Hi everyone this is my first post on this site. As the proud owner of a new GSD puppy i have just experienced "puppy`s first night".I read an researched as much iformation before we got her.I was wondering what`s the general thinking will i "make a rod for my own back" if i keep getting up to my pup during the night because she is whineing and barking.I must admit i was up 3 times last night  but only to settle her down again.

Yes you will. I find it easier to take them upstairs, you still have to get up and go outside with her but don't play just do "hurry ups"    she will soon settle down and only ask when she really needs to 'go'
Good luck.

thanks tc.My other question is, it neccessary to buy a crate for my pup?or will confining her to one room be Ok,obviously it is puppy proofed.Or will a crate give me a better advantage in house training her?

Maisie does'nt have a crate. She's confined to the kitchen and has always slept in the their too. She still trained up easily though.

I've always crate trained our dogs.  Its great for so many reasons - when they need leaving alone you know they are safe as well.  I've always left the crate in the Kitchen and ignored the whining, its never lasted long anyway.  (I personally don't have dogs upstairs).  I think this is particularly important with working breeds as they learn their place quicker by not having the privledge of being upstairs this is only my opinion though and everyone should do what suits them and their families.

we used a crate for max although he is out of it now and he is 6 months. i never wanted one long term as i do feel kind of mean putting him in it especially as he has the sad dog look down to a fine art. however i am very glad we had a crate at first as we never had any accidents in the night and we never got up to him. i to dont have dog upstairs as kids rooms would be a death trap for him and we have an elderly 3 legged cat who mainly stays upstairs in our room and has done for past ten years and i didnt think he deserved a lab puppy invading his bed. max was also clean in the house in the day within a week and as he never went at night and always went the second we put him out first thing in the morning he never got into the habit of going indoors. congratulations on your puppy make sure you enjoy every second cos they grow up in a flash!!!

I used to cage my dogs  when they were puppies and took the cage away when I thought that they didn't need it again, well one of my shepherds had had a leg problem and kept jumping the gate  which divides their sleeping area to the rest of the house, so I got the cage out to put her in just at night, well all the dogs wanted to go in it, so They all have cages of their own now and are quite happy to go in and out as they please, and since all this noise with fireworks they feel safer in their cages.

We have had to crate trained our two puppies cause one is a bitch the others a dog and we need to put on in there when the bitch is in season. We have found it really worthwhile to do. As well as them sleeping in there we also feed them in there as when you have more than one dog its easier to monitor how much they are eating, and to spot it when they are not eating very well.

Sarah xxxx