Toys/chews to keep dog occupied at night

[a kind of magic]

My dog has to be shut in the kitchen at night for many reasons although this is the only length of time he is in there. He is an older dog and sleeps most of the time if it is any help.

He's started to occasionally make a bit of a racket at night, we can't figure out why he does it some nights and not others, he always has the same routine with walks/being let out in the garden and always has fresh water, food and a comfy place to sleep. I want to try giving him something to play with or chew on if he wakes up as I think it's boredom. I wondered if anyone had any recommendations? He hasn't got many teeth left so bones are out of the question unfortunately lol.

 

[Dobiegirl]

You say he is an older dog how old is he? has his behaviour apart from nights changed in anyway? has he seen the vet lately for a checkup. If he is an old dog he might be showing early signs of dementia, also as he is in the kitchen at night could there be any outside noise disturbing him, cats foxes etc. Most old dogs sleep through the night and a good part of the day so if he was mine I would be taking him for a check up.

As regards chews,toys etc what we did with our pup was to fill a kong with peanut butter or primula cheese any flavour but not chives, freeze it and then gave it to her and this kept her occuppied for a long time.

 

[CAYLA]

As suggested, has this come on suddenly or has he always been unsettled during the night?
I don't leave anything to occupy dogs of a night because I want to encourage them to rest and the noise of them chewing would do me nut in
Have you tried a DAP plug in incase it is a little stress related and indeed the radio on low incase something is disturbing him? how long after you go to bed does he start? is it the breaking of light, have you got a black out blind?