You probably know this – your dog is asking out when you are starting to fall asleep, and later, when you are falling asleep again, he asks back in. It’s horrible. Do you know there is a way out of this?
Over everything else, it is important to make sure there are no problems underlying. Check if your dog is healthy, if he does not have urinal problems, constipation or diarrhea or any other problems that may force him to want to go out. Also, check if the water bowl inside is not empty or your dog does not need to go to relieve.
Don’t encourage your dog to ask in and out
If everything’s fine with your dog, you may start correcting undesired behavior. You should understand, in most cases dog owners are encouraging this behavior. How?
Dogs whine or beg for something when they know the result it gives. If he notices he’s being let out every time he whines, that is exactly what he’s doing to get out. If somehow whining is not effective, he may try barking. In most cases, it works for him. I’ve no wonder why. Next time he won’t even bother whining. He’ll start with the barking right away.
Yes, of course, when you are asleep, and your dog is whining, or even barking to get out, the instant solution is to let him out. Or in. Or out again. But you can quickly get back to sleep. However, this will definitely happen next night again, and all the other nights, as well.
Much better solution is ignoring. Yes, it’s harder, but better. You’ll probably not gonna sleep for a couple of nights, but you’ll be able to fix this problem, instead of letting your dog in and out every night.
In some cases, ignoring is not an option. Like, when you have a baby sleeping, or mad neighbors across the hall (or street, if your dog barks).
In this case, you should put an effort to make sure your dog is as calm, as possible at night. To do so, you may try one, some or all of the following:
- Provide activities during the day. Especially in the evening, before the sleep. Don’t get your dog too tired, though, as he may crave for outdoors fresh air at night. Walking or running should be effective enough, but you may try training, playing, or exercising, as well.
- Make sure your dog relieves himself in the evening. Most healthy dogs are able to hold urine through the night. However, if your dog did not get out the whole evening, hoping him to be patient all night, is silly.
- Check your dog’s water bowl. I’ve already mentioned it above, but having a drinking water access is important for your dog. If he will not find it inside, he may think he’ll find one outdoors.
- Give an attention to your dog. If your dog is restless at night when you are not letting him out, being close to him and giving some attention is the best way to calm him. Talk, play or pet your dog. If he’s sleeping in a different room where you are, invite him in your bedroom, or sleep on a couch which is closer to your dog.
- Let him out for a very short time. No more than two or three minutes. If possible (I know, brr… cold and…), go out with him. This way you may examine why your dog is asking to get out (need to relieve, or just to stare across the street) and make your dog understand, this walk is different from others.
If you survived the first night without letting your dog out, the next one should be easier. After few nights, in most cases, dogs get the idea they are getting nowhere with their begging to be let out.
