You can’t wait to go to bed… Your Husky, on the other hand, is a night owl.
You wonder what’s keeping them awake at night. Why aren’t they sleepy?!
All you want is to go to sleep, but instead worry starts entering your mind…
Keep reading to discover:
- How much sleep your Husky needs.
- Why your Husky won’t sleep at night.
- What the lack of sleep does to your Husky.
- 3 easy tips to make your Husky sleep at night.
- And much much more…
Table of contents
Why won’t my Husky sleep at night?
Your Husky won’t sleep at night because of discomfort due to pinched nerves. Environment can be a reason too. Huskies who have anxiety might have a hard time sleeping. Distractions and stimuli can prevent sleep in Huskies. Your Husky might also have a lot of energy left.
How do I get my Husky to sleep at night?
You should always make your Husky comfortable if you want them to sleep at night. If they have anxiety, you should remove the root cause. Their focus during night is only sleep so keep everything away. And make sure that they used all their energy in the day by exercising.
7 reasons why your Husky won’t sleep at night
#1: Your Husky’s has pinched nerves
An injured Husky wants to sleep so bad but they feel pain.
Let me explain what happens in their body…
The vertebrae makes your Husky’s neck and back flexible. This bone also has disks between it.
The vertebrae needs disks so they won’t rub on each other. These disks also have nerves that relay brain signals to your Husky’s body.
It creates pressure if the disks press the nerves. This is painful for your Husky’s neck.
Huskies with neck disc problems can’t sleep. This is also called pinched nerves in the neck.
If your Husky has pinched nerves, they can’t lay down.
You might ask, “Why does this happen?”
The causes of pinched nerves are:
- Aging.
- Obesity.
- Tumors.
- Trauma (injury).
- Genetic predisposition.
Symptoms include:
- Pain.
- Stiff neck.
- Changes in walking.
Pain
Pain is the main symptom of pinched nerves. And unlike humans, dogs have a different way of telling they’re in pain.
They might yawn, pant, smack their lips, and breathe fast if they’re in pain. Another sign of pinched nerves is yelping.
Check out: 7 Reasons Why Your Husky Breathes So Fast + 3 Tips
Stiff neck
Stiff neck is also a symptom of pinched nerves. Observe how your Husky’s movements.
A Husky with a stiff neck will less likely move their head side to side. Your dog might also arch its back when this happens.
If you want to know if your Husky has a stiff neck, call them and give them dog food on the floor.
Consider this:
- Can they turn their head and look at you?
- Can they spin around?
- Can they reach the food on the floor?
If the answer is no, then they might have pinched nerves.
Changes in walking
Your Husky might have pinched nerves if they walk wobbly. In some cases, it can tell cervical problems.
They might also limp or hold up a leg. The nerves in their spine affect the way they walk and cause limping.
Affected Huskies may walk uncoordinated or stumble.
#2: Their environment
If your Husky doesn’t sleep at night, you need to check the place they sleep in.
Are you able to sleep on a bed that’s hard? Can you sleep with bright lights on? Or anywhere with loud noises?
Most people can’t. The same goes for your Husky.
You might ask if darkness is needed for your Husky to sleep. Technically, no.
If your dog needs darkness for them to sleep, they won’t sleep in the morning, right? But they do, and they sleep multiple times a day.
However, it is ideal for a dog to sleep when it’s dark because there are less stimuli at night.
And because of that your Husky will sleep longer. The average sleep time for both puppy and adult Huskies is 7 hours a night.
Also, Husky puppies might sleep less at night than adults because they tend to sleep more during the day.
You should also check on your Husky’s comfort. A Husky that doesn’t feel comfortable won’t sleep.
If they sleep in a crate, they might not sleep if there’s no bed.
#3: Noises
Noises are also a factor why your Husky can’t sleep. But not in the way you imagine.
Your Husky’s super power is their sense of hearing. Dogs can hear better frequencies than humans.
An average human can hear 64-23,000 Hz while dogs can hear 67-45,000 Hz.
But, your Husky won’t wake up to the loud sound of the TV or the speaker. In fact, they can ignore it when they’re sleeping.
Instead, they’ll wake up when they hear a familiar sound they like.
For example, your dog can sleep in a room with Metallica on full volume. But they will wake up as soon as they hear you open a bag of chips.
The reason for this is classical conditioning. Your Husky identifies something good with a sound they hear.
If your Husky hears a noise during night, they might not sleep. Especially if the noise stimulates them.
Your Husky might hear scary noises at night too. There are sounds that frighten them either because of the frequency or they think it’s frightening.
Some of these sounds include:
- Fireworks.
- Gunshots.
- Thunderstorms.
- Construction noises.
- Car alarms or sirens.
- Large trucks or buses.
- Skateboard on pavements.
These sounds are not only responsible for why your Husky’s away at night. They can also cause anxiety.
#4: They have separation anxiety
Separation anxiety (SepAnx) can make your Husky stay awake. Dogs with separation anxiety are hyper-attached to their owner.
There is no evidence why dogs have this condition. But dogs coming from shelters can have SepAnx more than puppies bred and raised in a single home.
Huskies with this condition show these behaviors when left alone:
- Digging.
- Whining.
- Excessive barking.
- Panting excessively.
- Destructive chewing.
- Peeing and pooping.
