After all, puppies thrive off routine, and it helps them to learn good behavior and tricks. But in all honesty, there's no 'right time' for a puppy to go to sleep, as long as it's the same every night. While this may be the case, do note that your puppy will need, on average, around 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
7:30/8pm: CRATE BEDTIME: Puppies always wind down here. Don't try to push the limits here, put them in their crate between 7:30-8:30pm. If you wait too long, you'll have a very loud, sad puppy in the crate.
Like babies, puppies will sleep when they need to sleep and wake up when they need food, water, playtime, or to go potty. Let your puppy sleep undisturbed as much as possible so they get the sleep they need. Eventually, your pet will learn your sleep routine and wake up in the morning when you do.
The optimal puppy bedtime depends on your schedule and your puppy's needs. Puppies will often fall asleep when they're bored, and there's nothing else to do, so your puppy will likely sleep whenever you're asleep. Most dogs will fall asleep about an hour after eating as long as you walk them afterward.
Experts say that even the first night at home, your new puppy needs to sleep by himself on his own bed, not snuggled up to you like a favourite stuffed doll. Allowing your new pet to sleep in your bed will quickly become a learned habit, and one that's difficult to break when your dog decides it's your bed or no bed.
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.
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.
Don't crate your 8 week old puppy for more than 2 hours during the day. As she gets older you can increase the amount of time she spends in the crate. Associate as many positive experiences with your puppy and the crate as possible.
At nighttime, you don't need to take your puppy outside as frequently as during the day since your puppy is (hopefully) sleeping. For very young puppies or a puppy that's still relatively new to the home, plan for one to two nighttime potty breaks.
In general, an 8-week old puppy will need to sleep 18 to 22 hours a day. Don't forget; it's totally common for your new puppy to cry at night but with some time, patience and attention, you'll be able to ease this problem reasonably quickly.
Establish a bedtime routine.
By giving him a routine right from the start, you'll teach him that nighttime is for sleeping, and you both will get a better night's sleep. Restrict the pup's intake of food and water for several hours before bedtime. Play with him, cuddle him, and take him outside to relieve himself.
Having made sure you are ready for bed beforehand, you can put your puppy in the crate or pen beside you – and immediately go to sleep (or pretend to go to sleep!). You might find your puppy sleeps better with a nightlight on - but whether you are putting the lights out or not, this is a time for quiet and peace.
By the time your puppy is about 4 months old, they should be able to start sleeping through the night without needing the toilet. (Although small breeds take longer as their bladders are smaller.) If your puppy wakes up in the night needing the toilet, keep calm and don't give them too much attention.
Feeding an hour or so before your walk means your pup will be full of healthy nutrients and won't be starving before walkies, helping them feel energized and ready to take on the park!
At 8 weeks old, puppies should be able to hold their bladder for about 3-4 hours. However, they may still need to go out more frequently at night as their bodies are adjusting to sleeping through the night.
Typically, dogs between 7-16 weeks can sleep 6-8 hours, but they still need to take a potty break at night. So if your dog wakes up at night, it means it needs to pee. Do not play or pay attention to it during this time.
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks cannot be left alone for more than an hour.
Your puppy schedule at 8 weeks old will require that you take them outside at least every hour at first. This is on top of taking them to the area you've allocated for their poop and pee first thing after they wake up, during and after they've played, and after they've eaten or drunk water.
Puppy discipline uses a combination of redirection, basic commands that reprimand in a firm but calm tone of voice, supervision, and positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement: When puppies exhibit good behavior or correct bad behavior, reward them with verbal praise, petting, treats, or playtime.
Interrupt Playtime
In some cases, letting out a loud noise will make your puppy even more excited, and they might continue to bite. At this point, ignore your puppy, stop any interactions and walk away. Stopping playtime abruptly is far more effective than yelling at your puppy or punishing them.
Some puppies and dogs prefer a nightlight. They find it comforting. But for others, the light can provide too much stimulation and keep them awake and busy. For those dogs, make the house dark and quiet.