Help With Puppy Not Sleeping At Night

[B3AN 87]

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We got an 8 week old puppy 2 night ago and he is absolutely wonderful during the day but at night he is a terror! We are trying to crate train him, he will happily sleep in his crate but will wake up after 20-30 minutes if the door is shut and cry and bark frantically. I can't ignore the crying as I live in a semi-detached house so have neighbours to consider, plus my partner has been at work the last 2 days so have needed to let him sleep. I have slept downstairs on the sofa, the crate is in the front room as I understand that it's obviously a scary & traumatic time for our pup being away from his mum but I can't obviously do that every night. He is quite easily settled as long as I go & sit near the crate and will settle back to sleep but will then be awake again shortly after. I don't want to reinforce that crying gets attention but can't leave him to cry at night! I have put a blanket and jumper in his crate and a hot water bottle, he also has his toys in there too. After 2 sleepless nights I am struggling with what to do, my partner thinks that tonight we should just both sleep upstairs and ignore him, going down only to let him out for a wee. I left him in his crate for 15 minutes this morning while I got dressed and he cried the whole time, when i came back down I didn't let him out until he was quiet, just stood near the cage waiting, is this the right thing to do? There's so much advice online it's confusing, some people say to ignore the crying, others say NOT to ignore it as it can cause separation anxiety. If anyone has any tips or advice I would be very grateful, I know it's only been 2 nights but I don't know what to do??

 

[banana]

Hello there and welcome to Dog Forum!

You have to be firm and leave him to cry - it shouldn't take him too long.

Having said that - I gave up with mine and let her sleep with my goldie as I couldn't stand the crying! lol

 

[Tigernidster]

He is a baby, taken away from his mum and siblings and left alone in a new and strange place. Of course he is going to cry and I don't agree that he should be left alone to do so.

Why don't you put the crate in your bedroom so you can reassure him if he wakens through the night? You will also be able to pop him outside should he need to go. In time, as he settles, you can gradually move the crate to where you eventually want him to sleep. My puppies started off that way and they are happy, well adjusted girls.

 

[Strix]

One thing you'll learn owning a dog is that everybody has conflicting advice, so you need to pick what suits you and your dog

It sounds like you're doing the right things already. Waiting until he's quiet to let him out is exactly the right thing to do

With our pup, he went out at 10 and my husband went to bed. I'd put him out again at 2am and go to bed, and my husband got up at 6 and let him out. It didn't all go perfectly. That's what happens with babies, but show them a routine and they quickly get comfortable with it. What you are doing may not be the routine he was used to at the breeder's, but he'll quickly settle given the chance

Btw, you're not leaving the light on for him are you?

 

[Hula]

I always start pups off in a crate beside my bed . I take them out once in the night but that's all . No talking , no food and no play .

If they cry at other times is just say shhhh .

Very quickly they get into a good routine . If I want to move the crate out at a later date I have never experienced any problems doing this .

My dogs are all happy and well behaved .

 

[B3AN 87]

Hi, thanks for all your advice. I have been working hard all day to make sure he sleeps in his crate with the door shut and he seems more then happy to be in there now, he will have a little play, then settle down for a sleep :- ) We are going to take his crate upstairs tonight with us and see who we get on. Thanks again :- )