The puppy witching hour is a time of day when the dog has a short and sudden change in energy level or behavior. The witching hour can occur in any dog of any age. During the witching hour, your dog may run zoomies around the house, and show bad behavior such as stealing your shoes, jumping, or barking.
First of all, it's their body clock. Dogs and even more notably cats, are crepuscular. Which means they nap during the day and the night and then are most active in the hour before sunrise and the hour after sunset.
They can be down-right nuts! And puppies are especially crazy during the Witching Hours: roughly between 5-8pm every night. It's 100% normal and common.
A 30-minute walk and some play time will make both of you feel better. Afterward your dog will be more than happy to cuddle up with you on the couch or settle on his own bed nearby. If you have a high-energy breed, or a young dog, he will need more play time and exercise.
Zoomies also happen quite often at night. Especially with puppies who have been crated all day or have not been given enough opportunities to exercise. As soon as they get the chance to run around, they take it. Even adult dogs get the zoomies, although the younger the dog the more frequently it seems to occur.
Is There a Best Time to Feed Your Dog? "While there is no best time, with most dogs that eat twice a day, it is best to feed them in the morning as soon as you get up and then again when you get home from work in the afternoon.," says Dr. Sara Ochoa, veterinary consultant for doglab.com who practices in Texas.
Yes, the zoomies are a sign of being happy. It's not a bad thing, and it's a sign that your dog is enjoying life. You want them to be able to express their happiness. What are some ways pet owners can make the zoomies easier on their dogs?
When your dog gets bored and everyone else in the house has gone to sleep at night, this could cause her to start whining at night for what may seem like no reason. She is likely looking for attention or for someone to play with her, or she may want to be let out into the yard to run around—regardless of the time!
Getting hyper at night can simply be a way for a dog to burn excess energy. This is especially common in active breeds, like German Shepherds, if they are not getting enough daily exercise. It also might happen if you haven't had a chance to walk your dog that day or give them their typical physical workout.
Why do dogs bark at night? Often it's because they see or hear an animal in the yard, or because they hear other dogs barking in the neighborhood. Other reasons they bark include loneliness, lack of supervision, or inadequate exercise and play.
Dogs mark their territories, and by howling or crying at night, they might be trying to inform their companions or other dogs about their whereabouts. A dog's cry can also be understood as a sign of alertness to its owners about outside threats or trespassers.
The most common reasons that dogs wake their owners up could be to use the bathroom, they are hungry for food, or they are just plain bored and want to be with you. These common reasons could come from any dog of any age but depending on the temperament and how your dog acts, it may be best to prepare.
If your dog wakes you up in the night to go outside, they may have a medical problem such as a urinary tract infection or Cushing's disorder. A vet can diagnose your pet and prescribe medication to treat this problem. If your vet rules these out, your dog may have a weak bladder due to old age.
If you were worried about this behavior, don't be. It's normal in dogs. In popular terms, it's called “the zoomies.” In technical parlance, it's Frenetic Random Activity Periods, or FRAP for short. It's more common in puppies and young dogs, but even our old pals can get a case of the zoomies if the mood strikes.
Only reward quiet and calm
If necessary, take advantage of this albeit brief silence to say "Good boy" and toss him a treat. Repeat this and the periods of silence will slowly grow more frequent. Similarly, only let him out of the crate when he's quiet, as a reward for this good (non-barking) behavior.
Create a nighttime routine: TV off, hallway light off, outside light off, etc. This will let them know that they have to go potty because you are headed to bed. Try to wake up before they do. If they can wake you to potty, then they will learn that waking you up gets a reward of a bladder release.
Ignoring them at night won't help them build confidence and may make them worse which isn't what anyone wants. They need to be taught how to be independent slowly. We would never recommend ignoring your puppy when they cry at night, especially in their first few nights.
It's tempting to rouse a pet showing signs of distress like whimpering, twitching, or shaking in their sleep. According to the American Kennel Club, owners should let sleeping dogs lie.
If the barking or whining is persistent, quietly make your way down to the closed door and give a firm command of quiet through the door. Do not open the door until your dog has calmed down and is being quiet. When this occurs, open the door and give them lots of praise and cuddles.
When a dog is kissed, it means bringing our face very close to the dog's face, and this is something that not all dogs are comfortable with. From a dog's perspective, putting our face close to their faces and plastering them a kiss on the nose, mouth or forehead, may be perceived as a bite or attempt to bite.
Cuddles & Sleepy Snuggles ?
Dogs choose to sleep where they feel most comfortable and at ease, so if your dog enjoys sleeping in your bed, or likes to snuggle up to you for a nap, they feel trust in you that they will be safe to do so.