Why Does My Dog Wake Me Up?

You’re snoozing soundly, dreaming of your favorite beaches or vacation destinations when suddenly you’re awoken by the not-so-dulcet sounds of barks and whines by your side, probably accompanied by a wet nose or some gentle pawing by your pup. If your dog has become a furry alarm clock, waking you up hours before your actual alarm goes off, not only are you likely sleep-deprived, but you’re probably wondering why your pooch does this.

As with many seemingly puzzling canine behaviors, you may need to do a little detective work to figure out why your dog is waking you. Dealing with an alarm-clock dog is annoying, but fortunately, there are ways to redirect your dog’s unwanted behaviors into more positive channels once you determine the reason behind the early wake-up calls.

Why Your Dog Wakes You Up Early

There are several reasons that your dog might want to get you up bright and early. “Dogs may wake their owners up in the morning for a variety of reasons including boredom, the need to relieve themselves, hunger, thirst, fear, and excitement, among others,” says Kay Gramm, dog trainer and AKC Approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator in Antelope, California. And, how you respond will determine whether your dog keeps behaving like your furry alarm clock. “Ultimately, our dogs do what works so if their behavior of waking you up is reinforced by your getting up and meeting their need, they will repeat it,” says Gramm.

How to Deal with Your Dog’s Morning Wake-Up Call

When you’re dealing with an insistent dog trying to get you up in the morning, it’s best to ignore your pup in most cases. “One thing to realize is that dogs will repeat what works and if waking you up works, there is every reason to keep doing it. Many times, owners have to ignore attempts at being woken up until the habit is broken,” recommends Gramm.

Read More: How Does Daylight Savings Time Affect Dogs?

She also cautions that you must determine the reason for the wake-up calls before you can start ignoring your dog. “For example, if your dog wakes you up because they have to do their business outside because they can’t hold it, that is the behavior you want to reinforce by letting them relieve themselves. However, if your dog wakes you up to go for a walk or to eat breakfast, it may be a less desirable behavior to reinforce,” she says.

Woman petting her Yorkshire terrier dog, closeup

 

Ways to Combat Your Dog’s Desire to Wake You

Because the reasons for your dog’s early morning wake-up calls can vary, there are many ways you can prevent this behavior once it starts. In addition to ignoring your dog’s non-urgent wake-ups, consider these options:

  • Use an automatic feeder to take care of serving breakfast kibble to your pup or free-feed the dog during the night to stop doggy wake-up calls due to early-morning hunger pangs.
  • Take your dog out for a potty break just before bedtime recommends dog trainer Nicole Ellis, CPDT-KA, of Altadena, California. “Make sure your last potty break isn’t too quick and leave enough time for your pet to empty their bladder because some dogs like to go multiple times.”
  • Provide an indoor potty spot for your dog to use during the night to prevent bathroom requests in the morning. Or, give your dog access to a doggy door to eliminate in the yard without you.
  • Ensure that your dog has a quiet sleeping area away from windows where outside critters or noisy neighbors could disturb your pup’s sleep.
  • Give your pooch some toys to play with throughout the night, especially interactive puzzle toys that encourage dogs to hunt for bits of kibble, to prevent wake-up calls due to boredom.
  • Spend quality time with your dog during the day and allow your dog to sleep in or near your bedroom on a bed of their own. This way, your dog won’t feel neglected and want to wake you up to spend time with you.
  • Crate your pup, says Ellis. “Positive reinforcement crate training is a great way to prevent your face from being licked at 6 a.m. Of course, their crate should be a comfortable place they feel safe and happy in,” she recommends.

Why Exercise Helps Stop Your Dog From Waking You

One of the main reasons that dogs wake up their owners is because they’re bored or lonely and excited for a walk with you. For pups filled with pent-up energy, more exercise is the solution. “Providing sessions of walks and play can help meet your dog’s need for physical exercise and give their bodies the desire to relax,” says Gramm.

To reduce your dog’s desire for an early morning activity, keep morning walks brief and make afternoon and evening the time for more extensive training and exercise, advises Ellis. These sessions will tire out your dog and the pooch will want to sleep in the next morning. “Don’t forget that boredom is one of the top reasons for destructive behavior and you don’t want that to be your pet’s next idea,” she cautions.

Vizsla laying on its back in bed.

 

How AKC Activities Help Keep Dogs Active

Gramm advises that dogs need mental stimulation in addition to their physical exercise, and training classes and activities are some of the best ways for them to exercise their brains. “Dog’s love to learn and love the camaraderie of working together with their owners. In this vein, I wholeheartedly recommend participation in AKC-related programs and events,” she says.

“Scent games are one of my favorite things to do to tire a dog out,” says Ellis. She also recommends AKC agility for the same reason.

Participating in sports like agility, scent work, and AKC Rally events provides a positive outlet for your dog’s excess energy and will get your pup tired enough to sleep through the night and into the morning.

 

When to Speak to the Vet About Morning Wake-Ups

Has your dog only recently started to wake you up early in the morning? Then visit your veterinarian to rule out a possible illness like a urinary tract infection or cognitive dysfunction in older dogs. “Oftentimes, dogs will try to wake their owners up when they are feeling anxious or uncomfortable, and these can be signs of underlying health conditions. As always, have a veterinary checkup any time your pet develops new or confusing behaviors,” recommends Gramm.