Dealing with a puppy barking at night can be one of the most stressful and tricky parts of pet parenthood. These tiny balls of fur are surprisingly loud when they want to be! Fortunately, there are plenty of effective strategies to settle your pooch quickly and teach them that nighttime is for sleeping. So grab a pillow, and let’s learn how to summon the canine sandman!
Why do puppies bark at night?
If you want to know how to stop a puppy from barking at night, you first need to understand why they do it. There are several potential reasons, and more than one could be behind your pooch’s nocturnal yapping!
For example, they may be trying to alert you to something or communicate with you. Our dogs’ hearing is far better than our own, which means they can pick up more sounds than we can. When you’re sleeping and the house is quiet, they might hear strange and even scary noises they’re not familiar with. It could be anything from a fox snuffling around in the garden to the boiler making an unusual sound. This could then cause them to bark in alarm or to let you know they’ve heard something worth investigating. And because they’re social animals, if they hear another dog woofing in the neighbourhood, they’ll probably want to join in!
Two other explanations for your puppy barking at night are boredom and loneliness. If they’ve had quite a restful day, they may have lots of pent-up energy they need to expel. Alternatively, if you don’t allow your mutt in the bedroom with you overnight, they might miss your company. Yapping can be their way of trying to get your attention, or it could be a symptom of separation anxiety. This is especially common in puppies, as they’re used to sleeping with their mum and littermates.
Finally, there’s a chance that your puppy barking at night is a sign that they’re feeling uncomfortable or unwell. That might be because they’re ill, or simply because they need to go out for a wee!
How to get a puppy to stop barking at night: quick calming techniques
When you’re woken up by your puppy barking at night, it’s not always clear why they’re doing it. Fortunately, there are some immediate strategies you can implement to help quiet your fur baby down. The first thing to do is check that their basic needs are being met. For example, make sure they haven’t hurt themselves, and take them out in case they need the toilet. You should also ensure that their sleeping environment isn’t too hot or too cold.
A quick tactic for how to stop a puppy barking at night because of fear is to get up and comfort them. However, you don’t want it to turn into playtime or reinforce the behaviour by rewarding it. Use a quiet voice and stroke them gently, so the interaction is low-key and even boring. This should help them settle back to sleep faster. Whatever you do, don’t be tempted to give them a treat or get the toys out!
In cases where a puppy is barking at night for attention, you might need a different approach. It requires some patience, and you may feel a little mean at first, but you have to ignore them. Otherwise, they’ll learn that yapping gets them what they want – and they’ll keep doing it. Of course, the difficulty is that it’s hard to tell when your beloved pup is woofing for attention and when they’re woofing because they’re anxious. As such, you’ve got to find a middle ground to help them understand that nighttime isn’t scary, but it is a time for quiet.
Creating a calming bedtime routine for your puppy
Ideally, you want to prevent nighttime yapping before it starts! And in terms of how to stop a puppy from barking at night, routine is among your most valuable tools. One reason for this is that change is stressful for our pets, and stress increases the chances of nocturnal woofing. Knowing what to expect helps your new pup settle into your home more quickly. At the simplest level, this means having the same bedtime for your pooch every night. But more than that, you can specifically create a routine that gets your mutt ready for bed.
For example, a walk after dinner is an effective way to tire your pooch out in the evening. Alternatively, if the weather is bad or it’s too dark, burn off excess energy with a play session. Afterwards, have some quiet cuddles with your mutt to signify that playtime is over and it’s time for sleep. Dimming the lights and putting away the more exciting toys can be helpful too. And it’s sensible to take your pup out for one final toilet break before you go to bed. This lessens the chance of them needing to wake you up for a midnight wee!
Creating a cosy canine sleeping spot should also make it less likely that you’ll hear your puppy barking at night. Whether they prefer a bed, basket or crate, make sure it’s soft and comfortable for them to nap in. Put it in a quiet, familiar location and pop in some fleecy blankets and cuddly toys to snuggle up with. That should help them drift off feeling secure and happy.
Tips for training your puppy to sleep through the night
Most puppies stop barking at night at around three or four months old. This is also usually when they’re able to sleep all the way through the night. One method some people find helpful as part of the process is crate training. The idea is that the crate is a comfortable and safe place for your dog to retreat to. Experts say it can ease separation anxiety and reduce nocturnal woofing, teaching pups to sleep quietly through the night. For this to work, your pet must see the crate as a positive space. That means you shouldn’t use it for time-outs when they’re misbehaving.
