Bringing home a puppy is pure magic — until bedtime hits. If you’re suddenly living on cat-naps and caffeine, you’re not alone. Young puppies simply aren’t built to snooze straight through the night… at least not yet.
Here’s how long it really takes, why your pup is waking you up, and what you can do to help everyone in the house get some sleep again.
When Do Puppies Actually Sleep Through the Night?
Bad news first: those full, blissful nights of sleep won’t happen right away.
A simple rule helps set expectations:
A puppy can usually hold their bladder for the same number of hours as their age in months.
So a 3-month-old pup? Expect to take her out every 3 hours — yes, including at 1 a.m. and 4 a.m.
Most puppies begin sleeping through the night sometime between 4–5 months old, though every pup is different. You should notice gradual improvement week by week. If your puppy isn’t stretching sleep longer over time, it’s worth checking in with your vet.
Why Your Puppy Won’t Sleep at Night
New home, new smells, new people — it’s a lot. Your puppy’s world has completely changed, and she’s still adjusting.
Common reasons puppies struggle to sleep:
1. Separation from Mom & Littermates
She’s never been alone before. That first week especially can be hard emotionally.
2. Tiny Bladder Problems
Small pup = small bladder. Frequent nighttime potty breaks are normal.
3. Too Much Energy Left Over
If she hasn’t had enough exercise during the day, bedtime may feel more like playtime.
4. Hunger
Underfeeding or low-quality food can leave her waking up hungry.
The good news? All of these problems get easier as she grows and gains confidence.
How to Help Your Puppy Sleep Longer at Night
You’ll still be waking up — that’s unavoidable at first — but you can set your puppy up for more restful nights.
1. Crate Train Your Puppy
A crate becomes a puppy’s safe bedroom. It gives her a predictable routine and her own cozy den.
Tips:
- Line the crate with pee pads only on part of the floor.
- Put her bed on a raised or separate area so she won’t sleep where she pottys.
- If you prefer giving her extra space, a puppy playpen works too.
Crate training helps set the expectation: crate = bedtime.
Try the Revol dog crate from Diggs
2. Potty Right Before Bed
Most middle-of-the-night whining means, “I’ve gotta go!” And for young pups, you really do need to take her out.
Keep these nighttime potty outings boring:
- No playing
- No exploring
- No sniffing adventures
- In and out within 5 minutes
Also:
- Feed dinner a couple hours before bedtime
- Remove water 2–3 hours before bed
This reduces the chance she’ll need to go again right away.
3. Give Plenty of Daytime Exercise
A tired puppy is a sleeping puppy.
Offer:
- Short walks
- Play sessions
- Puzzle toys – Try this KONG puppy toy from Amazon
- Training games
Just avoid high-energy play right before bed, which can wind her up instead of calm her down.
4. Create a Cozy Sleeping Setup
Make her sleeping space warm, quiet, and comfortable.
Puppy-approved sleep enhancers:
- A soft, snug puppy bed – Try the Bedsure Calming Dog Bed from Amazon
- A heated snuggle toy (warmth mimics mom) with a heartbeat sound – Try the SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy behavioral aid from Amazon
- Dog-appeasing pheromone diffusers – Try the Adaptil dog calming diffuser kit from Amazon
- Calming dog music – Try the iCalmPet Ruff ‘n Ready Portable Speaker from Amazon
- A crate cover to block out light – Try the MidWest Quiet Time crate cover from Amazon
Small comforts can dramatically reduce nighttime anxiety.
5. Don’t Reward Whining
This part is hard — really hard.
But if your puppy has gone potty already and is safe in her crate, responding to whining teaches her that crying = attention.
Give her a safe chew toy and do your best to ignore the fussing.
Over time, she’ll learn that nighttime isn’t for playing or cuddling.
6. Stick to a Routine
Dogs love predictability.
Feed, potty, play, and crate your puppy around the same time every night. Soon, her internal clock will naturally sync with yours.
Where Should Your Puppy Sleep?
Until she’s fully potty trained, your puppy should sleep in a crate or small contained space — not your bed.
But keep the crate in your room or nearby so you can hear her if she needs to go, and so she feels reassured by your presence and scent.
How Much Do Puppies Sleep?
A lot. Like… a lot a lot.
Most puppies sleep 16–20 hours a day.
So if she seems like she’s constantly napping, that’s totally normal. Growing takes serious energy.
The Sleepless Nights Won’t Last Forever
Nighttime wake-ups can be frustrating, but they’re temporary. With consistency, routine, and plenty of comfort, your puppy will eventually sleep through the night — and those early memories will become part of your favorite “remember when she was a baby?” stories.
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