I'm in the midst of committing a mortal sin. Lincoln is on his 3rd night home, the last 2 nights have been awful, very little sleep. Tonight he was asleep with us in the lounge whilst we watched telly, I crated him around 8, let him back out at 9:30, he promptly fell asleep on the lounge floor again, we went outside for a wee at 10:20 and in the crate for the night. He barked constantly until 1, I got up, took him out, had a small wee and back into his crate he goes, another solid hour of barking, I waited for a gap and went back down, took him out for a wee and nothing, back he goes in the crate, bark bark bark, OH has work in the morning and I fear for my neighbours so I do the stupid thing of coming downstairs, opening the crate door and lying on the sofa, here Lincoln is by my feet without a sound. I need to rectify this, it seems clear to me now that he's barking for company I know he's got good bladder control because he'll sleep for a few hours in the day with no issues and we've not had accidents in the house for 2 days now. I'm scared he's going to bark himself hoarse and work himself into a frenzy, when he goes in the crate for bedtime he starts almost immediately with some heavy panting, we don't get any of that when he's in there during the day. He eats most of his meals in the crate too. What can/should I be doing?
Hello there, Congratulations on your new puppy,he is very adorable looking indeed! Probably not so when he's yapping his head off all night! It's upsetting to hear then so distressed .He is very little and everything is so new and overwhelming for him,he's just left his mum and littler and that is very disorienting for him. You sound like you are starting to make great associations with his crate but it's a little too much to expect him to sleep quietly on his own at night just yet.I would say try sleeping on the couch whilst he is in the crate close by,your prescence will settle him.This won't be forever ,just until he gets more familiar with his night time routine .I know other members have the crate in their bedroom for a few nights at this stage and gradually move it to it's permanent position but I know this doesn't suit everyone ..... There's lots of new puppy members around the boards at the moment and also folk that have survived this stage so I'm sure they will pop by to offer advice Best Wishes Angela
Honestly, if I were you, I'd say more "sinning" is in order. My puppies either slept in their crates in my bedroom while in full view of me on the bed, or (in the case of my particularly good for not weeing on the bed boy) right on the bed with me in between frequent (every 2 hours) scheduled trips outside for weeing opportunities. For the puppy who slept on the bed with me from the get-go, he rarely cried and more often than not I had to wake HIM up for the trip outside. I know this wouldn't be practical for a lot of people - I knew I wanted my dog to sleep on the bed as an adult, so starting him out in the bedroom wasn't something I would have to re-train later. If that's not the case for you, spending a few nights on the sofa with your new puppy as he gets used to being away from littermates seems the kind thing to do, plus a way for you both to get some sleep in these first few days. Certainly not a mortal sin. Congratulations on Lincoln and...pictures, please??
I start off sleeping next to them on the floor by the crate and then as they relax move to the sofa. Its saves a lot of puppy anxiety and sleepless nights. i eventually go back upstairs. With Rory I was back in my own bed in 3 days he just settled incredibly quickly and my other dogs slept near to his crate. All the dogs have been different . I don't think you are sinning at all just being sensible and caring.
Agreed with the others. He's a baby. Needs company. Remember he has been piled up with his littermates until going home with you. He will sett!e once he finds his feet. Until then.......
I had my boy sleep next to my side of the bed from the first night, and he never cried (but oh how he howled when we drove off with him from the breeders -- I was in tears, wanted to turn around and take him back to his littermates and mum, I felt awful!). I do regret, however, keeping him in the bedroom because he moves a lot at night and I wake up a lot because of this (I used to sleep 8 hours straight!). I don't have the heart, now that he's 5.5 yo, to make him sleep downstairs. But if I'd known this would be the case, I would've trained him to eventually sleep alone and not with us in the bedroom. He's so demanding now that, at around 9.30pm when he's ready for bed, he starts whimpering and looking up the stairs cos he doesn't want to go to bed alone! I suppose I should look on the bright side: he forces us to pull ourselves away from the computer and go to bed! Anyway, whatever if you do, make sure you eventually train him to be comfortable with whatever is the final sleeping place you designate for him. And know that the puppy howls will pass!
My goodness, that would be heartbreaking! I've only had one puppy from a breeder and while I felt horrible, he didn't bat an eye. Plus I knew I'd be in close contact and visiting the breeder and doggie mom for his whole life, which was indeed the case. Oh Snowie...so many reasons to swoon over you, you big hunk of love!
Thank you all for your replies and advice. I'll sleep on the couch tonight but leave him in his crate, see if it helps.
As others have said, letting him sleep near you overnight to provide comfort is the way to go. I've had three puppies and each started in the bedroom with me and then, after about a month, I moved them to sleeping downstairs, with no barking or crying at all.
I wish it were the case for us. The breeder lives 5 hours drive away. She visited him a few times in the first couple of years when she was in our town, although without his mum and sister (she kept one of the litter). Aw thanks! He is a lovey, we have so many nicknames for him in this regard -- my husband is the most creative and has a new name every day, which I can never remember day to day, but I think these are some of them: Darling Buttercup, Darling Cup of Sweetness, Sweet Sugar Honey, etc etc.
I`m afraid I am a sinner ! I had Sam in the bedroom , in his bed beside our bed from the first night . I think he was about three months old when he decided that he was secure enough to sleep in the sitting room with our other dog . I`m just an old softie , thinking about how confused and upset they must feel , leaving their siblings , good luck on the sofa x
Bella now nearly 2 years old was exactly the same the first week or so of being home , what did help was the breeder gave us a blanket that smelled of her Mum , if you dont have one of those I would suggest a t-shirt that smells of either yourself or your OH placed in your pups crate with them , you might find this helps .
update, beautiful Lincoln gave us or first non interrupted quiet night last night. We took him out twice and he slept through from 10pm- 6AM, oh the bliss, hopefully this is the start. We've kept him in his crate in the kitchen, but due to the weather, took everything out of his crate, including the liner because he is clearly always seeking out the cold tiles to lay on. He's learning, growing and becoming more mischievous day by day and our hearts are full of love for him!
I'm so glad you had a settled night - long may it continue! I too am a sinner - Bailey started in a crate by our bed, then progressed to a cushion bed in place of he crate and now, although the cushion is there Bailey spends his nights between the floor under our bed, the hallway (stairs blocked off by a child gate) and our bed. My OH started out "no dog on bed", then went to "not on the bed at the start of the night, he must be on his own bed" and we are now at "so long as he is laying on your side its fine"
