Why Your Puppy Goes Crazy in the Evening (and What Helps)
Updated: 2 days ago
One minute your puppy is snoozing at your feet, the next they're tearing round the room like a little Tasmanian devil, grabbing trousers and barking at nothing. Lots of puppies have a wild spell in the evening, often called the witching hour. It's really common, it isn't a sign your training is failing, and nine times out of ten the answer is a nap, not more play.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Puppies usually go crazy in the evening because they're overtired, not because they need more exercise. Missed naps, a busy day and too much excitement build up, and by evening your puppy can't switch off. You'll often see zoomies, extra biting, barking and not listening. To help, protect daytime naps, keep the late afternoon calm, give a chew or lick mat at the usual crazy time, and pop your puppy somewhere quiet to nap when it starts.
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What the witching hour looks like
Zoomies round the house or garden
Grabbing hands, sleeves, trousers or socks
Barking at small sounds they'd normally ignore
Can't settle, keeps getting up and moving
Seems to forget cues they knew this morning
Why it happens
Overtiredness
Puppies need around 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day. When they miss naps, they don't get sleepy. They get faster, louder and bitier. That burst of energy is often a sign your puppy has gone past tired. Read why puppies need more sleep than training.
Too much going on
Visitors, outings, children home from school, play with other dogs and new places all add up. By evening, your puppy's brain is full.
Teething
Sore gums can make puppies extra mouthy, especially when they're tired. See why puppies chew everything.
What to do in the moment
Stay calm and quiet. Excited voices add fuel
Offer a chew, lick mat or snuffle mat
If biting carries on, pop your puppy in their crate or pen with a chew for a nap
Don't try to tire them out with more play. That usually makes it worse
How to prevent it
Protect daytime naps
Build naps into the day, every hour or two of awake time for a young puppy, and watch the puppy in front of you, because some can only manage 45 minutes before they tip over. Naps always go into their quiet space, whether that's a crate, a pen or their bed in a quiet room. And I never wake a sleeping puppy, even for their dinner, because dinner can wait.
Keep the late afternoon calm
Plan exciting things for the morning. Late afternoon is for sniffing, chewing and resting.
Get ahead of it
If the craziness starts at 7pm, give a chew or lick mat at 6.30pm, then guide your puppy to bed. See our evening puppy routine.
Look at the whole day
Ask yourself: has my puppy had enough sleep? Has there been a lot going on? Have they had time to rest between outings, play and training?
What about 3am zoomies?
Night-time zoomies are usually about needing the toilet, being uncomfortable or being too warm. Take your puppy out quietly, keep the lights low, then straight back to bed with no play. Read solving night-time toilet problems.
RENEE'S TIP
Write down the time the craziness starts for three evenings. Then plan a chew and a nap 30 minutes before that time. It's often the quickest fix.
QUICK CHECK
ā Evening craziness usually means overtired
ā Protect daytime naps
ā Calm late afternoons
ā Chew or lick mat before the usual crazy time
ā Nap in the crate or pen when it starts
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FAQs
Why does my puppy go crazy at night?
Usually because they're overtired. Missed naps and a busy day build up, and by evening your puppy can't switch off.
What is the puppy witching hour?
A spell, usually in the evening, when a puppy gets zoomies, bites more and won't settle. It's very common and usually linked to tiredness.
How do I calm my puppy down in the evening?
Offer a chew or lick mat, keep things quiet and pop your puppy somewhere calm to nap if the biting carries on.
At what age do puppies stop the witching hour?
It usually eases as puppies grow and their routine settles, often by around four to six months, though it varies a lot.
Should I play with my puppy to tire them out?
Not when they're already wild. More play usually winds them up further. Rest is what they need.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Renee Patience Ā· National Dog Trainer of the Year 2025
Founder and head trainer of Paws Academy, with more than 30 years training dogs and a Level 6 Diploma in Applied Canine Behaviour. Renee has competed in agility, obedience and heelwork to music across the UK, including at Crufts and Olympia, has appeared on CBBC, and is the author of the Modern Training Guides and the Modern Breed Handbook series. Pictured with her boxer, Kookie.
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