Should I let my dog roam the house at night? Or should I put them out? What if she doesn’t want to sleep in her corner or bed? Should I put my pup in a crate at night? Answers to all these questions coming up!
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Pet parents have their fair share of worrisome moments, sleepless nights, hospital drives. Being one, I understand how overwhelming the littlest things can get. Nurturing a puppy is not easy, and the complexities seem to increase as it grows.
Should I crate it? Should I set it free? When do I let my pup be free? Numerous questions keep popping up, and atop everything sleeping peacefully while your dog is roaming the house at night can be utterly harrowing.
But if it happens every night, does it mean it’s just something that dogs do, or is it a sign of a problem my dog is facing? This article will help you arrive at a suitable answer to the question: should I let my dog roam the house at night? Let’s get going.
When Should You Let Your Dog Roam the House?
Your pup can roam indoors after 6 months but outdoors is a different story altogether.
Letting your dog off-leash indoors and outdoors are two different scenarios. The house is a space they have been acquainted with reasonably well while they may or may not be used to the outdoor areas.
Hence, leaving the pet off-leash outdoors is not a good idea. However, if you choose to do so, you should ensure you supervise it in the best possible manner. For example, can I let my dog roam free in the house? However, one may consider a few points before you let their leash off.
How old is your pet?
Letting a little dog loiter around without supervision can be risky. However, adult dogs can be allowed to do so. If your dog has come of age and has completed at least two revolutions around the sun, they are likely to be mature. If you trust it on this, you can let it move in the house freely at night.
Is your dog calm? Is it well-behaved?
You know your dog best. Is it an aggressive little pup or a lazy yet playful pup? If you are sure your pet is up to no mischief, you can let it have its free time and explore the house. We also recommend maintaining an eye on it since this will also make the owner aware of any behavioral changes.
Know their sleep cycle
If you let your dog pull an all-nighter, they might end up getting used to the same. However, chances of the same are improbable. This is because domesticated pets tend to adapt to their owner’s sleep-wake routine.
If you know your furball isn’t mischievous, you can leave it with its favorite toys and, instead of keeping it free to roam in the entirety of the house, restrict it to the bedroom so that you can sleep in peace.
Should I Let My Dog Roam Free at Night?
It depends on how old she is and how much you trust her.
Have you been wondering if you should stop your dog from roaming around at night? It’s alright, if you trust your dog to roam around during the day, a few small steps will make it fine for the night as well.
Prep the surroundings.
It is also essential to prepare the surroundings before letting the dog loiter around. For example, it would help if you got rid of anything your dog would possibly chew or something that can hit the dog, akin to how you would do it for your toddler.
Supervise your pet
Letting the dog roam free inside the house at night is fine if trained to do so. However, if your dog is a pitbull, you already know by now how playful and athletic they are.
Owing to this, they need to be supervised almost all the time, be it indoors or outdoors, and it is utterly likely that you end up having a week’s workout while doing so. However, supervising the pet is imperative because the pet enjoys its favorite people’s company plus, you can also keep a safe eye on it.
Why Do Dogs Roam the House at Night?
There are certainly more reasons for the same than the ones listed below. But, here are a few common ones.
Health concerns
Medical problems might be causing discomfort to the pet. If you never see behavioral changes in your pet, you must immediately see a veterinary doctor.
As dogs grow, their bodies undergo multiple changes and tend to cause pain in their joints. Regardless, the vet is the best person for diagnosis.
Dietary issues
One should not ignore unusual changes in eating patterns. Akin to us, pets need wholesome food too. Nutritional requirements in pets differ from species to species.
Choosing the proper diet for your pet is hence imperative. Do your research well and make the necessary changes to your pet’s meals. If this does not seem to work, reach out to a specialist.
Emotional Wellbeing
Human-canine relationships are one of the sweetest relationships. Your pet loves you and enjoys your company so much that separation anxiety can kick in when you don’t seem to be around.
The pet might be getting bored and wandering hither and thither in search of companionship. Get them toys, be with them, get them their favorite food. Check with them and see how they have been doing emotionally.
Such disturbances can be keeping them awake, and it can be possible that they search for you in the dark of the night. You can also consider seeking help from a certified pet trainer who can help you understand your pet better.
Understand their signals.
Animals have been communicating with us all this while. It is about how well we comprehend their actions and offer them the best of ourselves.
It can be a signal from them- maybe, all they needed was a place to pee. In a typical scenario, they may rush towards you, wake you up, and signal towards the garden.
Change of sleeping environment
Did you get your pet a new kennel or a bed recently? Unfortunately, not all changes go well with animals. Lighting issues, loud music, dust- numerous things are not working for your pet, and they naturally seem to be disturbed.
