The 'Witching Hour' in Puppies: What It Is, Why it Happens and How to Survive It!

29 Mar

If you’ve recently welcomed a puppy into your home, you may have noticed they turn into a whirlwind of zoomies, nipping, barking and chaos in the early evening.

This phenomenon is commonly known as the puppy witching hour - a daily burst of hyperactivity that can feel overwhelming, confusing and sometimes a little alarming but it’s actually very common and a completely normal part of puppy development.

This blog will aim to explain exactly what the puppy witching hour is, why it happens and how to calm a hyper puppy in the evening using simple, effective strategies.

What Is the Witching Hour?

The puppy witching hour refers to a period typically in the late afternoon or early evening, when puppies experience a burst of frantic, hyperactive and excitable behaviour and become difficult to settle.

Common behaviours include:

Zoomies (running uncontrollably around the house or garden)
Biting, chewing or nipping
Barking, whining or attention-seeking
Pulling on clothing
Stealing objects
Ignoring cues they normally follow
General inability to settle

This phase can last anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of hours and often happens at the same time each day. It is very dependent on your puppy's situation and how you handle it though.

Although puppies are more prone to having a witching hour, a dog of any age can also experience it but generally, as your puppy gets older, they will have less energetic outbursts.

Why Does It Happen?

There isn’t just one cause. The witching hour is usually the result of several overlapping factors and understanding the cause is key to managing it. The puppy witching hour is usually triggered by a combination of the following:

1. Overtiredness

Much like overtired toddlers, puppies often become more hyper when they are exhausted.

Puppies need 18–20 hours of sleep per day and if they don’t get enough rest, their behaviour becomes frantic rather than calm with their bodies going into overdrive rather than winding down.

2. Built-Up Energy

If your puppy hasn’t had enough physical exercise or mental stimulation during the day, that energy has to go somewhere and it often explodes out all at once in the evening.

3. Overstimulation

On the flip side, too much excitement (visitors, noise, new environments, lots of play) can overwhelm your puppy’s nervous system leading to frenetic, disorganised and erratic behaviour.

4. Natural Daily Rhythm

Dogs are naturally more active at dawn and dusk so evening bursts of energy can simply be part of their normal biological rhythm.

5. Teething and Development

For younger puppies, teething discomfort can make them more irritable and bitey, especially when they are tired.

Why It’s So Challenging for Puppy Parents

The witching hour often coincides with the time you’re most tired too - after a long day of work, responsibilities or family commitments.

This mismatch can lead to:

Frustration (“Why won’t they just calm down?”)
Doubt (“Am I doing something wrong?”)
Exhaustion

It’s important to remember that this is a phase, it is temporary and very normal.

How to Help Your Puppy Cope

Unfortunately, you can't eliminate the witching hour completely but if you want to know how to calm a hyper puppy at night then these strategies will make it far more manageable.

1. Prioritise Sleep (this is the BIG one)

An overtired puppy is the most common cause of evening chaos so the most effective solution is to ensure your puppy gets enough rest throughout the day.

Schedule regular naps during the day
Use a crate, pen or quiet space for enforced rest
Watch for early signs of tiredness (yawning, whining, biting, zooming)

2. Add Structured Mental Enrichment

Mental stimulation and enrichment tires puppies out more effectively than physical activity alone. If you know your puppy's witching hour is about to start, prepare enrichment activities so you have them ready to hand. You could try:

Puzzle toys
Snuffle mats
Scatter feeding
Short training sessions

These all help drain mental energy without overstimulating them and will redirect their energy onto a more calming activity.

3. Avoid Over-Exercising Late in the Day

It’s tempting to tire them out with lots of activity but too much exercise and excitement before bedtime can actually make the witching hour worse so instead:

Keep play and other activities in the evening calm and controlled
Avoid high-intensity play late in the day.

4. Introduce a Calm Evening Routine

Puppies thrive on predictability and a consistent routine helps signal to your puppy that it’s time to wind down. A good wind-down routine could be:

Gentle play, chewing time or enrichment
Calm interaction
Low lighting
A final toilet break
Bedtime at a consistent hour

5. Offer Safe Chewing Outlets

Chewing helps puppies self-soothe and provides a natural calming behaviour for puppies. By providing them with the following:

Safe puppy chews
Stuffed food toys
Frozen treats (great for teething relief)

you'll give them an outlet for biting that isn’t your hands or furniture.

6. Manage their Environment

Set your puppy up for success and reduce stimulation during peak hours:

Lower noise levels and chaos in the home
Limit access to overstimulating or busy areas
Use baby gates or pens if needed

7. Encourage Calm Children

If you also have children, they may well have a witching hour too. Encouraging calm interactions between your children and your puppy during this time can be really beneficial to them both.

8. Stay Calm and Consistent

Your reaction matters and your puppy will feed off your energy. If you become frustrated or overly excited, your puppy may escalate their behaviour so instead:

Keep your voice calm
Redirect rather than punish
Be consistent with boundaries
Teach a settle
Reinforce positive, calm behaviour

What Not to Do During the Witching Hour

Punishment or frustration can increase stress and make the behaviour worse.

Don’t punish zoomies or hyperactivity - it is normal puppy behaviour
Don’t assume your puppy is being naughty
Don’t over-exercise your puppy to 'tire them out'
Don’t skip naps
Don't encourage rough play in the evening

These can all make the problem worse over time.

When Does It End?

The good news is that the witching hour doesn’t last forever and most puppies begin to outgrow this phase as they develop better self-regulation, adjust to your routine and mature physically and mentally.

For many, you’ll see improvements within a few weeks to a few months.

In Summary

The witching hour can feel exhausting and intense but it’s simply a sign that your puppy is growing, learning and adjusting to the world.

With the right balance of rest, structure, routine and calm environments, you can turn this time into a manageable (and even predictable) part of your day and dramatically reduce the intensity of this evening chaos. One day, sooner than you think, you’ll look back and realise those wild evening zoomies have quietly disappeared (and you might even miss the entertainment of them)!

If you’re currently in the thick of it hang on in there - you’re not alone and you’re not doing anything wrong!