New Home Anxiety: How to Calm a Whining Dog at Night

1. Preparing for Bedtime: Ensuring your dog has a good night's sleep begins with a wellrounded bedtime routine. Moderate exercise before bed can significantly enhance your furry friend's sleep quality. Since puppies are in a critical growth phase, it's important to limit your interactive playtime to no more than 3060 minutes and keep the intensity low. A good, tiring session will naturally make your dog more inclined to drift off to sleep, reducing the likelihood of nighttime barking. Additionally, taking your dog to the bathroom before bed can prevent them from waking up due to a full bladder.

2. Creating a Comfortable Environment: Darkness can often be unsettling for dogs, so consider leaving a soft light on in the area where your dog sleeps. Gradually dim the light as your dog adjusts to the new environment, eventually leading to a completely dark sleep space. Dogs may also feel insecure when separated from familiar companions, so placing their sleeping crate or bed near you or in a visible spot can help. Don't forget to keep your dog warm during colder months to prevent them from waking up shivering.

3. Learning to Ignore: Even with a healthy dog and thorough preparation, occasional barking may still occur. In such instances, it's crucial for owners to learn to ignore the barking. If you always respond to your dog's bark by going to comfort them, they may start to see barking as a way to get your attention, leading to a habit that can escalate. Over time, this can create a dominance issue, where the dog perceives itself as the alpha and you as the servant, potentially leading to other unwanted behaviors.

By implementing these strategies, a new dog in your home should be less likely to bark at night. Remember, barking can be triggered by various factors, such as being confined in a crate, separation anxiety, loud noises, or the presence of strangers.