If you keep your Husky in a crate, they might not sleep if they have SepAnx. They won’t sleep because they want to be with you.
Dogs with separation anxiety will also follow you from room to room. Yes, Huskies are independent breeds but this doesn’t mean they can’t have SepAnx.
You might think that sleeping next to your Husky is the way to go, but… no.
In some cases, Huskies can even be anxious even if they’re with you when sleeping. They think even sleeping is a form of separation.
Your Husky may demand attention by pacing, panting and pawing at you.
Dogs can have separation anxiety if they were abandoned by their previous owner. Change of residence can also result in anxiety.
Your Husky can also have anxiety (but not SepAnx) if they have a new sleeping area. They might be anxious because it’s a new environment.
#5: They’re distracted
Distractions can also prevent your Husky from sleeping. They can’t sleep if they have something else in mind just like humans.
If your Husky sees bugs or other insects during night, they might not sleep. Instead, they’ll bark or be curious at them.
It’s also not a good idea if they have toys in their bed. They might play with their toys instead of sleep.
If your dog is not neutered, the distraction might be from a nearby dog in heat. Dogs have a great sense of smell.
They can sniff a dog in heat three miles (4.8 km.) away.
If your neighbor’s dog barks at night, it can keep your Husky awake. The bark might alert your dog and see it as a danger.
Distraction can cause fear, anxiety, and alertness to your Husky. Huskies tend to sleep more in areas where they can’t see or hear them.
#6: They still have energy
You and your Husky sleep to restore energy, right?
So, what do you think will happen if your Husky didn’t use theirs during the day? Yup! They’ll stay awake alright.
Huskies are very active. They are built to pull sleds in cold environments.
If they stay in the crate all day and do nothing, they’ll still be energetic during night.
Working dogs like Huskies can’t sleep at night because they don’t have enough exercise. It’s as simple as that.
A combination of lack of exercise and plenty of sleep can get your Husky up in the middle of the night.
“But I walk my Husky every morning, why can’t they still sleep?”
Maybe, the exercise you give them isn’t enough.
#7: They need to “go”
If you have a Husky puppy, they might not sleep at night because they need to poop or pee.
Once their bladder is full, they won’t sleep because they have to “let it out.”
And they won’t just excrete their waste in their crate if they’re potty-trained. They want to do it in their assigned pooping area.
You should always let your Husky eliminate waste before bedtime. This way, they can sleep better at night.
You should also have a feeding schedule so you can know when they’ll have to excrete waste. Some dogs take 30 minutes while others take an hour.
3 tips on how to get your Husky to sleep at night
#1: Increase their exercise
Your Husky won’t sleep if they have a lot of energy. They will just howl, bark, or run around to waste their energy.
What you can do to solve this problem is increase their exercise. If your Husky still has a lot of energy after 30 minutes of working out, add another 30!
You can do frisbee, swimming, or jogging with your Husky. It doesn’t matter as long as they are engaged.
And don’t worry, they won’t be over-fatigued. Breeds like Huskies are made for working every single day.
You can try exercising your Husky 1 hour in the morning. The alternative is exercising them 30 minutes in the morning and the late afternoon.
Always remember this saying, “A tired dog is a happy sleepy dog.”
#2: Set their sleeping station
Make sure that your Husky’s sleeping station is somewhere you are comfortable too. If they can relax easier, they can sleep faster and better.
What you can do is buy your Husky a bed that suits them. You should also keep in mind that not all beds are created equal.
For instance, Huskies with arthritis can sleep better on joint-supporting beds. Their environment should also have no distractions.
To avoid distractions, you can always darken the bedroom. If your Husky sleeps in a crate, you can buy crate covers for them.
But darkness alone is not enough. Huskies have night vision so you need to get the distractions away from them.
You can also play dog-friendly music in your dog’s sleeping area. If you have the money, you can even make the place soundproof.
A soundproof room will eliminate all outside noises that might be keeping your Husky from seeping.
#3: Go to your vet
If the previous two options don’t work, it’s best if you take a trip to the vet.
The vet will run a series of tests to identify why your Husky is not sleeping. If your Husky needs sleeping medication, you can ask your vet for the following options.
Calming supplements
Calming supplements used to treat dogs with anxiety and restlessness.
These supplements are typically offered as soft chews. Which makes it easy for your dog to take them. Your Husky needs to take these chews 30 minutes before bedtime.
These chews contain melatonin and L-tryptophan to help your Husky sleep better.
CBD
The second option you can have is CBD. Yes, it’s the component found in marijuana.
If you live in countries like Canada and the US, you know that CBD is a legal substance in these places.
This product can help your Husky’s anxiety and restlessness. Most of the time, CBD is offered as oils that have no taste and smell.
And no, I know what you’re thinking. CBD cannot make your dog “high.” The THC in marijuana is the one that does.
Note: Anecdotal data shows that CBD can help in treating certain diseases in dogs. But bear in mind that this is anecdotal data, not concrete proof.
Some possible side effects of CBD might include:
- Dry mouth.
- Drowsiness.
- Lower blood pressure.
There might be a lot of questions in your head right now. So, always ask an expert, like your vet, to know if this treatment will work for your Husky.
Warning: Never rely on articles (including this one) alone if your dog has medical problems. You should only use research as a reference, not as an instruction manual in treating your dog.
Your best option is to always turn to your vet for professional advice.