Making it through the first couple of nights with puppy

Now that puppy is home the training is about to start.

* Gather a few items to put together to help your puppy sleep at night. You will need a hot water bottle, towel, pillow case and if you are able to get one, a tick tock clock can be very helpful. It sounds and feels like a heart beat. Fill the water bottle with hot water and wrap it in a towel. Place the wrapped water bottle inside a pillow case with the clock and roll it up. Now take the towel that you rubbed on Mom and wrap it around the rolled up pillow case. Place it inside the crate up against a side at bed time. This will help your puppy to sleep.

The crate needs to be placed in an area where you are able to hear them but they are not going to wake up by you rolling around in bed. Your body starts to wake up before you do. If your puppy hears this they will wake up before you want them to and could easily get onto this unwanted schedule. You will also want to made sure that they are not placed next to a door or window. The light and neighbours leaving for work may also wake your puppy.

It is important to have your puppy in a safe place when you are not able to supervise. If they are allowed to wander in rooms or around the house they could get into something that may harm them. Puppies will do almost anything including eating items or chewing on things like electrical wires. Crates are great for supplying your puppy with a safe place.

The first couple of nights are going to be rough because you will be dealing with a crying puppy. What you do in these first few days may affect greatly how your puppy deals by themselves. Take care of all the different things that may cause your puppy to get up during the night. Make sure they have had dinner, water, exercise, play and a washroom break before bed. Keep your puppy from having a sleep or napping in the evening and keeping them up as late as possible will help them to sleep in later. It will be difficult for them because they are not sleeping with the comforts of their Mom/ siblings. Your puppy now has to learn to sleep alone. If you don't fall apart when your puppy cries they should adjust in just a few days. If you respond in any way your will probably have ongoing trouble with being alone.

*Don't let your puppy sleep in your bed with you. This is known to be the cause of severe behavoiur problems. Your puppy may learn to resource guard space. You may also see issues with anxiety of being left alone.

If you are strict with your rules your puppy will learn quickly to follow them. Your new puppy may need to get up atleast once during the night. Listen to the sounds that your puppy makes. They all have a reason. You will have one that says I want out of here, you will be able to listen to this cry as soon as you put them to bed. You will also have a cry that says I need to go to the washroom. This you will hear once your puppy has been sleeping a few hours. Only respond to the washroom cry. Go to the crate quietly, open the door and carry your puppy outside. Your puppy should go within 2-3 minutes. You should never have to wait 10-15 minutes. Once your puppy has finished, quietly praise and take back to their bed. Your puppy may cry for a couple of minutes but should quiet down quickly.

Try not to get too frustrated. As long as you follow all of these steps you should be sleeping again in no time.

*Don't repond to the "I want out" cry. *Keep your puppy up in the evening and exercise before bed, this will create a sleepy puppy





By Stacey Brickman