One of the most important things to remember is never to punish your pup for yapping at night. This will only confuse and scare your pooch, and damage the bond you’re building with them. Harsh training methods increase the risk of aggression and anxiety in dogs, plus have a negative effect on their wellbeing.(1)
Instead, try using positive reinforcement and reward-based training. This is where you encourage your mutt to do the right thing by rewarding them when they do. The next logical question is how to get a puppy to stop barking at night in this way. It’s simple – offer them treats, praise, and cuddles when they settle down quickly in their bed or crate. And if you know they’re yapping for attention, ignore them until they’re calm. Just be careful not to overdo it on the treats as this can lead to weight gain! Affection and attention work equally well as rewards for our fluffy friends.
How to stop a puppy from barking at night: additional calming aids to try
Don’t worry if the above strategies aren't working for you. There are some more tricks you can use to prevent a particularly stubborn or anxious puppy barking at night:
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Try putting a white noise machine near your pooch’s bed. This helps drown out the sound of neighbourhood dogs barking and other distracting noises.
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Along similar lines, research suggests that music can have a calming influence on our pups. One study found that dogs spent more time resting and were less likely to bark when listening to classical music.(2) Another discovered that soft rock and reggae can also increase relaxed behaviours in our canine companions.(3)
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One tip that’s especially helpful for stopping a young puppy barking at night is to pop some cuddly toys in their bed or crate. This has a calming influence because it simulates the feeling of sleeping in a litter. You can even get special teddies that mimic the pulse of a heartbeat to provide comfort and reduce anxiety.
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It’s not only your pooch’s hearing that’s better than yours. They also have a far superior sense of smell. You can harness this by putting something that smells of you in your pup’s basket to comfort them. For example, it could be a t-shirt or a blanket from your bed. This technique should be especially useful if your fur baby has a bit of separation anxiety.
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If your mutt sleeps in a crate, try draping a blanket over it to block out any light and other distractions. This gives them a sense of privacy and security (though leave one side open so they can see out).
When to see a vet about your puppy barking at night
A puppy barking at night is almost always normal. The world is still new to them, and they’re learning how to navigate it and communicate with you. However, if you find that none of the advice above is helping, you might want to talk to a vet. They’ll be able to examine your pooch and check there isn’t an underlying health issue causing them to bark excessively.
Similarly, if you notice other worrying symptoms besides your puppy barking at night, book a vet appointment. For instance, other signs that your pet is experiencing separation anxiety include pacing, shaking, panting, urinating inside, and destructive behaviour. Alternatively, you could try speaking to a dog behaviourist or trainer for personalised advice on how to get a puppy to stop barking at night.
What about adult dogs barking at night?
Knowing how to get a puppy to stop barking at night is one thing, but what about grown-up pooches? The situation is a little different, but many of the strategies we’ve discussed work for dogs of any age. It’s usually easier to train a puppy to be quiet at night because their brains are more malleable. Plus, they’re too young to have formed bad habits! However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to change an older mutt’s behaviour.
Tactics such as playing white noise or music are just as effective for adult dogs as for puppies. Likewise, putting an old t-shirt with your scent on it in their bed can ease separation anxiety at any age. Another helpful solution for grown-up pups who are anxious or stressed is ashwagandha powder. Studies suggest this ingredient may reduce signs of fear, anxiety, and stress in dogs.(4) We recommend checking with your vet before adding it (or any other functional food) to your pet’s diet. This is to make sure that the plant is suitable for their individual needs and their health condition.
If you have a senior pooch who has suddenly started barking at night, it could be due to a medical issue. For example, it can be a sign that they’re experiencing hearing loss or even cognitive dysfunction. Because of this, it’s a good idea to book a vet appointment if your previously quiet dog starts yapping after dark. Don’t worry though – it could simply be a change in their environment that has altered their behaviour.
So how do I stop my puppy barking at night?
It’s perfectly normal for puppies to yap after dark, but with the right approach, you can easily settle them down. Filling their day with mental stimulation and physical exercise helps prevent woofing because of boredom or excess energy. And taking your pooch out for a toilet break before bed reduces the chance of them needing a midnight wee. Finally, creating a cosy napping environment makes it more likely your furry friend will drift off to sleep.
For pups who are nervous about snoozing alone, try white noise, music, teddies, or something that smells of you. Above all, be patient! Your puppy is still a baby, and it will take time for them to learn how to behave at night. Use positive reinforcement and reward-based training – never punishment – to teach them that nighttime is for sleeping. Before you know it, they’ll be getting better shuteye than you!
