Alright I knew getting the pup would be hard and that he would wimper a little but this has got to give. He finally broke his "squeeker" as we call it last night because he would not stop... I need sleep! Does anyone know how to calm a puppy that just lost his brothers sisters and mommy. ( getting another one is OUT OF THE QUESTION!) I love him to peices already but I need help! I have tried putting him in bed with us and that actually made it worse! take him out every 2 hours, make sure he eats and drinks ( he is on full food). He has toys.
My co-workers suggested warm bottles, a clock that ticks ( so it sounds like a heartbeat) other puppy (hence the big letters). I will try almost anything to get him to stop.
I am trying warm bottles under his bed tonight. ( he is now sleeping in his kennel because I figure it is more like his mommys box.)
Thank you ladies so much for the advice. We did get good sleep last night (well bf did) while my had was next to him all night. It is rather uncomfortable for me but hey he liked it. We are set on a potty schedule, and he gets his drink before he goes potty. Its a good schedule and only 4 accidents since Saturday!!! I am really proud of him already he is leash trained already and one accident yesterday I wont complain! and he is only 6 weeks.
You ladies are life savers!
Crate him and shut the door. They are just like kids, when they don't get what they want they self soothe.
How old is the pup? We just got a 9 week old puppy (after deciding against adopting a 6 week old) and she us doing GREAT.
We've had her for a week or so and made sure to keep her in her crate from day one for sleeping and quiet time (AKA when I can't have an eye on her). At night the crate is in our living room and we have fans running(because of the heat) and the radio on for her.
She tried whining to get out a couple of times but you just have to be consistent and not let them out when they whine. As soon as she settles I usually give her a treat, and yesterday and today she hopped in the crate voluntarily to sleep...
To night train we keep her crated at night and go for a good long walk before bedtime, plus a playsession in the yard - after that she is so tired that she pretty much passes out. I set my alarm ( a little later every night) to get up and let her outside BEFORE she starts whining. We are down to getting up once a night, but if your pup is young start by taking him out every two hours.
Sooo, for us worked: never reward for whining, just ignore it for a while, once they take a break treat and cuddle, anticipate their need to go out and get them before they whine or cannot hold it, and leave the radio or other noise on.
Fortunately they start sleeping through the night much earlier than babies !
Good luck
To go along with everything else, as best you can ignore the crying and praise the quiet. If he is making a lot of noise, don't open the kennel unless you know he has to potty, then out to potty and right back in. He will learn quickly that barking opens the door, so try not to let that happen, I know that is really hard though. They sound so sad sometimes.
A stuffed animal to cuddle or a shirt that smells like you may help at night too. That way his family is still close. It will probably take a couple of nights, but should get better soon. Good luck until you get some sleep and enjoy your new little one!
We just got our puppy the end of May - he was 9 weeks then.
We have crated him at night since the beginning. I did put a stuffed animal in the crate with him that was about his size and he seemed to cuddle/ play with it like a brother/sister from the start. I thought that helped alot.
The first 3 or4 nights he did whine alot, and he was up to go potty once or twice in the night the first week or so. But after that he settled into a good routine.
The first couple weeks, I did feel like I had a newborn again, but they eventually settle down and become much easier than a newborn! Now at 4 1/2 months, he's been a great sleeper for quite awhile.
Good luck...they are alot of work, but worth it!! :)
I would definitely keep him sleeping in the kennel. They feel more secure in a smaller area.
I would try the warm bottle and also a clock or other "heartbeat" sound. That usually helps.
We got a puppy about a month ago. I was worried about just this. Turns out that the breeder kept them in separate cages so he was used to sleeping without his siblings and mommy. We haven't had any problems at all!
When we got our dog he was not a baby but a puppy still ( 4 months ) and we put him in his crate where he could see us and hear us and when he'd make a sound I'd talk to him and he went right to sleep and has never been a problem. He does want to always be near us. If not he cries or barks. I tried the clocks, warm bottles, etc. with other puppies that were very young and I got nothing to work short of holding the puppy. :-(
Put a ticking clock or one of those "mommy heartbeat" stuffed animals in the crate (fully covered so the pup can't get at it). It's supposed to help them feel they aren't alone. Put in a shirt or blanket that smells like you. No toys - crate is for sleeping, not playing.
Where is the crate? You can start by putting it near your bed, then moving it a few feet away every night. Work it out to the hall and then to wherever his regular spot is going to be. Don't change anything in the crate except its location. Don't change the pad, the blanket, whatever - keep it consistent.
How big is the crate? If it's too big for his size now, but a divider in so he feels more compact and sheltered. You can buy a divider at the pet store or make one yourself out of sturdy cardboard or a piece of plywood. As he gets used to it, remove it. Also, the smaller crate makes it unlikely that he will pee or poop in there because he won't do it where he sleeps. Too large a crate and sometimes they pee/poop at one end and sleep in the other.
Have quiet time before bed, not a lot of playing. Take him out for one last pee with a minimum of fuss/activity - just all business.
Don't get another dog if you don't want one. Millions of us have one dog and it's fine. It is just an adjustment - it's like getting a baby to sleep through the night and you have to be consistent. Even if you get up to calm him, no playing and no taking him out of the crate. He'll learn that all that barking gets him nowhere.
He does not need to eat at night, at all. Don't do it! He will make up for it during the day. He should have a little water in the crate but don't keep refilling it. Make sure he's in a dark area so he's not up with the morning sun, cars, garbage truck, etc. - although it sounds like you'd put up with that just to get through the night.
Don't take him in your bed - you won't be able to break that habit. You are the boss and he needs to learn that. He needs to learn to calm himself and to know that you will be there in the morning. Sounds a lot like a baby, doesn't it!!??
we've had our pup for 8 days now....& only the 1st 2 nights were rough. He's going to be a monster dog & was able to climb out of the box on day #2.
Because we know he's going to be big, I am not buying a smaller crate.....instead we set up our big XL crates. We have one in my son's bedroom & one in the living room. He's now holding his bladder all night long.....he can go at least 6 hours without a bathroom break. !!! Hooray!
During the day, I keep rotating him from the living room crate to outside. As a young pup (3 weeks old), he & his litter were "thrown outside". This has aided in Tank's willingness to be outside!
My recommendation: call your breeder & ask how nights were handled. We lucked into figuring out our pup's needs, & he's a pretty well-contained pup all on his own. & I also know it helps that we still have our older labradoodle leading the way....
As the others have said, use the crate...don't put him in your bed. Make sure he can see you....that helps a lot! & unfortunately, if he's crated during the work day....you do need to wear his little butt out - all evening long - so he'll sleep at night. :)
Kong.
Remember, if he's young, he's used to eating 24/7... Just like a baby... And will also need to pee at LEAST once a night.
A kong, peanut butter works great, allows him to wake and eat.
If you take him out to pee, that will also help.
I usually get a 'zip off' crate for puppy months, leave the top zipped open beside the bed, and sleep with my arm hanging off the bed.
((If this is supposed to be 'someone's' dog... Have them do that... Because they'll bond fast with that comfort scent and hand that Pentax them to sleep.))
