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Tips on Good Sleeping Habits for French Bulldog Puppies

Good Sleeping Habits for French Bulldog Puppies

Check Out These 8 Tips on Good Sleeping Habits for French Bulldog Puppies

All puppies need routine and structure to help them to grow into happy well-adjusted dogs with even temperaments. In fact there are different structures depending on whether you are training for a feeding routine or house training routine. This article will just tackle the sleep schedule as a way of helping you and your puppy adjust to living together.

Needless to say sleep is essential for healthy growth, and puppies are no exception. They can sleep up to 18 hours a day, and in their waking hours be bursting with excitable energy. The large amount of sleep is essential to the development of their muscles, brain and immune system.

When awake, puppies burn a lot of energy; learning about their new environment and experiencing how to interact with both humans and other animals. And like children, they wont always be aware of when they are over tired and need time out to rest.

The following are a few helpful tips you can use as a sort of guideline to help you create a healthy napping and night-time sleeping routine.

  • Recognize an ‘overtired’ puppy. This may be when playful fun starts to turn into mischievous behavior like being hyperactive, and not listening to commands. Alternatively, the opposite may be observed, like excessive panting and drinking more water than normal. Whichever it is, you need to be observant and ready to stop and guide him to their rest area and encourage them to settle down.
  • Show your puppy where to rest. This may be their bed, or it may also be a special spot on a cushion that they will identify as being a quiet place for napping. It may take a while for your puppy to get the idea, but eventually they’ll recognize that spot as the place for rest.
  • Do not disturb! This is sometimes the hardest thing to do, especially if there are children in the household who will want to keep petting and cuddling the puppy. Everyone needs to learn to leave him alone and let him wake up naturally. Remember that when he does wake, he will very likely need to go outside to do his business.
  • Follow a daily routine. Plan your puppy’s day so that an active time is followed by a quite time to sleep. This is particularly important after a walk or outing to the park. Every puppy is different. Some will nap for 30 minutes while others may sleep for up to 2 hours. All of this sleep is healthy and normal.
  • Tips for making puppy beds. Resist the temptation to spend big on getting the best bed. It’s not necessary, and they will likely chew it up anyway. Find a couple of old blankets to line the base of their bed. Soft felt blankets are ideal. Just be aware not to use old wool blankets, as these may be chewed into long strings that can become a choking hazard. The same goes for soft toys. Make sure they are sturdy and cannot be broken up into small pieces that he could choke on.
  • Find a quiet sleep area. Some owners like to have their puppy’s bed in their bedroom. If you do, then just make sure that it’s a dimly lit quiet space.ie: no loud TVs. This environment will be your puppy’s cue to relax and sleep. If the puppy’s bed has high sides, another idea is to put a blanket across it like a cover. This creates more of a comfy den-like environment to help them sleep.
  • Tricks and Treats. Part of a typical routine would be to make sure they have their walk or exercise before sleeping. Also make sure have a chance to go to the bathroom either during their walk or just after some exercise. Reward him with a treat for getting into bed. That is all part of the routine. It’s really just trail and error, as some puppies will learn routines faster than others. So, just be prepared for some whining or getting up again in the beginning. If that happens, lead him patiently back to his bed again. Eventually, he will go there without any prompting.
  • There will be interruptions. Always keep in mind that puppies are learning. Sometimes, they may wake up and need to go outside again during the night. This interrupts your sleep routine, but you need to understand it’s a phase you just need to deal with rather than let it get you upset. If they need to go, then take them outside and speak to them gently. When they’ve finished, then put them right back to bed again.

Need more help with your puppy? Check out our recommended dog training program here.

Conclusion

The most important thing is to not be overwhelmed by the whole process. It seems like a lot of hard work, but you’ll end up with a happy puppy that will come to enjoy the routine, too. Remember, this is the time for developing loving bonds that will last a lifetime.

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