Owning a pet is very lovely and fun, but it also comes with its own issues. One thing you’ll quickly notice once you start keeping a pet is that you’ll likely spend less time sleeping at night because your animal-friend is busy playing or minding their own business. So, their lack of sleep can affect yours, especially if you are a light sleeper. Nobody wants their pet running around them or playing around the bed when it’s bedtime, especially when you already know the kind of schedule you have for the next day. So, your pet should sleep at the same time as you do. How do you ensure this?
The first thing you need to do is to understand the sleep pattern of your pet. Dog, for instance, have a polyphasic sleep cycle. This means that they sleep at different times throughout the full day. Averagely, an adult dog is known to sleep for 12-14 hours per day. If they already have a bulk of this during the day, it is unlikely that they can sleep the 8 hours duration with you over the night.
Cats are also nocturnal animals naturally, and the fact that they are domesticated doesn’t take away their natural nocturnal instinct. So, you might find them running around and playing at night while you try to find sleep, and it makes things difficult for you.
The only thing that you can do if you are in this situation is to change your pet’s sleeping habits. While you might not be able to control whatever they do while you’re at work during the day, there are other things that you can do to make your pet sleep at night.
- Ensure that day time is playtime.
If your pet gets to play a lot during the day, they’re likely to be too tired to do the same at night, so they will sleep. If you’re dealing with a nocturnal animal like cats, this works for them too. Make them play a lot during the day. Give them interactive toys to play with, so it stirs their curiosity and awakens them when you’re away. Wake the pet up gently, anytime you find it sleeping during the day. Depriving it of sleep during the day will make it sleep at night. Also, don’t engage them at night; otherwise, it will keep them wanting more and remaining awake.
- Make a routine
Creating a schedule for your pet would help them quickly realize when it is bedtime. Taking them out on a walk the same time every day, and feeding them with early dinner hours before rest makes them more ready for sleep when its bedtime. Make sure that they do lesser activities as they approach bedtime, so they are prepped to sleep. It’s also a good idea to ensure that it uses the toilet before bedtime, so it doesn’t disturb your sleep in the middle of the night while trying to visit his restroom.
- Exercise your pet
An excellent way to keep your pet active during the day is to exercise the pet. For instance, a dog could require 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise every day, depending on the size and breed. The bigger dogs will always need more exercise. This is why taking your dog on a long walk in the evening is good for your night’s sleep. Both of you will be tired and need some sleep. No one is interrupting the other.
- Keep your bedroom quiet.
In changing the sleeping habit of your pet, you need to set the tone with your bedroom. Your bedroom must be a very quiet place so that your pet gets the idea that it’s not a place for play. So, keep everything that gives your room a ‘noisy’ appearance out, and keep out all toys and other things that they can play with outside. You can also make your room a restricted area for them.
- Don’t share your bed with your pet.
While it isn’t a big deal to share the bed with your pet, it is something you have to avoid doing if you need to get those long hours of sleep. Firstly, you have to train them to go to bed at a particular time, and it has to be the same as your bedtime. So, they know it’s time to sleep. Their constant movement can also disrupt your sleep. A study revealed that 63% of people sharing beds with their pets have poor sleep. Your constant turning while sleeping will likely wake them, and their movement if awake will likely to wake you. So, it’s not beneficial for both parties. There’s also the risk of getting skin infections, which might be terrible for people with allergies or asthma.
- Create a good sleep environment for them
Since it isn’t sleeping on your bed, you have to create a pleasant and comfortable place for it to sleep. You can get a good bed for your pet and give them a warm blanket so that it is easier for them to find sleep. Your dog might also sleep better with the low sound of a clock ticking rhythmically around it. Also, avoid excess light in the pet’s room and make sure there isn’t loud outside noise as this could trigger their activeness.
- Confirm that they don’t have any medical conditions
If your pet is finding it difficult to sleep, you might want to check if they have any medical conditions preventing it from sleeping. If it’s a dog, an older one, who hasn’t had any difficulties sleeping previously, it’s likely a medical condition. Take it to a vet to discuss any changes in its sleeping pattern, movement, behavior, and appetite.
Conclusions
Getting your pet to sleep through the night might be the only way for you to have a good night’s rest to shake off the day’s stress and prepare for the next day. These seven steps can help you fix it.
Author’s Bio
Leon Collier is a blogger from the UK. He provides his best dissertation works at the best essay writers UK. He loves to write about everything: pop culture, history, travel, self-development, education, and marketing. When not writing or working on his best essay writing services, you can find him behind a book or playing tabletop games with his friends. Follow him on twitter @LeonCollier.
Comments
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post. google