Sleep, food and enrichment: the daily routine behind a settled dog

Rest comes first

Adult dogs sleep a great deal, and puppies and older dogs need more still. A dog who never gets uninterrupted rest becomes reactive in exactly the ways owners describe as naughty.

Give your dog one quiet place away from foot traffic, and protect it. No visitors, no children, no lead being clipped on while they sleep.

Feeding routine

Regular mealtimes help settle a dog's day. Sudden diet changes and constant table scraps can upset both digestion and behaviour.

Your vet is the right person to advise on quantity and diet for your dog's age, breed and health. We will not guess at that for you.

Mental work beats more mileage

For many high-energy dogs, another hour of running produces a fitter, more aroused dog. Sniffing, searching and problem solving tire them out in a way that leads to genuine rest.

• Scatter part of a meal in the garden or in a snuffle mat.
• Hide three treats in a room and let your dog find them.
• Practise two minutes of easy training before dinner.
• Let them sniff on walks instead of marching the whole way.

When to see a vet

Sudden changes in barking, appetite, toileting or sleep can have medical causes, including pain. Behaviour work should never replace a check-up when something changes quickly.

Putting it together

Protected sleep, steady meals and daily sniffing work will do more for a noisy household than any single piece of equipment. Training then has something solid to build on.