ok another thread about a new pup and settling into its new environment. After alone wait we finally got our Chocolate boy home. Besides bitting which we new about I have some issues. The last 2 days and nights this is how it's going. He sleeps a lot but have heard puppies do this. When awake he is playful and energetic. But the nights have been a challenge. We put in crate at 10pm then he's up at midnight. Take out he goes wee then I bring back to crate. He then cries cause he's not tired it seems like he needs to play a bit to tire himself out. Night 1 was hell, but night 2 I play with him for 20 min then crate and he falls asleep. But back up exactly 2 hrs later. All night I'm only getting 2 hrs of sleep at a time. Please anyone with advice I could use it along with even 4 hrs of sleep would be great. Thanks i will post pictures as soon as I can remember how.
If you play with him when he wakes he'll come to expect it, here is some great advice - http://www.thelabradorsite.com/crate-training-your-labrador-puppy/#crate-training-night
I have read all that already Boogie not exactly the info that pertains to my situation. The problem is not him in the crate he sleeps fine but can only sleep for 2 hrs. Then he needs to wake up to go out again. After I bring him back should I just place in crate and ignore the howls because they are deafening
I don't interact at all when putting them in the crate for bed or during wee time in the night, not even eye contact. I pop them in the crate and wait by the crate until they sleep. I don't speak to them or look at them, I just read a book. Most of mine have settled quickly, but none immediately - they all give some shouts of protest first! Then, after a week or two of waiting by the crate, I wait at the door. Some, at that stage, begin the protest again, but it never lasts long.
Is he in your room with you? If he is could you just reassure by talking/stroking, with lights off? I've never used a crate, so my routine would need adapting, but each puppy I've had has been in their own bed in my bedroom. I covered the floor with thick layer of newspaper, removed anything within reach that was dangerous or precious and then went to bed late (about 11pm). If the pup cried I spoke gently but didn't get up, until 5.30, which I was willing to call morning. Each of my three puppies stopped weeing overnight within a few days (I decided I'd rather clear up in the morning than have broken nights). After about a month they each slept downstairs -though for various reasons Molly found her way back up at 18 months! I think I wouldn't play in the night but would keep your pup near you, in the dark, and reassure. Molly had a very big teddy which seemed to help too (for a few weeks until she decided to shred it!)
I agree with Mags. Playing at night is a recipe for disaster. You want "nighttime human" to be a boring beast indeed. Nighttime human just takes the puppy out for a wee, then pops him back in his crate or pen. Nighttime human sits quietly without even looking until puppy falls asleep, then nighttime human goes to bed. Daytime human is amazing. Nighttime human isn't worth even trying with.
In your first few days you are forming habits and ways of doing things which your pup will do for the rest of its life. Do you want to be playing with a 5 year old dog at 2am? Night's need to be boring puppies need rest.
Your pup will cry the first few nights, he is missing his siblings and previous home. However, the pup will gradually settle, just get him up, take him to loo, back to bed, lights out, ignore. I had my pup by my bed and so he felt secure, that did help.
The first few nights can be just AWFUL. Hang in there, be available to reassure him that he is safe and to take him out for a pee, but don't weaken and play or interact with him. We've had our puppy for three weeks now, and he is just on the cusp of sleeping through the night - slept until 4:30 for a pee, then up for the day at six. It will get better, but if possible I would say doze during the day when your pup does, if you can...
I also had Sam by the side of the bed in his bed , for about a week , ignoring him if he started messing about . I guess I was extremely lucky that he never did need to wee in the night , but then my husband let him out at midnight , and I got up at 5 a.m. so it wasn't like he lasted for a massive length of time . I`m all for having pups close, if at all possible , just for the first few nights x Its a hard and difficult time for all , adjustments and tiredness all round, but it does get better, honestly it does x
Thanks for the replies and the sympathy. I've been lurking on this forum for sometime now and do know I'm not supposed to play at night and Told myself I wouldn't but the struggle is real. I'm exhausted. Today I'm going to try to keep him busy and his naps shorter.. then tonight hopefully he's tired enough to at least give me 4hrs sleep before waking..
I just sleep next to mine them in the crate me on the floor. I only sleep a few hours a night so embarrassingly I've never had a problem. Rory cried a for a few moments I fell asleep touching him that was it the next night he didn't cry I slept on the sofa the next night then upstairs. I think I've just been lucky . The others were the same too. I expect the next one will be a nightmare.I usually go to sleep about 12ish then get up about 4.30 so it's never really a long time for a pup to be asleep. I always had older dogs to show the pup what to do and that's always helped.i often feel really bad when others are having a sleep deprivation nightmare. I think I've been very lucky.
Hey Jay-Z I'm in the same boat as you right now with a new puppy. I have no experience or real knowledge but I slept on the floor next to Koda's crate last night (her first night home) and it seemed to help a lot. Although I was still getting up every two hours to let her out which I'm sure will get old real quick lol. But buckle up this is going to be a fun ride
Sleeping by the crate is a good idea My OH did this too on the first few nights, and then was able to come back upstairs. We made sure her last wee was about midnight (hubby would stay up..) then I would be up for the middle of the night wee, around 3 ish (I go to be quite early) gradually extending to 5am...then we got to about 5.45am and stuck there for a while till madam was around 5 - 6 months old.
I got a roll up single futon mattress that I used when Doug was very ill. Best 80 quid ive ever spent I've slept through a lot if pups and sick dogs on that futon.
What routine did you set up for the whole day? When we first got Sparky, we didn't crate him until Midnight or so and woke up at 4 am for his morning pee/potty. Luckily he slept through the 4 hours. However, I was still up every 30-60 minutes to check if he was awake, so I can take him out. We did make sure to try to tire him out before bedtime and make sure he goes pee/potty before he gets crated. When it was clear he was actually sleeping through the night we gradually we extended this interval from midnight to 4:30 then to 5:00 am etc. Eventually we were able to move his bedtime up earlier and earlier. Good luck! The first week is the worst. And yes, no playing at night. Strictly business. Also, no food/water 2-3 hours before bedtime. That should give him plenty of time to digest and poo before bedtime and urinate so that he is "mostly" empty when he goes to sleep.
I hope he slept a bit longer last night and is now getting the 'no playing' message. Broken nights are exhausting!
Well I just got up and feel like a new man. Cooper slept from 10-2am then did what you all said took him out didn't say a word and put back in crate. He whined for a little but went to sleep till 5:00am. I did sleep on the couch so he could smell me all night but what a difference. Thanks again everyone..... Now I need to upload some pictures if I can figure out the whole resize thing
