Many veterinarians and dog training experts say that your puppy should only sleep in your room until she is potty trained, which typically takes about four months. But the truth is, if you want your pup to continue sleeping in your room after she has outgrown her puppy phase, then that's ok too.
This is a very personal decision. Some people are happy to have their dog sleep in their bedroom. For others, it's important that their dog sleep in another room. We recommend at least having them in your bedroom with you in the beginning in either a dog bed or crate.
Wait until Your Dog Is Potty Trained
Ideally, your dog should be close to fully potty trained before you allow him or her to sleep in bed with you. There are several reasons for this. First, you don't want your dog to get in the habit of using your bed as a potty pad.
2 months: An hour or less. Yep, puppies really need us at this age, and they also need to go for wees far more often. 3 months: 2 hours tops – otherwise your puppy will likely leave puddles on the floor. 4 months: At this point, how long a puppy can stay alone can start matching their age – so 4 hours.
If you want your dog to sleep somewhere else, you need to make it feel like his own. Play with him there in the day. Allow him to have some space in there that is totally his. It will then start to feel like his territory, a safe place where he can escape to.
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks cannot be left alone for more than an hour. From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours).
Once your puppy is confident on their own, and they understand potty training and the rules of good behavior, you can start giving them access to your home while you are away, one room at a time.
Create a Safe Confinement Area
Crate training is a great way to keep older puppies safely sequestered while you're at work. (Tip: You can help your puppy build positive associations with the crate by leaving the door open and putting tasty chew treats inside.)
“Some dogs will do better with more alone time than others,” he says. That said, for a general guideline, dogs should get a minimum of two hours of dedicated social time with humans or other dogs on a daily basis, which can be broken up into chunks of time over the course of the day.
While you can comfort your puppy in this way, don't be tempted to get them out and cuddle them or play with them – otherwise they have just learnt the perfect way to make night times more fun and so will be even more persistent in trying to get your attention!
Ignoring them at night won't help them build confidence and may make them worse which isn't what anyone wants. They need to be taught how to be independent slowly. We would never recommend ignoring your puppy when they cry at night, especially in their first few nights.
The myth that separation anxiety or aggression in dogs is caused by co-sleeping is just that. A myth.
Mid-morning: The rest of the morning might be devoted to nap time, ideally in a dog crate or pen. Even if you're home during the day, your puppy should spend time in a crate or pen; this will help him learn how to be alone when necessary.
Not only can leaving a dog downstairs at night help give you a more peaceful sleep, there are lots of additional benefits for both you and your four-legged friend: Establish Routine & House Rules: Help your dog understand which areas they're allowed to go, while also building their confidence to sleep alone.
You'll want to schedule a few short training sessions each day to teach and practice their commands. With young puppies, you may only be able to hold their attention for 5-10 minutes at a time, and about 10-15 minutes with older puppies.
Once your dog reaches three months old, they can usually hold it for an hour for each month they've been alive. After six months, dogs can usually hold it for up to six hours. However, even adult dogs shouldn't be home alone for much longer than six to eight hours without a chance for a bathroom break.
Puppies younger than 6 months: Leave them alone for 2 hours max at a time. Puppies older than 6 months: Leave them alone for 4 hours max at a time.
Young puppies under six months shouldn't really be left alone for more than two hours. And it's a good idea to build up the time they spend alone gradually to prevent separation anxiety from setting in.
Don't Give Too Much Freedom Too Soon. Allowing your pup to roam free around the house has serious consequences. Not only can your puppy have bathroom accidents, hindering your potty-training program, but they can destroy your property and injure themselves in the process.
Put their favorite toys and treats in their crate.
Doing so will help your puppy feel secure and give them positive associations with their bed. It also gives them something to do besides whine if they can't get to sleep or are up earlier than you. If your puppy is teething, be sure to put a chew toy in their crate.
Specifically, it needs a dedicated “territory” to call their own. This can be a small space or an entire room, depending on your dog and its needs, as well as the size of your home and your family's needs. Some dogs actually prefer a smaller area because it feels safer.
If you have a full-time job and are away for longer periods, you can't expect your puppy to be in a crate for 8 hours per day. After a certain period of time, it becomes cruel to do this. Puppies can't hold their bladders or bowels for very long. The maximum time they should be in their crate is 4 hours.