep during the day
It could also help to get it to stay in another room when you are trying to sleep and to give it something to be distracted with while you are in there.
Ensure the room it stays in is ideal
It would also help to ensure that the room it stays in, while you sleep, is ideal. It would help to ensure that the room is not too hot, bright or noisy.