Here are some training tips if your puppy won't stop crying in their crate: Place the blanket or towel with Mom's scent inside the crate to calm your puppy down. The familiar smells will help them relax and fall asleep, especially the first week.
Crate training doesn't happen overnight, and introducing your dog to a crate should take place over a long period of time (several weeks or more). Young dogs can only be expected to control their bladder and bowels for a few hours, not an entire work day or overnight.
Most pups will cry for around half the time. By the third night it should be just a few hours, and an average pup is quiet for the fourth. Once they are settled, you will actually need to go in at least once overnight to take them out to toilet! This is when you can swap the pen for a bed-sized crate.
As challenging as it might be, let your dog settle himself down. After a few nights, he should understand that whining and crying in the crate won't get him anywhere. Get some earplugs (or use a white noise app on your phone) and know it's a short-term sacrifice for long-term happiness for you and your pup.
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. Firstly, they may need the toilet, so it's important to take them out to check.
Try to ignore the whining. If your dog is just testing you, he'll probably stop whining soon. Yelling at him or pounding on the crate will only make things worse. If the whining continues after you've ignored him for several minutes, use the phrase he associates with going outside to eliminate.
A crate cover, like a blanket or crate-specific covering, can be beneficial to many dogs and can help reduce anxiety and soothe dogs by limiting visual stimuli, which in turn can prevent excitement and barking.
On the first night, and for about three weeks, have the puppy sleep in a dog crate next to the bed. Line the base with blankets so that it is cosy and drape another blanket over the top to help it feel more secure. Give the puppy the stuffed toy that has its littermates' scent on it to snuggle up to.
In some cases you may be able to crate a dog for 10-12 hours overnight. Adult and senior dogs tend to sleep rather long at night and will be able to hold their bladder for that long. Especially more laid-back breed such as Pugs or Saint Bernards might not even want to get up before sleeping that long!
They can feel uncertain about their new surroundings. Everything smells and looks different, and they may hear sounds they've never heard before throughout the night. This change may be exciting for them, making it hard to settle down and sleep, or it may be overwhelming and make them nervous.
Having your puppy in your bedroom with you will make them feel more reassured. Then, you can gradually move them to where you would like them to sleep permanently. It will also help with house training, as they'll be able to tell you when they need to go to the loo.
Bedtime: A set bedtime makes his adjustment and house training easier for everyone. It doesn't matter if it's 8 p.m. or midnight, as long as it becomes a routine. Take him to his crate and help him settle down for the night.
Should my dog's crate be near me overnight? Ideally, yes. If you can put the crate in your bedroom, it will help a new puppy settle down faster. If he can hear and see you, and continue to hear you breathing overnight, he will be much calmer than if his dog's crate at night was in a room alone.
If you choose not to use a puppy crate, have a soft, warm, safe bed that you can put on the floor beside you but set up a play pen or a barrier around it so your puppy is more likely to settle down and sleep – and so get into a sleeping routine – and can't wander off, chew things, play, or use various parts of your ...
Make his crate comfortable
A soft dog bed and durable chew toy will make his time inside much more enjoyable. You can even take it a step further and fill a vessel-style toy with treats to sharpen his mental faculties and keep him occupied for hours.
Separation anxiety is when dogs feel intense distress being apart from their owners. It's very common and a lot of puppies suffer from it, but it won't go away by itself.
Dogs will whine in their crate for a number of reasons including boredom, loneliness, fear, anxiety, or they need to be let outside.
This won't help your pup settle into his new home, but will create trust issues and teach your dog that you can and will leave him. There is no sugarcoating it: The first night with your puppy will be the hardest, but at least you will be prepared and know exactly what to expect.