Hi
I am having problems joining the forum as my cookies are disabled and I am unsure how to enable them but I desperately need help!
I picked up my new puppy yesterday afternoon and guess what she cried all night I had the radio on for her a hot water bottle, cuddly toy, her mothers towel everything you are supposed to do and I settled her nicely into her new crate.  The thing is it was so traumatic no sooner did she stop crying then she would start again.  I have never had a dog before and wonder how long this is likely to go on for as we really don't want to end up with her sleeping in our room.  It seems that the only time she is sleeping is when she is with me now on my lap as soon as I go to settle her in the cage she cries again.
I just don't know what to do and also it is difficult as we live in a ground floor appartment and I am worried about the neighbours complaining about the noise at night.
Please can anybody help I am finding her crying very traumatic and upsetting I guess it really is like having a baby but what can I do?
Rachel

Just because she starts off sleeping in your room doesn't mean she will scream the place down when she's older if she can't.  By then, because she's grown up to feel secure in her home, she'll be happy to sleep where ever if it's handled correctly now......

Rachel - your puppy is going to cry - she's lost the comfort of her mother and her siblings and she is wondering what the hell is happening to her! She is also losing you when you go to bed. Can you not sleep in the same room on the sofa for a couple of nights until she settles? :)

I am afraid its just a matter of perserverence ,maybe you could put her in to her crate when she sleeps during the day, instead of letting her sleep on your knee, if she is in it for short periods she will associate it with somewhere nice to settle rather than a scary place that she only has to go in when its dark ,dont despair you will get there in the end

To sort out the cooky problem, look here : Cookies

Have you tried covering the crate with a blanket, just leave the door end uncovered.  They often feel more secure like this.  I put my pup in a covered crate by the side of my bed for the first week or so, it wasn't difficult to move her out when she felt relaxed and comfortable about her new home.

Sandra

hi there we got our first ever puppy 2 weeks ago and the first four days were extremely traumatic and I did think what the hell have I done but already we are in a routine and we wouldnt part with him for all the money in the world. The first few nights we had the crate in our bedroom and once he was settled we started putting him in it downstairs where we want it to stay. I always give him a small treat as he gos in and he now chooses to sleep in it in the daytime with the door open so he does feel secure in there now. Persevere and it will get easier I promise it doesnt take long and it will be worth it for all the fun they give you. Good Luck!!

Aaaah yes.........the joys of owning a puppy :rolleyes: Libby cried on and off for about 2 weeks before she settled down. Chin up, and perservere, it will get better. If you can set your alarm and get up very early, say 3am, to let pup out to relieve itself that many help. Dogs do not like soiling their sleeping area.

Good Luck

liberty

I would strongly recommend that you put the crate in your room along side your bed. That way she feels like part of the pack. Being isolated is very unnatural for dogs, being pack animals. I wouldn't have her in your bed if I were you though. She can hear you and know you're right there.

If she whines, you musn't go pick her up or she will learn that whining and barking will bring her that. If you think she honestly has to go potty, then you get her and take her outside and then right back to bed. I always gave a small doggie cookie each time the dog went into the crate and gave a command, "go to bed." (it can be whatever you want) That way he learned to like his crate and goes in there now on his own accord. However, if the dog gets up to go potty and right back to bed, I wouldn't give yet another cookie. She might learn that all she has to do to get another cookie is whine like she has to go potty and wah-lah!

She should settle down in a week or sometimes more. My Dobe only whined one or two nights. But I had him in my room next to my bed and ignored his cries. I took him out to go to the bathroom as late at night as possible....11:00 or so, and let him have his last drink then...none in the crate. He slept till about 5 or 6:00 within a few days.

This is only the tip of the iceberg of puppyhood. Brace yourself! LOL! But you will come to know the marvelous relationship you can have with "man's best friend." Nothing compares.

quote: ~Until one has loved an animal, apart of one's soul remains unawakened. -Anatole France~

Enjoy your pup. They grow up soooooo fast.

Carrie

My dobermann puppy is now 19 weeks old.  He took about 2 weeks to settle down.  We had a crate but he didn't really like it so I left the door open.  Anyway after about 6 nights of not very much sleep (well I don't think more than about an hour at a time), I put a mattress into the kitchen and slept on the floor.  We all needed some sleep.  I covered his crate with a towel, so he could not see me and I slept over the other side of the kitchen.  If he came to me I just pretended I was asleep and did not fuss him or talk to him.  I slept in there for 3 nights, and also on the third day of my sleeping in there I bought a DAP Diffuser (you can get these from your vet - or actually I got a refill from the internet, I searched for DAP Diffuser) and plugged that in.  Anway the 4th night I went to my own bed (I was worn out, I needed to sleep in my bed).  He whined a little bit but not anything like before, he had been howling.  We just said "sshh go to bed".  I don't think there is any right or wrong way to deal with this.  The dog we had before slept in our bedroom, but I did not want it this time.  My puppy only comes upstairs with us on a Saturday morning when we all have a lay in, him included!  The weekend routine is different and he knows, he will wait at the bottom of the stairs for me to get him.  People said I was mad - but I don't think so.

I think anything is worth a go, but I am sure from Champdogs you will get some good advice.