Owing to this, they feel uncomfortable and deal with their restlessness, and they tend to roam the house. One must diagnose behavioral changes in pets. These patterns differ from pet species to species.
Maybe it is just their new routine!
Does your pet sleep all day? If yes, then isn’t it natural for them to stay awake at night because that is how they have configured their minds and bodies to work. They will wake up from their sleep and roam around the house with this jolt of energy they have been saving all day.
If you end up giving toys or playing games with your pet at night, they might assume it is daytime and can hence get playful. You can avoid doing the same to see if they are still lively.
Where Should My Dog Sleep at Night Time?
In some cases, the dog might have already figured out a spot for themselves, and in other cases, you can introduce them to one.
See if they have already found their spot!
Adult dogs tend to find their comfort spot and reach out to that spot each time they feel like sleeping. Such behavioral patterns can be encouraged, and the owners can monitor the dog to see if they are comfortable on the spot.
If they seem to be all right, you can keep their toys and food vessels there to make their spot official, which will furthermore encourage them to sleep there every time.
Crates
When dealing with a puppy, it becomes imperative to ensure the puppy does not chew shoes, electrical wires, or anything. Crates are considered the most widely chosen option for this.
We understand that some may find it cruel to put a cute little pup into a crate, but we also believe every family has different needs, and hence, what works for you might not work for others.
For example, if a dog is aggressive and tends to howl and whine if disturbed by mistake, it should not be allowed on the bed, especially if you have toddlers and senior citizens. It can get highly exasperating for them.
The size of the crate should be enough for the pet to stand and turn around in it. Crates are available in plastic and metal variants and can be found at any pet store. Remember to remove the dog collar before crating them, as it can prove utterly dangerous.
The Bed
If that is the arrangement you and your pet like, then go ahead with it or continue to let them sleep with you in bed if you have already been doing so. Being social animals, they are utterly likely to get used to the feeling of comfort and safety that sleeping by your site offers to them.
Another question that comes into the picture is: how to transition a dog from crate to bed? Well, yes, after crate-training your pet, you would also need to bed-train it. Here is how you can do it.
The pet can be gradually introduced to the bed while still being in touch with the crate routine for some time. Or, one can eliminate the crate progressively. Another approach could be: Before submitting the pet to the bed, it can be acquainted with a kennel with a short fence.
Alternatively, you can create a bigger space to play with suitable height fencing to see how aggressive or calm the pet is.
Should you let your dog sleep with you at night?
Letting aggressive pets on the bed can be disastrous. However, if your dog is not aggressive and rather enjoys safeguarding you when you sleep, you must let it sleep with you.
If, however, you do not wish to encourage the same and want it to rest in its kennel, you can train it accordingly. Lastly, if the dog and yourself are acquainted with sleeping together at night, there is no harm in continuing to do so.
Should I Ignore My Dog at Night?
No, ignoring your dog if it is seeking attention can cause anxiety and behavioral issues in them.
Ignoring your dog at night is not the right thing to do. You must not leave them unattended if they have recently started staying awake at night. They might be facing some issues. Attend to the problem, diagnose the reason, and seek it if you need help.
You can try caressing them to sleep or play with them so they feel tired but again, remember to be gentle and not force them. If nothing seems to work, the only option is to let them get playful and loiter around the house till you are awake. Maybe, this is their new sleep cycle, and you have to cope with it.
How Much Freedom Should a Puppy Have?
Give your dog its fun in the sun regularly during the age of 6 months to 2 years, but complete freedom should only come after the 2-year mark.
Behavior consultants say that giving too much freedom while raising puppies can be dangerous in the long run. Even when set free, dogs until six months of age tend to follow humans around everywhere they go.
When these dogs come of age and hit the six-month mark, they get mischievous and lively. After the pet grows above six months, pet owners mistake setting the dog free assuming that they will continue to follow them.
However, this is not the right age to give puppies freedom. After this age, they tend to get wild, begin running around like power balls and chew away anything and everything.
The best way of introducing your pet to being on its own can be to release your pets both indoors and outdoors at regular intervals during the age of six months to two years. Since the pets are still getting introduced to being on their own, the owner must monitor the pet safely and arrive at what works best.
A Few Final Words
You will eventually learn what works best for your furball. Thank you for being with us till the very end, pet parents! Always remember: good things take time, and being patient enriches the experience.
All pets are different, and their behavioral changes differ as per their species. If we could answer your doubts sufficiently well, give us a shoutout in the comments section, and do not forget to share this article with other pet parents who are likely to find this information handy.
Thank you for reading, we hope you got the answers you were looking for, and if not, do visit our comments and leave your question there for us to come back to you! You can also read about other strange habits of your dog such as sleeping with their heads hanging down and putting their heads between your legs.
