Hi Everybody,
I was going to pick up my puppy on Friday from Glasgow on the train, when Sunday night I got a sudden call from the breeder who said that they would drive down that night and meet us in the morning with him... Luckily, I have been waiting with great anticipation for him so already have everything ready. It was very strange and sudden but yesterday morning we picked him up. He has grown a lot but is such a cheeky chappy!

FYI, he is a mongrel (mum is a staffy, dad is a staffy boxer) or a Heinz 57 as I like to call him!

Anyway, he is so good and so responsive to our voices. He is already doing his business on the paper (well had a few accidents!) and plays and sleeps and has beautiful bright eyes and a wet nose (sorry I sound so soppy!).

The only thing is, is that he does not like to be left alone at all - I know that it is only his first day and I am not expecting miracles, but when I go upstairs and he is downstairs he crys and barks. And, he would only sleep if he laid on us (at one point my partner could hardly breathe!) - legs, laps, arms, heads - any part!

SO, being the stupid, soppy people that me and my partner are, we decided....to sleep downstairs with him.. Oh I know it was stupid and I am soooo tired I can hardly keep my eyes open! At the moment, he is sleeping like a log and I am having to have matchsticks to keep my eyes open!

Does anyone have any advice how I should start to get him used to sleeping downstairs on his own? Or should I just be hard and let him stay alone?

Any advice would be greatly recieved!

Thanks

Lucy

I know exactly how you feel.But if you definately dont want him sleeping upstairs with you,start as you mean to go on.He will soon learn that hes not going upstairs.The more times you go down to see to him,he will grow to learn that whenever he cries you will come downstairs.But i cant talk because im a sucker if mine cry i think aw bless what harm will it do.So at this moment in time im sharing my bed with 3 poms 2 chihuahuas and luckily the rest dont mind it downstairs.But really i would start as you mean to go on ,dont give in to him.

Don't let him sleep in your room!!! Sooty now jumps on the bed in the middle of the night and sleeps by our feet!! When we put her down she must wait till we're asleep and jumps back up again as she's there in the morning! We couldn't leave her to sleep on her own in the kitchen as she howled and we live in a flat so it was keeping the neighbours awake. Leave him in a different room if you can but if he cries don't go and see him as it'll make him worse and he'll then think that he can call you.

Hi Lucy,
We have had Alfie for 3½ weeks now. The first night he was home I slept on the kitchen floor next to his crate. He woke up a lot and I just talked to him soothingly until he went back to sleep. The second night I was back upstairs and he probably got me up every hour or so! I would go downstairs into the kitchen and again just talk to him until he was asleep (not turning on the lights). If he was persistent I'd take him out for a wee and then straight back in the crate. A week or so later we got to the stage that if he woke up in the night I would only need to stand on a sqeaky floorboard on the landing for him to know I was around and get back to sleep (again, only if he was persistent would I go downstairs and take him out for a wee). Now a few weeks on we're getting through the night. Luckily, no messing the crate either.
As the other poster said, don't let him get used to something that you don't want to carry on!
Hope all goes well.

When we got Star at 7 weeks,she was poorly,and slept in her crate in the kitchen. I left a light on,and a radio,and thought we had cracked it.However 5 days on,she was feeling better,and didn't want to be parted from us. She howled every hour for 3 nights,intil one night Ihadn't shut the door properly. We were congratulating ourselves on her being Quiet,only to find her fast asleep on the landing.She has slept there ever since,no problem She is 16 weeks now,and goes upstairs at 10.,and that is her till the morning.The crate has ended up in the shed She has a bed in the hall,and another upstairs,and uses both. She is no bother at all,and I can go out for an hour and leave her no problem. She is used to my husband going out at 6am,and just goes back to sleep.I leave the bedroom door open,and she comes in and wakens me at 8am every morning.If you want your dog to sleep in the kitchen,you will have to persevere,as advised,but we took the easy way out,as she is part of the family,and is much more content sleeping near her "pack".

Well, it was his second night last night and I followed your advice.
I was strong, I really was, but my partner ended up sleeping downstairs with him!
Tonight we have agreed that we will both really play with him to wear him our, and then both go upstairs, to get some sleep, when he has fallen asleep, and we will let him cry. If he cries too much, we will take it in turns to come down with him until he falls asleep and then come back upstairs. (too many "asleeps" and "sleeps" in that sentance - you can tell what's on my brain :-) )

I think after a week, we'll both sleep through the cries because we'll be so tired!

Thanks again,
Lucy

Can't wait to hear how you got on. When Buddy was a pup i slept in the spare room for 3-4 nights with him in his bed beside my bed. On the fifth night i decided he was ready to sleep on his own in the spare room. He decided different. He would not stay in his bed and kept whinning/barking and scratching at the door. I could'nt bear it for long and kept going into him. This lasted two nights and with having to take him outside every 2 mins (that's how it felt) i was beside myself through lack of sleep. I eventually brought him and his bed into my room and he slept like an angel. All these months on and various different tactics we've progressed to him sleeping on my bed, the sofa anywhere but in his bed. He basically comes and goes where he likes but at least the home is quiet and peacefull and i don't actually mind him snuggled up against my legs at night.
So if you don't want your pup to sleep with you please stick to your guns as the others have said.
Good Luck and long may your nerves hold out.
Budmag