10 solutions to stop your dog from whining at night

There are a number of reasons why your dog might be whining at night, however they all have one thing in common, they cause you to have a disturbed night’s sleep. To help you deal with this behavioral issue and sleep through the night, we’ve listed 10 solutions below that could bring peace to your home after the lights go out.

1. Find out why your dog is whining

If you can figure out what’s behind your dog’s whining, you’ll have a better chance of choosing the right approach and getting the problem stopped. The three most common causes of dog whining are anxiety, discomfort, or attention seeking, so watch your dog closely to see what clues he gives you. See how you react when they start whining and how they react to you, as this should give you all the information you need to decide your approach to the problem and start taking action.

2. Do basic checks before going to bed

Sometimes we overlook the most obvious reasons, so make sure your dog isn’t whining because he’s hungry, thirsty or needs to urinate at night. Get in the habit of always letting your dog out late at night, as beyond puppyhood, he should be able to spend the night. If he needs to urinate frequently, check with your vet, as he could have a urine infection. If you need to let them out at night, do so with as little attention to your dog as possible, as if you play with or pet them, they might start waking you up at night to get your attention.

3. Check that your dog is not cold

Some dogs start to whine at night because they are cold so if they sleep in an outdoor kennel make sure it is sheltered from the wind and provide plenty of warm bedding and if they sleep in the house check that their bed not be in a draft. Some dog owners use heatable bean bags to keep their dog warm, cozy and asleep all night and I’ve heard of others even using heated blankets. However, if you are going to use this method, always make sure your dog doesn’t get too hot and can’t chew on any wires attached to the blanket.

4. Dealing with dog separation anxiety issues

A lot of dog whining is due to separation anxiety in dogs, so if your dog sleeps apart from you and starts talking the moment you leave him alone, anxiety could be the reason. Another clue that this could be the cause is that they respond this way every time you leave them, day or night. You will need to use desensitization training to help get rid of separation anxiety and a lot of patience as it can take a while for them to respond positively. Another way to help with this problem is to learn to show your dog that you are the decision maker or leader of the pack, which can be very reassuring to an anxious dog.

5. Make sure your dog is tired

If your dog gets restless at night, has a hard time calming down, and then starts whining, try exercising him an hour before bedtime to use up some of his excess energy. Many dogs will instantly flop onto their bed to sleep after a long walk, but if walking after dark doesn’t appeal to you, try a brisk game of fetch or catch in the yard or house.

6. Calm your dog with sounds

A ticking clock placed on the dog’s bedding can help keep him calm as the ticking mimics the regular beating of another dog’s heart. This can be very helpful with dogs that don’t like to be left alone and especially with puppies that might be missing their mom or their brothers and sisters. Just be careful that your dog can’t reach the clock and use it as a chew toy.

7. Calm your dog with scents

If you think your dog whines at night because he wakes up and loves you, put something that smells like you in his bedding, like an old sweater or t-shirt. This can provide you with enough comfort for your dog to sleep until morning.

8. Make sure your dog is not in pain

Pain or discomfort of some sort could be causing your dog to wake up and start whining, for example a dog may not notice joint pain until he goes to bed at night. If you think that might be the case for your dog, get him checked out by your vet as soon as possible.

9. Get your dog a crate

A crate can feel like a den for a dog, so if you think your dog feels a little insecure being left alone downstairs at night, a crate could provide the extra security he needs. When you introduce them to a cage, make it a nice place to be with bedding, toys, and treats. Gradually increase the time they spend in their crate during the day until you feel that they will be fine to leave them overnight.

10. Ignore your dog’s noise

If your dog’s nighttime noise is all about getting your attention, the quickest way to stop it is to ignore it completely. That means not responding in any way to their whining, not talking to them, touching them, or even looking at them. It’s not always the easiest way to break this behavior pattern, as you can feel really guilty for a few days, but if your dog is healthy, has been fed, watered, exercised and potty trained before bed, you know that it is. okay, so he invests in a pair of earplugs and stick with them. It shouldn’t be long before they realize that their whining isn’t getting them the attention they were looking for and they should stop.