It’s nighttime.
Your dog is never at ease at night.
They freak out.
Your furry friend keeps pacing and barking.
You begin to ask yourself:
“What’s going on” “What’s up with this behavior?”
“What can I do to stop it and have a peaceful night?”
Continue reading to find out:
- 7 reasons why your dog freaks out at night.
- 3 tips on how to get your dog to stop freaking out.
- Whether your dog could be warning you of a natural disaster.
- And a lot more…
Why is my dog freaking out at night?
Your dog freaks out at night because they lack exercise. They can also be disturbed and uncomfortable due to illness or noise. Aging and poor vision can be possible reasons as well. Your dog might also sense an upcoming disaster that is why they freak out.
My dog freaks out at night – 7 reasons
#1: Lacks exercise
We all know how exercise is good for the body and mind.
It’s not only good for the body but for the mind as well.
Have you tried being a lazy fellow all day? The night comes and you cannot sleep.
You get restless. You toss and turn.
Your dog must be feeling the same way.
If your furry pal lacks exercise, they have a lot of stored energy.
Whining and running around at night is your dog’s way of saying, “ I can’t sleep.”
Your dog needs stimulation. Exercising at least 30 minutes a day is good enough.
It’s a basic need for your dog along with food and water.
Not just for them, but for you as well.
The next time they seem to have a lot of energy at night, think about your activities during the day.
Check out also: Why is my puppy so lazy?
#2: Disturbing noises
Night falls and you are ready to relax.
Is your neighbor mowing his lawn? What an odd time to do so.
Your other neighbor seems to have a party tonight. Loud voices echo through the neighborhood.
Looking up at the sky, you hear thunder rumbling.
So much for a quiet night to rest and relax. Your furry friend is also freaking out.
Your dog is barking and whining nonstop. It’s the last thing you need.
You’re not the only one disturbed by the noises. The furry animal wants to say, “It’s so noisy.”
Dogs have a better sense of hearing than humans. They can hear sounds four times farther than what we can hear.
So if you get bothered by noises at night, chances are, your dog is more uncomfortable.
Dogs that aren’t usually exposed to different sounds can get easily stressed by it.
Exposure to new sounds can help. Do it one day at a time.
#3: Uncomfortable room
You made the rest area for your dog special.
A cute doggy bed, new toys all around, and a bowl of water.
Surely, they do not need anything more for the night.
But as soon as you leave them, they whimper and cry.
What could be the problem? Your dog slept soundly in this space for the past few days.
The room looks lovely but there might be a few things you have overlooked.
Is the temperature okay for your furball? It may be too hot or too cold.
Is the light so bright? Does your dog like the new doggy bed?
There can be several reasons why your dog is uncomfortable in the room.
The pacing, whining, and crying are already hints.
Some dogs even prefer sleeping on the cold tile floor.
If your dog usually sleeps in your room and they seem restless, you must be the reason.
They might be uncomfortable because you are doing a lot of things because they’re sleeping.
Dogs are very sensitive to sound and smell. Your lovely dog wants to tell you, “Please let me sleep, hooman.”
Whatever the reason may be, allowing your dog to choose their rest area can help you understand what they prefer.
You might also be interested in: 11 Weird Reasons Why Your Dog Sits/ Stays In Another Room
#4: Poor vision
A young or senior dog can suffer from poor vision.
Study says that dogs have more enhanced eyesight during the night.
A dog with normal eyesight expects that their sense of sight works better at night.
But if your dog suffers from poor vision, their nighttime seeing abilities are not as keen.
They will more likely notice changes or noises in the environment.
Your high-alert dog will start to react unusually. There are several reasons for eyesight problems in dogs.
It could be due to genetics, infection, or old age. Poor vision can only be correctly diagnosed by a vet.
Anxious dogs at night may show other symptoms if they’re suffering from bad eyesight.
Check for other signs such as:
- Squiniting.
- Tearing up.
- Avoiding light.
- Being clumsy.
- Bumping into things.
- Redness in the eyes.
If they show these signs, your poor doggo wants to let you know, “I can’t see.”
Learn more: Why does my dog growl at nothing?
#5: Illness
There are dog’s illnesses that worsen at night. It may feel okay during the daytime but can be unbearable during nighttime.
Your dog might also feel more frightened at night due to their illness.
During the day, your dog is distracted from the pain because you’re with them.
But at night time, they feel the pain intensely since there are no distractions around.
Other conditions can also worsen when your dog is lying down.
Whining at night, especially when your doggo is lying down can be due to joint pain.
Arthritis or other joint problems are usually more painful at night due to the cold temperature.
Serious conditions like cancer can also be painful all over the body.
Rather than guessing what your dog is going through, the best thing is to take them to a vet.
Let me share a story about a dog named Alfie.
Alfie is a happy and energetic dog.
As days went by, Alfie started getting weird during the night.
The fur parent can hear Alfie whining and crying.
When they went to the vet, they found out Aflie had arthritis.
