How to Train Your Puppy to Stop Barking at Night (Easy Steps That Work)
There is nothing more annoying than a puppy that continues barking through the night. Puppies bark naturally, but ongoing barking during the night can destroy your entire home and exhaust you and your pup. Fortunately, using the proper tactics, consistency, and patience, you can teach your puppy to sleep through the night.
Why Puppies Bark at Night
How to End Puppy Barking at Night
- Loneliness and separation anxiety – Puppies are used to the company of their littermates and can stress when they are left behind.
- Hunger or thirst – A hungry or thirsty pup that has not had his needs met before sleep will bark for attention.
- Lack of exercise – An overactive pup who has not expended extra energy during the day will struggle to calm down.
- Discomfort – Being too cold, too warm, or being uncomfortable in bed can lead to barking.
- External noises – Puppies will react to unusual noises at night.
The Difference Between Normal Barking and Problem Barking
There is normal and acceptable barking that is to be anticipated with young dogs acclimating to a new environment. If your puppy’s barking, though, is excessive, loud, or is coupled with stress indicators, it might be in need of professional help or specialized training.
Preparation for Nighttime Training
Establishing a Comfortable Sleeping Environment
Make certain that your puppy has a quiet, comfortable place to sleep—a crate, playpen, or dog bed in a quiet room. A comfort object such as a blanket or toy can be comforting.
Creating a Routine Bedtime Routine
Canine reliability craves routine. Feeding, taking out, and bedtime have to come at the same time each night to create routine and expectancies.
Meeting Your Puppy’s Needs Before Bedding
Take puppy out for bathroom break, give dinner a few hours prior to bedtime, and provide water to them. Meeting these demands wipes away night restlessness.
Easy Steps to Train Puppy Not to Bark at Night
Step 1: Ignore Attention-Seeking Barking
One of the toughest commands for new puppy owners is to remain silent when your puppy barks. If you respond each time, your puppy concludes that barking results in a reaction. Stay patient and be firm.
Step 2: Reward Quiet Behavior
Every time your puppy is quiet, you should reward them or praise them in the morning. Praise and rewards positively train them that remaining quiet has positive outcomes.
Step 3: Utilize Commands Like “Quiet” or “Settle”
Train your puppy to obey one quiet command. Start during the day when they bark, tell them to be quiet, and reward them for quietness. They will improve at night in due time.
Step 4: Provide Them with a Lot of Exercise During the Day
A fatigued puppy is a silent puppy. Playtime, exercise, and mental activity exhaust them in the evening. Don’t exhaust them, but work your pup out thoroughly.
Step 5: Try Crate Training for Safety
Puppies feel secure and disciplined with crates. Crate train on a positive note with rewards and short time periods so your puppy prefers sleeping within.
Step 6: Gradually Desensitize Nighttime Triggers
If your puppy is sensitive to noise or afraid of shadows, expose them to the stimulus at a relaxed, controlled pace during the day. They’ll be less scared at night in due course.
Step 7: Avoid White Noise or Background Sounds
Soft music, a fan, or a white noise machine can drown out outside noises and calm your puppy further.
Step 8: Avoid Punishment and Harsh Corrections
Yelling and scolding will bring on more anxiety and increase barking. Nice, consistent training is far more effective in the long run.
Fatal Errors to be Shunned in Puppy Barking Training
- Dealing with each bark all at once
- Instead of rewarding an action use punishment
- Unpredictable training or schedule
- Daytime exercise missing
- Forgetting basic needs like being hungry or having a bathroom break
When Barking May Mean There’s Trouble Below
Separation Anxiety
If your puppy becomes thoroughly distressed when left alone—pacing, destruction, or whining—separation anxiety might be the problem. This has to be addressed with special training methods and possibly professional help.
Medical Causes of Restlessness
Stomach distress, infection, or discomfort could cause night barking. If training does not work, discuss with your vet to rule out any underlying medical problems.
Other Quiet Night Tips
Use Calming Aids if Recommended by a Vet
Some puppies are assisted by calming aids like pheromone diffusers, special toys, or supplements prescribed by the vet.
Train Short but Regular
Training is not overnight. Be regular with short daily efforts and have patience—most puppies become much improved with patience and time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How long before it will stop biting at night?
With consistent exercise, all but the slowest puppies improve in 2–4 weeks, but some take a little longer.
Q2: Do I need to “cry it out” my puppy at night?
It is okay to allow them to whine a little bit, but extreme distress should not be ignored. Make sure that their needs have been met before you leave them to settle.
Q3: Is crate training the be-all and end-all solution for barking puppies?
For the majority of puppies, yes. A crate can provide comfort and security, but it has to be introduced in a positive way and gradually.
Q4: Will changing to a new diet make a difference to barking at night?
Yes. An imbalance diet can will be cause digestive upset on the hyperactivity. Changing to a balanced, high-quality diet can help.
Q5: Do puppies grow out of barking at night?
Most puppies will improve naturally with maturity, but training speeds up the process and ensures good long-term behavior.
Q6: How is the will be whining distinct from nighttime barking?
Whining would more likely signal need or discomfort, but barking might signal alerting, boredom, or attention-seeking.
