And why are they crying? There is a strong chance that your puppy will cry, whine or even scream during their first few nights in your house to alert their family that they are alone and need to be found. They may be feeling helpless or insecure in a new home - especially if they are sleeping in a separate room.
Dog experts recommend not letting your puppy cry at night. It's likely to make their anxiety worse and could lead to behavior problems. Not only will you hear it, but your neighbors will hear crying, too. Even if you live in a soundproof home or have a mansion, the noise will be audible even if they're alone.
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 good news is that most puppies start sleeping through the night from the time they're around 16 weeks old, but they will need a hand from you to help them get there.
Most of the time we recommend that your pup be settled for 5 or more minutes before being let out of their crate. The most ideal scenario is that your pup cries for a bit, but settles in under 30 minutes and falls asleep.
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.
It is important to allow a puppy crying in their crate to self-soothe a bit to ensure they do not whine and cry every time they are confined to receive your attention. If you respond too much to a crying puppy in their crate, they will learn to train you!
They may be restless or whine for the first few nights - this is perfectly normal. Keep calm and carry on going. The adjustment period can be difficult, but you'll get there with persistence. If they look like they may need to go to the toilet after you've settled them in their bed, take them outside.
You should never leave a puppy to cry when they are in need of the basics, or this can cause difficulties with training later. Your puppy may cry when they are left alone, perhaps if you're elsewhere in the home or asleep.
Ignoring a puppy may also teach the puppy that you aren't there to help them when they are distressed, causing further fear and distress. It can even lead to a puppy that has separation anxiety and becomes difficult to leave alone.
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.
Most puppies do best in a crate with a soft and suitable bed or bedding tucked inside. Crates keep your little guy corralled and away from temptations and dangers while you get some shut-eye too.
If they cry at night, it likely means their needs aren't being met, whether they need to go potty or need reassurance. Figure out what they need, and take it from there. And remember—the first few nights are the hardest; after that, it gets easier. Puppies aren't born loving crates: you have to teach them to love them.
Separation anxiety is a serious condition that creates high levels of stress for your puppy and often results in abnormal behaviour when left alone. Puppies may cry a little when you leave the house, but separation anxiety is usually explained by more extreme behaviours, such as: Destructive or disruptive behaviour.
How Long Until A Puppy Can Sleep Through the Night? You can expect your puppy to consistently sleep through the night from around 8 weeks but there is no hard and fast rule.
Puppies also have small bladders and can't hold their urine for very long. That's why it's important to never wake a sleeping puppy to pee. If your puppy is sleeping soundly, it means his bladder is full and he doesn't need to go. Waking him up will only make him grumpy and disrupt his much-needed sleep.
An 8-week-old puppy can sleep through the night, but it may take a few days or weeks for them to adjust. Puppies typically need to urinate every few hours, so they may need to wake up once or twice during the night to go outside.
Dogs are a naturally social species and it's normal for them to stay close to their social group which is why they can become anxious when left alone. When a puppy is first separated from their mother and litter mates, their usual response will be to whine, whimper or bark while trying to get back to them.
And puppies are especially crazy during the Witching Hours: roughly between 5-8pm every night. It's 100% normal and common.
Your puppy might be dealing with a compulsive need to zoom or might be experiencing a high amount of stress. If you have any concerns about your puppy's behavior, consult a behavior professional for help. More likely, frequent zooming is a sign that your puppy isn't getting enough exercise.