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Like any other mammals or creatures with instincts, our dogs can also feel as much heat as we humans can. And like us, our dogs can also lose control of themselves. This is why it is very important to know how to calm a dog in heat.

It is very easy to assume that once your female or male dog is away from their opposite sex counterpart, their heat will eventually subside. However, it is also important you acknowledge that it might take a while for their “heat” to subside as it is also caused by their hormones.

Why is my dog in heat?

As a dog owner for quite a while now, I have seen my dog in heat a lot of times already. This usually happens when my dog (who happens to be female) before, during and after her period.

Her body would literally be warmer than usual and she tends to try to get closer to other male dogs when she gets the chance. She would go near the male dog to smell his behind or his balls. This is all a normal sign that indicates your dog is not pregnant.

She is also very restless and tends to urinate a lot. Which is why we had to be very patient and understanding with her during this time. Sometimes, she even tends to be a little bit more clingier to Pepper (our dog who also happens to be a female).

So if you spot some of these symptoms or signs on your female dog, do not fret. This is very normal among female dogs in heat.

Similar to a female human’s ovulation period, female dogs also feel a strong urge to mate during this said season. This is due to the sudden increasing and decreasing of estrogen in your dog’s body. The hormonal imbalance is what causes your dog to be in “heat”.

However, it is important to take note that this phase is not only present among female dogs. Male dogs also experience this. For male dogs, their body temperature also increases.

You might find that they also lick anyone or anything a little bit more than usual. Sometimes, you would even find them rubbing themselves to a tree, the ground or on other surfaces. Their appetite might also change when in heat. So be sure to watch out for these symptoms.

However, if you do not want your dog to impregnate another ever or vice versa, there are several medical ways to address this. But then again, if you simply want to calm your dog in heat, there are also ways to temporarily resolve this.

I’m Getting Worried! What Should I Prepare?

Calming down your dog in heat might not be as easy because we are talking about hormonal imbalance here. However, it is not impossible. Though, you might need a lot of patience and understanding for this.

For this task, you might need several things such as:

• Chews or treats – treats are a good way to keep your dogs filled, satisfied and preoccupied.
• Toys – toys are also a wonderful addition to playtime and exercises with your dog. Collar and leash – this is very important, especially when you take your dog out for a walk.
• Vicks vapor rub – this can be used to fight off the scent female dogs emit during this season. This will also keep your dog from attracting male dogs.
• Music – similar to humans, a soothing music helps calm down dogs as well.

Here’s my step-by-step guide to help calm my dog!

Calming down a dog heat can be quite similar for both male and female dogs. And it can also be challenging if you aren’t aware of the do’s and don’ts. If ever you happen to be in such a situation, here’s what you can do:

Step 1: Take your dog out for a walk.

Like us humans, taking your dog out for a walk can help calm him/her down. Walking or exercising in general, helps them dissipate any excess energy they might feel when they are in heat.

You can use dog toys or a play ball to fetch as you do this. Not only does it help calm down your dog, it can also help him/her sleep better. However, be careful not to lose hold of him/her while walking or exercising.

Even after the walk, your dog might still feel the urge to get close to the opposite sex.

Step 2: Reward him or her with treats

After a tiring session or playing, walking or exercising, your dog needs food and treats. Treats are also mostly important if you are the busy type. When a dog is in heat, he/she will likely need a lot of your attention.

However, it is impossible to watch your dog 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Which is why it is important to leave treats or even food accessible to your dog if you aren’t going to be at home for the day.

Step 3: Bathe your dog regularly.

This phase/season for your dog is not a one time big time thing. For some, it takes them weeks before the “heat” is totally gone. Which is why it is very important to bathe your dog regularly.

For female dogs, they might have discharges of blood during this phase like female humans. And their body temperature might become warmer than usual as well. Bathing your dog not only keeps them clean and hygienic but also helps them maintain a regulated body temperature.

Step 4: If you want your dog not to be in heat permanently, seek the medical way.

A lot of pet owners decide to spay their female dogs or neuter their male dogs at an early age so as not to impregnate them or have them impregnate another dog. This might seem a little bit cruel, but there are very important benefits from doing so.

Getting your female dog spayed not only keeps her from getting pregnant accidentally, but it can also reduce their risk for mammary gland tumors, breast cancer and other reproductive health illnesses.

Similarly as for male dogs, having them neutered can significantly reduce their risk to testicular cancer and several prostate problems. Whatever your decide to do to keep your dog from heat, remember that his/her health and well being comes first.

It’s always about patience!

While your dog can be a little restless when in heat, they are also very vulnerable during the said season. It is very easy for them to lose control of themselves and find their way to their opposite sex.

During this time, you have to be very patient and understanding with your dog. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to give him/her enough attention and love. But most importantly, it is also important that you have your dog checked regularly. Just because they experience this regularly, doesn’t mean they are free from other reproductive illnesses.

If you’ve experienced raising a dog since she was 3 months old or lower, you’ll know that it’s as hard as taking care of a baby. This is true, considering dogs are mammals just like us and they require special attention because they still need a mother to guide them.

Learning how to get a puppy to sleep through the night is one of the most challenging aspects of raising your puppy. It can stress you out like what newborn babies do. However, if you can get the hang of it with a few simple tricks, you and your puppy will definitely sleep smoothly at night!

