When you have a new puppy and you put it to bed the first night and it whinges, which did you, completely ignore it when it cries or to go in and comfort it? As we are having a new puppy tomorrow and would like to know which way you personally found best.

Sarah xxxx

When I brought Kieron home, I didn't crate her. I didn't put her in anything. I had a pillow just for her on the floor beside my bed, so she layed on that. To keep her calm, I just hung my arm over the side of my bed so that she could see me and smell me. It kept her quiet. Now she sleeps by herself in the living, still uncrated.

But with Houdini, I crated him. For the first few minutes I comforted him, reassuring him that I was still there and wasn't going to leave him. But then after a few minutes, I left him alone. He cried and cried, but I ignored him. I took awhile for him to settle in, but eventually he did. Now he goes into his crate all by himself when he's sleepy and I haven't put him to bed yet. He actually likes his crate now.

So pretty much, I comforted for a few minutes to reassure, then ignored. :)

Good luck with your new puppy!

-Tara

It depends on where the dog would be kept I suppose.

Mine sleeps on the bed with me! :)

I have always found that if I have a "wind down" routine at bedtime this works, ie, keep the atmosphere calm, dont make too much fuss the closer to bedtime it gets and then quitely put the pup to bed and close the door, wheather it be crate or room ;)

When they bark and whine (inevitably, they do) ignore!! If you get into the habit of going back to them, you just distress them more when you eventually leave them. You have to set the prescedent from day 1, consistancy being the order of the day :)

Enjoy :)

I bring the dog upstairs or sleep downstairs so the pup knows someone is there as it is a big difference in their lives so it's not surprising they get upset... soon after the pup gets more confident and knows the house and us and is fine.

That way, i also get more sleep and so do the neighbours! ;) And there's no upset and scared pup to worry about.

Lindsay
X

When we've brought ours home, we've always taken an old blanket with us to the breeders to rub over the litter and Mum.  Once home at night we've always left them in the Kitchen with the radio on low crated with the blanket and a couple of toys.  They've always had a small amount of puppy milk before bed.  We've been really lucky because Alfie who we have now never cried once and the others (RIP) only cried for a very short time and when they cried we ignored it.  When I say for a short time it was no more than 5 minutes tops.  I've always got up in the night to take them for a pee as well.

Well i was worrying about nothing cause she didn't make a noise all night :) thank you all for you help

Sarah xxxx