Is your dog going around in circles endlessly at night? Is it keeping you up and stressing you out? Of course, and why wouldn’t it be! But it’s more than just an annoying new quirk from your dog, it could be a sign of an important health problem that needs to be addressed right away.

Keep reading, and we’ll cover the issue of “my dog is restless and pacing at night,” and tell you exactly what you should do about it.

How Do You Calm a Restless Dog at Night?

To calm a restless dog at night, first determine whether it is a health issue or due to anxiety. Earlier in the article we covered some of the health indicators you should look for, so we’ve hopefully ruled that out by now. Now, here’s what to do to calm your restless dog at night so they’ll stop pacing.

Remember that we discussed that your dog is likely pacing restlessly at night because they’re experiencing anxiety. Something new or different in their environment is causing them a lot of reason to worry and get stressed out. It happens to dogs too!

So, how do we relieve this stress for them so they can be calm and rest at night? By letting them know that there is nothing they need to worry about, and we do that by making them completely comfortable with the fact that you are in charge, and that you can handle everything.

Your dog is worried or stressed out by new things because they feel that it’s their responsibility to handle everything — and to protect you and anyone else in the home from those things. When they don’t feel that you can take care of these new stressors, they get very anxious — leading to their restless pacing at night.

You’ve probably heard at one time or another that dogs are all pack animals, and that in every pack there will be a pack leader. Your dog pacing restlessly at nighttime is a clear indication that they don’t feel you are their pack leader, because they’re worrying about who will handle these new surprises in your lives.

Your dog feels like it is their job to take care of these things, but they worry about their own ability to do so. They then turn to exhibiting their anxiety about this in negative ways like barking, being aggressive, tearing things up around the house, or in  your case: pacing restlessly.

Calm your dog at night and stop their endless pacing by showing them that you are in charge — that you are their pack leader. Do so and you’ll relieve everyone’s stress and anxiety, and you’ll also be able to put an end to all the misbehaviors from your dog that come along with it.

“Okay, how exactly am I supposed to do that though?” Well, I’m of the view that it’s easier and much faster to learn these sorts of things by watching rather than reading, which is why I would check out an excellent free video series from a renowned dog trainer named Dan on just this subject.

Dan’s video series will teach you everything you need to know to become your dog’s pack leader. You’ll then be able to end their anxiety and stop your dog from pacing at night, as well as other behavioral issues that have likely been driving you crazy.

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. Don’t worry, he only uses 100% humane and loving teaching methods (of course) — so no worries about being mean to your doggo! And his videos are made for regular people like you, so they get right to the point and make everything really easy to understand, meaning you’ll start seeing results in no time.

You should now have all the knowledge you’ll need to assess why your dog is pacing restlessly at night, and how you should go about handing the problem. Always rule out a health issue first before moving on to addressing their anxiety, though you should be comforted in knowing that it’s the much more likely cause.

Why Is My Dog Restless at Night All of a Sudden?

Your dog is restless at night all of a sudden because they are experiencing pain, other health issues, or anxiety. When combined with pacing, it is likely due to anxiety but we should cover the possible health problems first.

Your dog may be experiencing pain if they are jumping around in a non-playful manner, hiding under the bed or in a corner, whining, whimpering, or licking particular areas of their body. Ear infections or dental issues are also possible.

Seeming listless at times, not having their usual focus, or a loss of interest in playing are other indications of a possible health issue. No visual clues could be a signal that the problem is due to something internal, like with their digestive tract, for example.

If your dog seems to not have their normal energy or behavior at all times of the day, the problem could be due to health issues and you should consult a veterinarian.

While pain sometimes can cause a dog to start pacing in the evening, if there’s no other indicators or different behavior, then there’s a good possibility that your dog has become restless at night just because they are experiencing anxiety. If your dog has been acting and sleeping normally up until now, then it’s likely there are new things causing them worry.

Give your dog more playtime or walks if you’ve been slacking in that area to make sure they’re just not needing to burn off some energy. If you’ve been doing all of those yet your dog continues pacing and acting restless at night, then you probably have an anxiety issue with which you’re dealing.

Why Is My Dog Pacing and Won’t Lay Down?

Your dog is pacing and won’t lay down because something is causing them anxiety, and they do not know how to relieve it on their own. There are several things that could be causing the anxiety, but we’ll go over some over the possibilities.

1. Loud noises. Did a car backfire earlier, or perhaps someone was shooting of fireworks? Even loud noises on the television can confuse dogs and stress them out hours after the sound occurred.
2. Changes in routine. Was something switched up in your dog’s usual schedule? New routines for your dog or yourself can stress them out bigtime. Even things seemingly meaningless like you staying out late or adjusting their feeding schedule can cause dogs a lot of worry.
3. Separation anxiety. Maybe your schedules haven’t changed, but are you spending more time than usual away from your dog? Do you normally come home for lunch but lately you’ve been eating out? Dogs pick up on — and can get very worried about — small things like this that we never even think about.

So you should now have a good idea if your dog’s restless pacing at night is being caused by anxiety. Go back to the first section now to learn how to deal with it.

I’m sure you’re eager to get started on everything, so good luck, and thank you for reading our article “My Dog Is Restless and Pacing at Night!”