The Science of the Settle: Nightly Tuck Ins

Why every dog in our care gets a nightly tuck-in, and what the research actually says about it.

By the end of the evening, the house starts getting quiet. The water bowls have been picked up for the night, the lights are dimmer, and everyone is beginning to settle down. That’s usually when we do one of our favorite parts of the day here at PupMont: the nightly tuck-in. It’s nothing fancy. Usually just a few quiet minutes of calm attention, slow petting, talking to them in a soft voice, and helping the dogs fully relax before sleep. But honestly, we think it matters a lot more than people realize.

Why dogs need a closing signal

Dogs don’t automatically understand bedtime in a new environment. At home, they’re used to familiar routines, sounds, smells, and patterns. When they stay somewhere new, even if they’re having a wonderful time, some of those cues disappear.

Dogs don’t really track time the way we do. They track patterns. A calm bedtime routine helps signal:“Everything is okay. The excitement is over. Everyone is settled. You can relax now.” And you can actually see the shift happen sometimes. The eyes soften. The breathing slows down. The head gets heavier and heavier until eventually… they’re out.

What is actually happening in the body

Slow, calm touch helps lower stress hormones and increase oxytocin, which is connected to bonding and feelings of safety. Gentle stroking around the chest, shoulders, or ears can physically help dogs relax. Even breathing matters. They're incredibly tuned in to the nervous systems of the humans around them. When we slow down, they often start slowing down too.

On many nights, I’m sitting between two dogs with a hand on each of them. Sometimes one dog is curled up against me while I pet another. And yes, sometimes my foot gets involved. 😂 If a dog is lying beside me while I’m multitasking cuddle duties, They are not laying there saying, "this is undignified!"" What they care about is warmth, calmness, closeness, and feeling safe.

Co-regulating each other

Once in a while, with a dog that seems especially anxious or clingy (or sometimes when I'm feeling like some comfort), I’ll lay beside them or wrap an arm gently around them while breathing slowly and deeply. There is something about that full-body contact and the deliberate slowing of my own breath that I can actually feel regulating my own nervous system too. It is calming for me just as much as it is for them. That feels like a pretty great deal: the good feelings go both ways.

We never force it and we never time it. We just watch the dog. Once they get that sleepy, heavy, peaceful look, we know they’re ready. If they’re already asleep when we check on them, sometimes a gentle hand resting on their side and a quiet “goodnight” is enough.

Something to try at home

Pick a consistent pre-sleep phrase, calm and low-pitched. Add a few minutes of slow stroking in the same spot each night. Slow your own breathing while you do it and watch whether your dog's follows. Within a week, most dogs begin settling as soon as the routine starts. The goal is not sleepiness on command. It is a dog who associates bedtime with feeling safe.

Showing them they are loved

This is one of my favorites parts of this "job". Every dog who stays with us gets this. It's just one of the ways we show the love we have for the dogs in our care. We believe all dogs deserve to feel safe, settled, and comforted before bed, especially when they're away in a new place.