What My Experiences Were

As a dog owner for over 5 years, some of my puppies (who are all grown adults now) had trouble sleeping. The memorable instance is with my Shih Tzu, Feng. We got Feng from a breeder when she was only 3 months old, and she really had a hard time sleeping in her first few weeks with us.

She kept on crying if she’s left in the living room with my pug, Grigio. So we brought her upstairs to sleep in my bedroom. Sometimes she’ll do her best to sleep, but a few minutes later she’ll bark at me. So what I did was lift her to my bed and made her sleep beside me.

What happened after that? Well, she peed on my sheets! What a disaster that was for Feng’s first night with us. If hearing that made you worried about getting a puppy, don’t be. I was still a novice back then and little did I know that preventing it was simple.

When I tried doing a few simple steps and tricks to my other dogs, I never had problems making my puppies sleep again.

Why Does Your Puppy Cry Overnight?

Puppies differ in how they behave in their new environment. If you’ll be bringing a new puppy in your house, there are several things that can happen.

If ever your puppy does cry, there are many reasons. One of the common ones is your puppy is not used to sleep without her mom or her siblings. If your puppy was raised by her mom in her first 3 months (which should be done), she can grow anxious sleeping alone.

Another reason is the presence of other dogs. Although I’m not sure if Feng got upset being with our pug (who snubbed her in her first night), it can happen since she’s not familiar with your older pooch.

Finally, as with human babies too, your puppy might want to go potty if she’s crying in the middle of the night. This is another common behavior that can be prevented, although not entirely since your puppy has little control over her bladder.

Steps to Know

Step 1: Prepare her home before she arrives

Establishing a permanent sleeping place for your puppy is a vital step. This will introduce your puppy to her “safe spot” where she needs to feel secure and at home. This can be a kennel or a bed.

Even if your dog is a large breed, don’t let her sleep outside in a dog house. Puppies are vulnerable, so they should be somewhere close to you. When preparing her kennel, add a few chew toys and soft items like pillows. Soft cushions and items that she can nibble will help relax your dog more.

Be sure to avoid places where there are a lot of clutter and moving objects. Your kitchen, for example, is a bad environment to sleep in.

Also, research what climate your dog’s breed thrives in.For example, if she’s a Siberian Husky, she’ll need a chilly place to sleep in. Other dogs prefer warmer temperatures such as beagles and dobermans.

Step 2: Train your dog to go to his safe place

You can’t just simply tell your dog that she has her own spot in the house. With that, you have to train your puppy to go to her sleeping area. You can do this by maximizing her instincts such as leaving a trail of treats that leads to that spot.

Or, you can secure your dog inside her sleeping area first using a dog divider or fence. Of course, if she’s in a crate there’s no need. If you do it this way, try to comfort your dog in her sleeping area by giving her snacks, petting her, or just playing with her til she gets tired!

Step 3: Tire her out during the day

It’s a better idea to get your puppy during the morning. That way, not only can you introduce your puppy to a new environment much earlier, but you can also allow her to have exercise.

Playing with your puppy or chasing her around your yard or house will benefit her greatly. Like kids, puppies are energetic so you want them to spend all their energy in the day. A puppy that gets a lot of good exercise will sleep way better at night.

Step 4: Make sure your puppy goes to potty before bed

Let your pup pee and poop as much as she needs before going to her safe place. You don’t necessarily need to potty train your pup on her first day, but make sure she doesn’t potty anywhere near her safe place. This will train her early to think that her place should be clean and comfy for her to sleep in.

Remember, this step doesn’t guarantee your dog to not cry at night if she needs to go. Puppies can’t control their bladders, so you can’t really do much but endure it for them. That’s part of a dog owner’s responsibility. However, you can control your dog’s portions in her food and water, that could help you a bit.

Things That You Shouldn’t Do

   1. Don’t let your puppy sleep with you

This is one of my first mistakes that led to my trouble with Feng in her first few weeks. I immediately let her sleep with me in my bed, and that caused her to have anxiety issues if she sleeps somewhere where she can’t see me or my parents.

That carries on until today. Thankfully, Feng is just a small Shih Tzu that doesn’t take up much space in the bedroom. With that said, avoid what I did and let your puppy sleep first in her kennel. This is especially true if she’s a large breed like a Labrador or a Great Dane.

If she cries because you’re away, don’t panic. Just let her bark it out. If the barking doesn’t stop, try to sleep somewhere near your dog’s safe place. A little sacrifice would go a long way!

    2. Avoid getting stressed

Your first bedtime experience with your puppy can be really frustrating. However, it’s best if you try to calm down and keep your cool. Your pup looks up to you now as her parent or alpha, so she’d need a secure and stable source of protection and reassurance.

Giving off a negative vibe will only make your dog more anxious because she can sense it.

Let Your Dog Know She’s Safe and Sound

At the end of the day, what’s important for us dog owners is to understand what our puppies need. It’s important for us to pay attention to their behaviour in order to know what they want. The puppy stage is the most delicate and vulnerable time for your dog’s growth, so go the extra mile and train your puppy with a lot of love in her sleeping habits!

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