When it's time to crate your puppy at night, place the toy inside the crate with her so she can snuggle up to the reassuring smells of her canine siblings. A toy with a virtual heartbeat and warmable insert mimics the reassuring sound and feel of your puppy's mother.
Leaving toys in the crate with your pup can have many advantages, but, as with bedding, the same goes for toys - durable is best! You should never leave soft, stuffed toys or squeaky toys with your puppy, as she is likely to chew up and destroy them, and could potentially ingest pieces of them.
Toys and Puzzles
While the essentials like bedding, food, and water are important, that's not all you should consider including in your dog's crate. In fact, you might consider adding some toys and puzzles to their crate, particularly when they are puppies and need a lot of mental stimulation.
I don't suggest leaving out a regular dog bowl of food in your dog's crate since it can easily spill, and the bowl can take up precious space within the crate. You also don't want your dog deciding that their food bowl makes an excellent chew toy.
Ideally, a dog should not be crated more than an hour for every month of age at a time. That means that a 2 month old puppy should be taken out after 2 hours, while a 4 month old dog can stay crated up to 4 hours during the day.
“Ignoring the whining is your best option,” says Dr. Coates. “Any type of attention will just reinforce the behavior.” Campbell says that pet parents should avoid giving attention or taking a puppy out of the crate until he is quiet.
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.
If your puppy cries in the crate at night, your instinct will be to help him—and that's the right thing to do. Although sometimes people worry that getting him out of the crate might teach him to cry, that shouldn't deter you. In fact, you want him to know that you will help him if he's crying.
Your puppy can remain in her crate for the same number of hours as her age in months plus one. That means an eight-week-old puppy can stay in her crate for a maximum of two and one-half to three hours at a time. Here's how to make crate training your new puppy an easy, enjoyable process.
There isn't a hard and fast rule about age as such, as every dog is different! Most puppies are OK out of the crate at around 7-8 months of age in our experience, while some due to their chewing needs require confinement for longer.
You should never completely cover your dog's crate as it can block airflow. Keep blankets away from heat sources, ensure the fabric is breathable, and avoid using knit blankets that may snag or unravel. Monitor the conditions inside the crate in humid summer weather to ensure it doesn't get too hot.
The best compromise can be setting a crate up in the bedroom or just outside of the open bedroom door. This way, the puppy knows you're near. Very young puppies do not have the bladder capacity to hold it for the entire night, so it's imperative that you can hear your puppy vocalizing when he needs to go out.
Stop feeding them an hour before bedtime. Cuddle, pet, or massage your dog to help calm them down. Play relaxing music. Take them out to use the bathroom last thing before settling down to sleep.
Puppies under 6 months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They can't control their bladders or bowels for that long. The same goes for adult dogs being housetrained. Crate your dog until they are able to be alone in the house without accidents or destructive habits.
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. Having your puppy in your bedroom with you will make them feel more reassured.
Increases Potential for Developing Separation Anxiety
A huge part of teaching your puppy to sleep on their own is to encourage their confidence and sense of independence. Sleeping with your puppy can inadvertently perpetuate their anxiety at being left alone and not allow your puppy the ability to build resilience.
ANSWER: the average puppy will cry 5-10 minutes in his crate before you go to bed. At which point he will likely settle down and go to sleep. Over the next 8 hours, most puppies will wake up 2-4 times and will need to go outside and potty.
How long should you let puppy cry in crate? You shouldn't leave your dog crying in the crate for more than 10-15 minutes. If they're still crying regularly after this period of time, take a step back and work more on crate desensitization games to build up a positive association with the crate.
Dogs are den animals and even at this very young age they will look to sleep in a confined area that is dark and cozy. Leave the crate door open and your pup will even go nap inside to get away from the light and open space of your home.
Puppies should be crated for the reasons discussed, but once they are old enough and well-trained enough to sleep outside the crate, as long as your dog doesn't disrupt your sleep or doesn't get into any trouble around the house, there really aren't any wrong choices.
It gives them their own space and can calm anxiety. Create positive associations with the crate through the use of treats and games. Be patient — crate training can take six months of consistent training.