I know he's in a strange new home,
I know he's just been taken away from his Mum, Dad, Brothers and Sisters
So I understand why my 8 week old English Springer pup cried nearly all night when I shut him in his (very large) cage for the night.
The trouble is I felt so sorry for the little man that I was so close to going down to him to calm him down. I managed to refrain myself but feel so guilty.
I think im right in saying that I will get more problems if I do go down to him, but was wondering what advice people have that might help to calm him down.
Maybe some people will disagree with the use of a cage but I also know alot of people inc my vet who recommend it.
What about alarm clocks, hot water bottles wrapped in blankets, teddys etc. Has anybody had any success with these ?
Some reassurances would be greatly appreciated.

Or a radio left on low near the cage, if pos with talk programmes not music.

It's heart-rending, isn't it?! Certainly a ticking clock (not with the alarm set to go off!!) is very helpful. If you can get hold of an old-fashioned stone hot water bottle, great - otherwise a normal rubber one could get chewed. But a pup who has a full tummy, has had a wee and/or a poo and has a cosy bed will fall asleep sooner than one who feels abandoned. The radio playing quietly is a great idea, too.

Hope you have a better night tonight!
:)

Hi
I used a non fury teddy, and a small night light, he was a bit unsetled at first but he soon got used to a routine.
Hope this helps.
Carol

Hi Bully

My pup rarely gets shut in his cage (only when mopping floor etc) but he much prefers it since I put a few cushions in there for him, to form a sort of nest. I think he feels much safer and from my point of view it certainly looks cosier (I get in there with him sometimes for a cuddle!)

Jo

Monty took just over a week before he was quiet all night. I was in tears the first one because he was so bad. Poor little thing. But you are doing the right thing. DON'T go in the comfort him, it will only take you longer.
I used a crate, a blanket with his mums smell on it. a ticking clock just outside, water, newspaper and a big fluffy teddy bear for him to snuggle into :)
The other thing i would recommend (read it in alot of books and it worked for me) Is when you do go in and see him in the morning, wait til he is quiet so he doesnt associate his whining with you coming to see him :)
hth

Sam x

Hi
I also got my springer at 8 weeks, and tried everything as she would not settle at night, you could try putting an old top with your scent on in her bed, i found this helped. I gave in to mine and have regretted it ever since as she is now postive her bed is my bed now, a year later!!!!!

You answered all the questions in your first sentance,its a big trauma for baby puppies going to a new home,new smells etc.. then lots of fussing by all members of the family then all of a sudden everyone disppears and he is left alone,give it time and make him spend small amounts of time alone in the day so its not such a shock at night,we still always make bedtime pleasant to our dogs they get a treat at bedtime and when we are going out.
I always give my puppy adopters a blanket with the smells of Mum and home on it its amazing what a commfort it is to the puppies

just what i was going to say mattie!. our pups came home with peice of vetbed with mums smell on. i have told my prospective puppy owners to bring me a blanket or towel to put in with them a few days before they leave.

bully
i would like to congratulate u for not giving into the howling. God it has to be the hardest thing i have ever done. The howling only lasted for ten minutes, but it had me pacing up and down the bedroom muttering.
keep it up it is worth it.
em
em

I know of people who spent the first 3-5 nights on the sofa in the room with the crate so the pup would know they were there. Then when they were used to sleeping alone in the crate they just went back up to their bedroom and there were not complaints from that point on.

Wendy

hi my rottie howled for 3 weeks only about 15mins at a time we ignoredit and had a radio on light on etc,he then stoppedbut he was ill and i had to stay with him during the night and then he was back to the howling again but it only took 2 nights to stop again but he still howls for 5-10mins when i go out even though the routine is the same he is now 15weeks old and im hoping its not a habit good luck

I slept in the spare room with Buddy for the first few nights and of course he was fine. When i tried to leave him in the room and go back to my own he cried and barked for so long. I made the HUGE mistake of giving in and now he sleeps where he likes which is usually on HIS sofa but now and again on my bed.
If you can bear it stick to your guns.
Good luck
Budmag

I had this same problem with our 10 week old chocolate lab. It drove us NUTS the first couple of nights. The 3rd night, I went downstairs and slept on the couch with him and he was fine. No more barking. I found a website that explained how dogs are pack animals and how he wanted to sleep with the "pack", namely us. By coincidence, we have 2 crates so we put one in the corner of our room. Now Bogey sleeps in the room with us and happily goes into his "bedtime" crate.

Now that he is used to crates, I am seriously considering having him sleep in his downstairs crate. He goes into that crate with no problems when we leave the house. He has no problem going in the downstairs crate when he has been acting up and I put him in there for a little while to calm down. What do you guys think? Think I am asking for trouble?