Although the condition isn’t curable. Alfie is given treatment to manage the pain.
Not too long, Alfie is back to their usual happy and energetic self.
Reading recommendation: 11 reasons why your dog is avoiding you all of a sudden
#6: Old age
They say age is just a number but the truth is, age comes with a number of ailments.
A lot of changes happen when we age. Your senior dog is going through the same thing.
Forgetfulness, restlessness, and disturbed sleep patterns can freak out your dog.
Dementia is also quite common in senior dogs Being anxious at night is one of the symptoms of the disease.
Does your dog pace a lot or look more confused at night?
A lot of contributing factors may cause him to be like that.
If your senior dog is not seeing things clearly or forgetting their surroundings, it will cause him to get anxious and freak out.
As a dog parent, it’s your responsibility to provide a safe space for your furry friend.
Help them cope with old age more comfortably.
Aside from these conditions, their preference may have changed.
When your dog was younger, they probably enjoyed a cool evening.
Sleeping outside is something they enjoy.
But as they age, they may look forward to a warm bed inside.
Understanding the preferences of your senior dog will make them more relaxed.
#7: Upcoming disaster
Your dog is your best defense for the apocalypse. They may even have a better chance of surviving than us humans.
Research states that animals, especially dogs, can detect storms, earthquakes, or even volcanic eruptions.
Do you know that until today we do not have a system that can predict earthquakes?
You can be watching your favorite movie or having dinner when disaster strikes.
But your dog must have noticed something is wrong in the air. They will not be hit without a clue.
How convenient it must be if they can verbally warn us, right?
But since they won’t be able to tell you, “Prepare for the apocalypse clueless hooman.”
We must be observant enough to get the hint. Even during the olden times, weird animal behavior can happen before a disaster.
Science has reported birds migrating, snakes leaving their homes, and farm animals such as dogs being hyperactive.
Hyperactive dogs sensing disaster can signal farm animals that an earthquake or a storm is approaching.
In a study conducted with farm animals, dogs are the most sensitive.
Cows are the next ones after receiving signals from dogs,
Sheeps are just oblivious.
The next time your canine is freaking out at night, maybe it is high time to get your apocalypse bag ready.
We never know when disaster strikes, trust your dog on this.
My dog freaks out at night – 3 tips
#1: Exercise regularly
Exercising daily promotes good sleep. You can try it yourself.
If your dog spent their energy during the day, they’ll be able to sleep soundly at night.
The both of you can exercise indoors or outdoors. There are various activities you can do with your furry pal.
Walking is one of the simplest activities you can do but it also has great benefits.
What can walking do for you and your dog? Check out the benefits:
- Healthier heart.
- Strong muscles.
- Stronger bones.
- Lowers blood pressure.
- Lowers risk for depression.
Do you want to do something more fun and challenging?
Try dancing with your dog. If you become a pro, you can even join competitions with your dog.
Some festivals such as Music Canine Freestyle are where you can show your talent in dancing with your doggo.
Aside from lowering your blood pressure, dancing can help you and your furry pal burn calories and achieve great stamina.
Do you need inspiration? Look at this video of Elke Boxoen and her border collie.
The pair are the winners for Freestyle International at Crufts 2020.
#2: Identify stressors
Stressors can come from the environment. A dog that freaks out at night may have a lot of stressors around.
What can this be?
Loud noises can make your dog anxious or hyperactive at night such as:
- Thunder.
- Fireworks.
- Dogs barking.
- Noisy Neighbors.
- Construction work.
- Operating machines.
If the noise is something out of your control, transfer your dog to a different space where they’ll hear less sound.
Sleeping indoors such as in your room can help them keep calm at night.
What if they are already indoors but are still freaking out?
The cause of stress might be indoors as well. Is it too hot or too cold?
Is the light in your room too bright? Are you too noisy?
Identifying stressors are important. It’s the first step in eliminating them.
There are times when the cause of stress is an illness.
At this point, a visit to the vet is necessary. If your dog is crying, limping, or whining, there can be underlying causes.
If you suspect that your dog is sick, do not have second thoughts about bringing them to the vet.
#3: Training slowly
Now that you have identified the cause of stress, it’s time to train your dog not to freak out at night.
A healthy dog can be trained to stay calm at night especially if the stressors are out of your control.
Take note that the training should be slow and not forceful.
If the dog is especially bothered by the noises at night, you can do desensitization to help them cope.
Desensitization is slowly exposing your canine to the thing or sound that bothers them.
The keyword is “slow”. Therefore, there should be no forcing.
Allow them to explore the environment at their own pace.
How to do it? Follow these simple steps:
- Shower them with praise.
- Give treats when they obey.
- Slowly extend the time per day.
- Take them outside for a few minutes.
- Open the door and wait for them to come out.
Your dog relies on you to help them cope.
The secret is to do it consistently with no shouting or yelling.
A calm and soothing voice makes them feel secure.
No need to worry, your effort will pay off soon.
You can finally enjoy relaxed nights with your furball.