Why won’t my dog let me take a nap?

If your dog won’t let you take a nap, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do to get it to let you nap.

So, why won’t my dog let me take a nap? Common reasons why your dog won’t let you take a nap are wanting food or exercise, learning that the behavior is rewarded, it thinks there is something wrong or separation anxiety if you nap in a different room.

There are actually multiple possible causes and your dog might be doing it due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can 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 take a nap

Below are a number of possible causes and what would make them more likely to be the main reason.

Boredom

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 napping 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 nap afterward.

Hunger

Another possible cause is that it is hungry and it does not want to have to wait to be fed until after you nap. This would be more likely if it only stops you from napping 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 taking a nap, 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 napping 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 napping. This would be more likely if it tries to wake you up and then it calms down when you do wake up. In this case, the easiest option would be to try to get it to stay in another room when you are napping.

Separation anxiety

If you nap 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.

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been behaving that way.

If your dog always doesn’t let you take a nap

If your dog does not always stop you from napping, it would help to consider what is different when it does. If it does it when it has not already been fed or given exercise, it would be more likely that it is doing it because it wants food or exercise. Whereas, if it does it when you are in another room, it would be more likely to be due to 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 take a nap

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 napping results in it getting rewards. Instead, it would help to avoid giving it rewards when it stops you from napping 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 nap.

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 nap 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 nap.

Get it to stay in another room while you nap

It could also help to get it to stay in another room when you are trying to nap and to give it something to be distracted with while you are in there.