Hi all,
Im getting a puppy in a few weeks, and was wondering whether any one had any tips for keeping him happy on his first night alone. I have a ticking clock but am unsure if this will really work. Thanks x.

Ask your breeder for a bit of his bedding that has the smell of Mum & litter to come away with him - and also, leave something of yours with the breeder, if you can, so that he can recognise your smell. 

That way, things won't smell so strange, which might go a long way to helping him settle more quickly.

Regards
Margot

thanks.

Generally a very scary time for pups.  We were naughty and after 3 nights of our first pup crying most of the night we moved him upstairs with us.  He got used to it and then we moved his bed onto the landing and eventually downstairs.  It worked for us.  Since getting other puppies they have always settled well downstairs but they have had company.  Are you crating him?

yes we are

We're pulling out all the stops!  Next time we go to visit our new puppy, I'm taking a blanket for her so it has the smell of her mum and littermates, also got a DAP diffuser, a Snugglesafe, and I'll be sleeping downstairs with her on her first night.  If she starts crying I will just talk to her softly so she knows I'm there, but I won't start petting and making a fuss.  Probably on the second or third night, once she's gone to sleep I'll venture up to bed and see how it goes.

Was going to get a baby monitor, but fiance said that was going a tad too far!! :0)

Harry25,

You sound like you're off to a great start - well done :P

>Was going to get a baby monitor, but fiance said that was going a tad too far!!<

You wouldn't be the first to get a baby monitor for that purpose but believe me, they are noisy little critters so unless you have a giant mansionhouse and are sleeping in the East and West wings respectively, you'll hear the puppy :D  Just resign yourself to several nights downstairs with the new addition or bring her upstairs with you from the beginning ;)

Oh, all these lucky people getting new furry folks are making me broody!!!!  Good luck with yours too, regards Teri :)

Everyone has variations on a theme with a new puppy but 1) leaving a blanket the week before is a great idea;  2) ask the breeder to accustom the puppy to short periods in a crate while still on her premises (say, while eating his meals and just as he's settling down for a nap);  3) leave a cuddly toy with her too that he can become attached to and you can bring home along with the blanket (sort of "surrogate littermate") :P
I feel pups have enough trauma leaving mum, siblings & all things familiar without immediate isolation in a scary new place with total strangers so mine sleep in the bedroom with us.  This method isn't popular with everyone and is dependent on you weighing up the personal pros and cons before reaching your own conclusions.  As the puppy will be crated anyway, I would have him at the side of my bed, on his *smelly* blanket and with his cuddly toy so I'd hear him overnight and he'd hear me too ;)  IME that provides *mutual reassurance* that all's well!  Eventually mine always end up un-crated and sleeping on my bed anyway but you could always gradually move the crate to a preferred area over time when he's more settled.  However that's a judgement call on your part! Very best wishes, Teri  :)

HI Teri! I would love to let my new puppy sleep on my bed, but it might be a bit of a squash with a flat coated retriever!

Hi J/M,

FCR ?  :rolleyes:  Just the one???? :rolleyes:

Don't be a woose :D   We cuddle up with three (at one time four :( ) Belgian Shepherds on the bed - saves a fortune in winter 'cos you can leave the radiators switched off in the bedroom but air con and a ceiling fan are a must have in the summer (unless like us you live in Scotland - not much change between seasons!).

Regards,  Teri :P

when we had our two rough collies (lost one three yrs ago ) we let them sleep on the bed, they would wait at the bottom of the stairs when they saw us turning everything off  they'd dash up before us and get the best spots usually right in the middle so OH and I had to squeeze in on the ends, after we lost Ross the oldest dog Kyle (now 15yrs) couldnt quite make it up the stairs so he now sleeps in the hall or on the sofa.
The two young Beardies sleep in the kitchen but they do have a crate each for a bed hope to keep it that way now at least have got the whole of the bed to ourselves :)

Just you try to keep a beardie off your bed or your lap! I can always remember my grandfathers (gourgeous) Beardie trying to sit on his lap every evening when he was reading the paper! Good luck with your Beardies, they are such a wonderfull breed!