Travelling with a dog can be a wonderful experience, but a dog also means a big change. New smells, a different environment, strange sounds and the absence of a home routine can make it harder for a dog to sleep or be more restless in a hotel or apartment.
The good news is that your dog can learn to sleep peacefully in new locations too, if we gradually prepare them for it at home.
The reasons dogs have trouble sleeping on trips
Dogs are creatures of routine. In their home environment, they have very clear signals that tell them it's time to rest: the same bed, the same spot, the same evening ritual.
When we arrive at a hotel or apartment, almost everything changes:
- new noises (rattling in the corridors, lifts, other guests talking)
- unknown scents
- different space arrangement
- more excitement due to the long drive and new surroundings
This is why your dog often needs some time to relax and understand that the space is safe.
Tip: If you plan to leave your puppy alone for a short while during your trip, for example, if you go to a museum where puppies are usually not welcome, plan your trip so that you do not leave the puppy alone immediately after arriving in a new place. It is best to arrive at the location the evening before and stay with the puppy until the next day. This way, it will have already had one peaceful night in the new environment, and it will be less stressful for it when it is left alone. It should be left alone after it has done its business and had a walk.
The most important rule: the dog should have its own bed
One of the best things we can do is have your puppy always sleep on the same bed, even when we travel.
When we bring his bed or blanket:
- the dog recognises familiar scents.
- make it feel like home
- he understands more easily where his resting place is.
For a dog it's like a little piece of home, which we take with us. Lightweight and portable, and extremely comfortable and high-quality beds for our furry friends, you will find here.
May the first few nights be as peaceful as possible.
If a puppy is in a hotel or apartment for the first time, it's normal for it to be a bit more aware of its surroundings.
It can help if:
- the puppy is tired before it goes to sleep for the first time in its new space
- we reduce the light in the room
- close the windows or curtains to reduce external stimuli
- we put his bed near where we sleep
The training starts at home.
If we want the puppy to sleep peacefully in a hotel, we must first practise it at home.
The dog must learn:
- that he has his own sleeping place
- at this place he can rest peacefully
- to fall asleep even when things are happening around him
This can be practiced by directing the dog to its bed after an evening walk or activity and rewarding it when it settles down.
You can read more about this in blog, which is dedicated precisely to this topic.
Use the same evening ritual
Puppies respond very well to repetitive routines.
If we want the puppy to fall asleep in new locations too, he should always have similar evening flow:
- evening stroll
- calming in space
- water and a treat
- going to bed
When a dog experiences the same sequence of rituals multiple times, it begins to associate them with sleep time – whether at home or in a hotel.
Make sure you get enough exercise during the day.
A dog that has had enough exercise, exploration, and mental stimulation during the day will fall asleep much more easily.
On holiday, it's therefore good:
- to go for a longer walk
- to enable exploring the surroundings
- include some brain games
A tired dog is usually also a more relaxed dog.
| Tip: Sniffing is a very welcome activity for puppies and also tires them out greatly. It is good mental stimulation and, in fact, an instinctive activity that they need. Sometimes this activity from our furry friends can be very tiring for owners, as they have to stop at almost every step, but this means much more to the puppy than if they were running all the time. With lots of sniffing and marking, they will not only be physically tired but also mentally – this way they will have a lot of content to process while sleeping. Travelling is perfect for such an activity – all scents are new, and it will take a lot of effort to decipher them 😊. |
Do not introduce new rules on the trip
Travelling is not the best moment to learn new rules.
If the dog sleeps on its own bed at home, it should also sleep on it during travel. However, if it's accustomed to sleeping in the owner's bed at home, it will likely fall asleep more easily in a new environment if a similar arrangement is maintained.
The most peace is given to the dog by predictability.
Please be patient
Every dog adapts to a new environment a little differently. Some fall asleep straight away, others need one or two nights to relax completely. Even before you go on a trip and expect your dog to have problems, plan the first few days more simply.
Don't expect to visit all the museums on your first few days and then see an opera performance in the evening. Until you've got to grips with your dog's understanding of new spaces, proceed slowly. And remember – once you achieve this, every repetition will be easier and a step towards everything running very smoothly.
It is important to remain calm and not panic, and not to punish the puppy.
In time, most dogs learn that trips also mean interesting adventures – and that staying in a hotel is perfectly fine.
But it all starts with a suitable and comfortable mattress! Explore a colourful world of comfort here.