Night Pacing + Restlessness: sleep protocol for older dogs

If your older dog is up and wandering at night, it can feel like you are both stuck in the same loop: you want them to rest, they want something, but neither of you can quite figure out what it is. Night pacing is not a “bad habit.” In senior dogs it is usually a symptom, and it often has more than one driver at the same time.

Before we get into a practical protocol, two important notes:

• Any new or suddenly worse nighttime restlessness deserves a veterinary check. Pain, organ disease, medication side effects, and neurologic issues can look like “just pacing.”
• This article is educational, not a diagnosis. Always check with your dog’s veterinarian before changing routines, adding supplements, or using medications.

What night pacing can mean in an older dog

Night pacing is basically your dog saying, “I can’t settle.” The most common categories behind that message are below. Your dog may have one, or a combination.

Pain and physical discomfort

• Arthritis, spinal pain, dental pain, and abdominal discomfort can all worsen when a dog lies down. Some dogs pace because standing is the least uncomfortable position. Senior pain is commonly under-recognized because dogs compensate quietly.

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) and “sundowning”

• CCD is an age-related brain condition that can resemble aspects of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. One hallmark is sleep-wake cycle disruption: more daytime sleeping and more nighttime activity, confusion, or vocalizing. Cornell’s veterinary resources describe CCD as common and often underdiagnosed, partly because changes creep in gradually.
• “Sundowning” refers to symptoms that intensify in the late afternoon or evening, including restlessness, pacing, and disorientation.

Anxiety and sensory changes

• Older dogs may see and hear less clearly. Darkness can make familiar rooms feel unfamiliar. That can lead to clinginess, startle responses, or a dog who paces until they find you.

Medical conditions that change bathroom needs or breathing

• Kidney disease, diabetes, urinary tract issues, and some hormone disorders can increase thirst and urination. A dog that needs to pee every few hours may pace, pant, or repeatedly ask to go out.
• Heart or respiratory problems can make lying flat uncomfortable. Some dogs pace because they feel “air hungry,” even if they are quiet during the day.

Medication effects

• Steroids, some seizure medications, and certain pain medications can alter sleep, thirst, or restlessness. A change in timing or dosage can matter.

Because there are so many possible causes, it helps to treat night pacing like a small investigation rather than a single “sleep problem.”

When to treat this as urgent

Call your veterinarian promptly (same day if possible) if any of these show up with pacing:

• Sudden onset pacing in a dog who was previously sleeping normally
• Collapse, weakness, or wobbliness
• Hard or labored breathing, pale gums, or a blue tinge to tongue or gums
• Unproductive retching, a swollen belly, or obvious abdominal pain
• Crying out, yelping, or inability to get comfortable at all
• Repeated vomiting, black/tarry stool, or not eating
• Disorientation that seems extreme or rapidly worsening

Night restlessness can be “just aging,” but it can also be the earliest visible sign that something is medically off.

The vet visit that makes the home protocol actually work

A sleep protocol is most effective after you rule out (or treat) medical triggers. Consider asking your veterinarian about:

• A focused pain exam and arthritis assessment
• A review of all medications and supplements, including timing
• Bloodwork and urinalysis if your dog is older, newly restless, or drinking/peeing more than usual
• Blood pressure and, if indicated, chest evaluation for heart/lung concerns
• Screening for CCD if behavior changes match the pattern (sleep changes, disorientation, altered social interactions, house soiling, new anxiety)

CCD has specific treatment paths and supportive care options, and veterinary guidance matters because multiple issues can mimic it.

The sleep protocol (a practical plan you can run for 2 to 3 weeks)

Think of this as a reset for your dog’s 24-hour rhythm, with comfort as the priority. You will adjust based on what your dog responds to.

Step 1: Track the pattern for 7 nights (yes, really)

You do not need a fancy app. A notes file works. Track:

• When pacing starts and ends
• What your dog does right before pacing (wakes from nap, hears a sound, drinks water)
• Bathroom trips and whether they are productive
• Panting, whining, staring, getting “stuck” in corners, or seeming lost
• Evening exercise, meals, and any treats or supplements
• Room temperature and sleep location

This log is gold for your vet and helps you spot triggers you would otherwise miss.

Step 2: Build a “daytime anchor” so nights get easier

Many senior dogs pace at night because they sleep too much during the day. You do not fix that by keeping them awake harshly. You fix it by giving them gentle structure.

Morning

• Get outside within an hour of waking for light exposure and a bathroom break.
• Add a short, low-impact walk or sniff session. Sniffing is tiring in a good way.

Midday

• Encourage one purposeful activity block: a food puzzle, scatter feeding, a few minutes of training, or a slow stroll.
• If your dog has arthritis, keep sessions shorter but more frequent.

Late afternoon

• Plan the most meaningful interaction here: calm play, grooming, massage, or another sniff walk.
• If your dog has CCD-like evening agitation, keep stimulation simple and predictable.

The goal is not exhaustion. The goal is a clear difference between day and night.

Step 3: Evening routine that reduces pacing triggers

About 2 to 3 hours before bedtime:

• Offer a final walk and a real chance to empty the bladder.
• Dim lights gradually rather than switching abruptly to darkness.
• Keep the house cooler if your dog tends to pant at night. Many seniors sleep better slightly cool.

