Ever watched the classic animation movie - Lady and the Tramp? Remember the scene where they get the puppy into their house for the first time and keep her designated in her room? And then the way she keeps barking the whole night through cause she doesn't want to sleep alone? And how she manages to make her way into their room in the end? Cuteness. But only when it comes to watching it in animation...Not when it comes to living it yourself. No way. Then it really does become a problem. Imagine a dog that does not sleep the night through and does not let you sleep either. Yet, even if it lets you sleep, the effects that sleep deprivation can have on your dog are varied and of serious proportions. In that direction, it is required that you know how to get your dog to sleep through the night..for his peace and yours. In this following article we will focus on the ways in which you can make this happen.

Getting Your Dog to Sleep all Night - Tips and Tricks

It might be utterly frustrating for you to see that your dog is spending one sleepless night after the other. Why and what is keeping it up, you'll wonder. And the answer might be in something simple that you might not have ever thought of. That's why you need to read the following section to know the steps that can be taken in this order.

1 - Check for Changes
You know how it is - you sleep like a log when you are in your own bed, with the same setting and following a particular schedule. It's much the same with dogs. They like things to be the way they are, in that similar order, night after night. The first thing you do then is to check if there has been any change in their order. It could be something as small as changing the position of their bedding, or shifting their sleeping crate. Think of any change that could have brought on the sleepless nights. Then work towards negating that and restoring the same order that they are used to.

2 - Prepare the Bed
When putting the dog to sleep, ensure that the sleeping area is extremely comfortable for him. Use a soft bedding that he finds comforting. In case it is a puppy, it has been seen that placing a small clock with a rhythmic beat under the blanket gets them to sleep faster. Make sure that you do not change anything of the place and/or bedding that they sleep in. This is likely to disturb their pattern and cause a problem as far as sleep is concerned.

3 - It's all in the Training
You might have planned for the dog to use a crate or sleep in a separate room, but he might have different plans. So then get yourselves on the same page. You need to train the dog to understand that. Train him on commands like 'sit' and 'stay' so that he knows when it is required to retire for the night. Also, do not ever let him get into the habit of barking and yelling and then you proceeding to open the door. He'll associate the two and then continue to do the same whenever he feels like it. That is why there has to be a proper schedule put into place. This includes, more than anything else, proper potty training. (We'll get to this in more detail in the specified pointer that is to follow)

4 - Exercising is Important
Get your dog really tired before bedtime and it will sleep better. If the dog sleeps in the evening, then it is obvious that he will not be sleepy at night. So make sure that this does not happen. In addition to that, if there is plenty of exercise provided for, the dog will be really tired and go off into a deep, undisturbed sleep.

5 - Feeding Hours
It is essential that you plan your dog's feeding schedule well. When a dog has its food, it gets a sudden bout of energy which can lead to hyperactivity in dogs. And when there is energy coursing through his body, it will drive away the sleep. Make sure that you feed him at least 3 hours before his bedtime so that the food is well digested. Another reason for why you should not feed it right before bed is that he will want to do his business in odd hours of the night. This is one of the most important and usually ignored factor that you should look into.

6 - Potty Training a Dog
It is very, very important that you potty train your dog well. You also need to understand that a dog has to do its business many times a night, especially when it is a puppy. The way around this is to work out a schedule for yourself. Put the alarm for every 2-3 hours at night and take him out for his business. Do not wait for him to start yelping and barking for you to take him out. This will only help to strengthen the association of how when it barks, you come to the rescue. Which can be a problem for you later. Once the dog has become older, take it out some time before bed so that it is comfortable when it goes to sleep.

Now that you have some tips and tricks on getting your dog to sleep for the whole night, you will be better prepared to handle the situation at hand. Don't worry too much about it. Just be patient and encouraging and a sleepy dog will greet you all night through...Night after night.