Sleep Regression in Puppies

By Barbara Cannon

As trainers here at BAXTER and Bella, we know how hard our clients work to get their puppies into a regular sleep routine in their crate. Most are surprised and disheartened when their puppy suddenly wakes up at all hours again: 5 am, 3 am, or even repeatedly during the night, with the accompanying barking that keeps everyone awake. Why does this happen, and what can you do about it?

In general, this change in sleep patterns starts around 6 months of age when your puppy reaches adolescence. However, we can see some regression start around 4-6 months of age, often due to teething. Puppies replace all 28 of their teeth at this age, and the process can be painful. Be sure to offer your puppy cold things to chew during this time. Useful items could be a frozen Kong or an old washcloth that you get wet and partially freeze (if the cloth is frozen completely, I find many puppies won’t be interested). Most of your pup’s toys can be tossed in the freezer and chilled as well.

It’s more common to see sleep regression happening between the ages of 6-18 months of age, a time that is often compared to human adolescence. As your puppy sexually matures, he or she goes through some potentially disruptive hormonal changes that can create restlessness and increased anxiety. An adolescent dog may experience more energy and a desire for independence, growth spurts that disrupt routines, and even a second fear period.

Another factor in your dog’s development is brain growth.  At 6-12 months of age, your puppy’s brain operates more from the amygdala, the emotional side of the brain. As your puppy ages, their brain function moves toward the prefrontal cortex or processing part of the brain, and your young dog starts to think things through rather than just emotionally react to situations. Even though your adolescent dog may already be neutered or spayed and you are not dealing with the hormonal changes, the brain is still a huge factor in your dog’s development at this age.

What can you do when your puppy is starting to bark at 5 am to be let out of their crate when you want to sleep later?  First, try to be as consistent as possible with your pup’s schedule and ignore the barking if you can.  If you feel that the puppy really needs to go potty, make it as boring and neutral as possible. Don’t offer food rewards at night, and don’t allow your puppy to play. It may be tempting to bring your puppy onto the bed in the morning so you can get more sleep, but this may ultimately reinforce the behavior. They may think that if they wake you up, you will relent and let them sleep on your bed. 

Try giving your puppy more physical and mental exercise during the day. In the evenings, focus on mental rather than physical exercise before bedtime to avoid overstimulated energy. Puzzle toys, training games, and training exercises are great activities for the evening hours when dogs are naturally more active.  

Consider the crate environment. What can you change to make your puppy more comfortable? Has your puppy had a growth spurt and outgrown their crate? Would they do better in a crate that has more space to stretch out, or even a different kind of crate or pen? Think about temperature. Is your pup too cold? Too warm?  If you haven’t been using a cover on the crate, give that a try. Some dogs do better when they can’t see anything, while some like to be able to look out one side. You can also turn that open side toward the wall.   White noise or music may help your puppy calm down and block out any extraneous noise that may be coming from outdoors. A fan is great for regulating temperature, plus it has the added benefit of creating brown noise at lower frequencies that can be very calming.    

You could also move the crate into a darker and/or quieter space. Explore calming treats with your vet. Add a bed. Take out a bed. Revisit using a Snuggle puppy.

Here’s the good news. This regression usually doesn’t last very long. It may come and go during this period of development, but it is not permanent. Consistency will always be the most important tool for you as a trainer/handler. It can be helpful to see what things you might change to make your pup more comfortable, but try not to change your established routine. Ultimately, it will give your dog a greater sense of stability and confidence in this time of physical change in their development.  

A note: Sleep regression can appear at any age. It is rarer in adults and may be a symptom of a health issue. Whether yours is a puppy or an adult dog, please see your vet to rule out pain or illness if there are more severe symptoms, such as loss of appetite or excessive panting, or if you have done all you can for several weeks and you do not see improvement.