Food and water

• If your vet agrees, consider shifting dinner earlier, and keep late-night treats small.
• Do not restrict water without veterinary direction, but you can reduce “recreational drinking” by placing water where it is easy to access, not in multiple spots that encourage repeated wandering.

Step 4: Bed setup that makes settling physically easier

A surprising number of night pacers calm down when their sleep surface and access needs are fixed.

• Orthopedic, supportive bed (thick enough that hips and shoulders do not bottom out)
• Non-slip path to the bed, and non-slip floor near it
• Night light in the hallway or near the bed if vision is declining
• Easy access to you, if separation ramps up anxiety (some dogs do better in the same room)
• White noise if your dog reacts to outside sounds

If your dog wakes and looks “lost,” light and consistent layout help more than repeated verbal reassurance.

Step 5: The “quiet response” when pacing starts (what you do at 2:00 a.m.)

This part is hard because you are tired. But consistency matters.

1. Take them out once, calmly, on leash if needed. No chatting, no play.
2. If they pee or poop, return straight to bed.
3. If they do not eliminate, return to bed anyway.

Then:

• Use the same short cue: “Bed.”
• Reward the first moment of stillness, not the pacing.
• Avoid turning it into a long attention session. Some dogs learn that pacing is how they start a midnight hangout.

If your dog is clearly distressed, disoriented, or uncomfortable, this is not a training moment. It is a signal to loop your vet in.

Step 6: Add targeted calming tools (only if Step 1 to 5 are running)

These supports are not magic, but they can help some dogs settle.

Behavioral and environmental supports

• A predictable bedtime routine (same order, same cues)
• Soothing music or white noise
• Comfort items: a blanket that smells like you, or a bed with bolsters for dogs who like to lean

Supplements and medications
This is where fact-checking matters.

• Melatonin is commonly discussed for sleep issues and anxiety in dogs, but research in dogs is limited, and much of the practical use is based on clinical experience and smaller evidence bases rather than large, definitive trials. The AKC notes that studies on melatonin use in dogs are limited. A recent review also points out that evidence is often case-based and calls for more robust randomized trials to establish dosing and long-term safety in dogs.
  Because supplement quality varies and some human products contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs (for example, xylitol), only use melatonin with veterinary approval and a dog-safe product.
• If your veterinarian suspects CCD, there are veterinary treatment options. A 2025 review in Frontiers in Veterinary Science notes that selegiline is currently the only FDA-approved drug in the United States for canine cognitive dysfunction, while other diets and supplements are used but vary in evidence. The AAHA senior care guidance discusses selegiline’s role and highlights important drug interaction cautions.
  Translation: CCD is not something to self-treat from a checklist. It deserves a plan tailored to your dog’s health status and current medications.

If the pacing is pain-driven, sleep routines will not be enough

If your dog lies down, pops back up, circles, then paces, pain is high on the list.

Signs that point toward discomfort:

• Reluctance to sit or lie down
• Trouble with stairs or jumping
• Stiffness after resting
• Licking at joints, shifting weight, “praying” stretch frequently

A vet-guided pain plan can be life-changing for sleep. That plan might include prescription pain control, joint-support strategies, rehab exercises, and home modifications. The key point is this: if pain is present, the sleep protocol is supportive, not curative.

If the pacing looks like CCD or sundowning

Night pacing paired with confusion, staring into space, getting stuck behind furniture, or reversing day-night sleep can suggest CCD. Cornell describes CCD as an age-related condition with gradual changes, and sleep-wake disruption is part of the picture.

What helps many CCD-leaning dogs at home:

• Strong day-night cues (light exposure in morning, dim evenings)
• Predictable routines and furniture layouts
• Night lights
• Gentle mental activity during the day, not overstimulation at night

What is limited:

• Owners often want a single supplement answer. In reality, evidence quality varies widely across diets, supplements, and supportive products. The most reliable path is still a vet-led plan that considers medical issues, behavior changes, and safety.

A realistic timeline and what “success” looks like

For many families, success is not “perfect sleep forever.” It is:

• Fewer pacing episodes per night
• Shorter pacing duration when it happens
• Easier settling after a bathroom break
• Less panting and less nighttime distress
• More predictable nights overall

Give the protocol 2 to 3 weeks, unless red flags appear sooner. If there is no improvement, that is useful information for your vet because it increases the odds that an underlying medical driver is still active.

The bottom line

Night pacing in older dogs is common, but it is not trivial. The most helpful mindset is: comfort first, rhythm second, and investigation always.

Run the protocol, keep a simple log, and keep your veterinarian involved. Your dog deserves rest, and so do you.

Sources

• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Riney Canine Health Center: Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome overview. (vet.cornell.edu)
• AAHA Senior Care Guidelines: Managing Cognitive Dysfunction and Behavioral Anxiety. (AAHA)
• Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2025): Current practices for diagnosis and management of canine cognitive dysfunction. (Frontiers)
• AKC: Melatonin for Dogs (notes on limited studies). (American Kennel Club)
• Sleep Foundation: Melatonin for Dogs (safety cautions, including avoiding toxic additives like xylitol in some products). (Sleep Foundation)
• Dogster (Ask the Vet): Sundowners in Dogs overview. (Dogster)
• Review article on melatonin in dogs noting evidence limitations and need for stronger trials. (dogbehavior.it)