I'm having a real problem this litter with whining.  They just don't stop.  Whenever they are in their pen and awake, they all (bar one) whine and howl constantly.  The only time they don't is when they're asleep.  The last few nights they have even started doing it through the night - I am exhausted.  After I've gone to bed they sleep til between 2am and 4am, then it is back to whining, howling and barking.  I can stop them by letting them out but then they are all round the house, weeing and pooing everywhere.  Please help.

Sounds like you have got an active bunch on your hands.  Either something isn't right inside the pen, probably temp, the pen just isn't big enough or mum is not paying enough attention to them, licking and feeding but it really does depend on what age they are for that one.

Some dogs find their voice early and set the others off, until they are seperated and it their new homes they may not stop.
I think everyone has had noisy litters in the past. The joys of having puppies.

Emma

How old are they.

If they have reached 4 weeks plus then I am not surprised at their behaviour as at this age they will need much more space and many will resent being confined as they will want to be clean away from where they sleep and also have room to exercise and play.

For this reason any but the smallest breed really need to have accommodation outside during the day so pups can have fresh air and exercise and learn to be clean. 

From this age you will be ferrying them in and out most of the day.  Puppies can be very noisy especially once they reach about 6 weeks, once Mum is weaning them and does not which to feed them for long, much to their objection.

If they are much younger they could be too hot...

They are 8 weeks.  4 have gone, 5 are still here.  The pen is huge with plenty to do and backs onto the back door, but even with the back door open (with freedom to go outside) they still do nothing but whine, howl and jump up at the pen trying to get into the rest of the house.  My neighbours must be furious, I'm at my wits end with it.  All I can do really is let them in the house, and constantly clean up after them.

Don't know the breed, but at 8 weeks maybe they WILL be better off in the house with the bigger dogs and the family.

At 8 weeks they need to have individual attention and be out and about.  They are inquisative and need to investigate everything they can see.  At 8 weeks I'm carrying mine down the town, along the road and showing them the outside world.  After that and their meal, then they sleep and are content.  A pen all day isn't adequate.

They are certainly not in a pen all day, but there are times when they obviously have to be, like at night or when I am out or at certain other times in the day.  What I meant was that whenever they are in the pen they whine and howl, unless they are exhausted and go to sleep.  Yes, they are going out, particularly the one I am keeping.  They spend hours in the (big) garden.  But they do have to be penned at some times.  Previous litters have always gone through the night fine til 6 or 7am.  These are howling nonstop by 2am!!!  Maybe they are just a highly strung litter.  Or maybe it is the food - that is all I've done differently this time.

It certainly could be the food then.  Bit late to change it now tho, it could take a few days or weeks to have an effect ;)

Have you tried separating their toys into two or three batches and changing them through the day?  This can keep them more interested in them ;)  also toys of really different textures and types will make a difference

I have found that once pups have had access to an area then they will bellyache like crazy if they are restricted from it.

I too by 8 weeks have the pups joining the other dogs in the areas of the house the others have free run of, and the adults help keep them in line.

Unfortunately demanding behaviour like this is pretty usual, especially in Summer with long daylight hours and heat.  This is another reason I favour Winter litters over those born in summer and am dreading the 6 to 8 week stage with mine.  Neighbours are more aware and using gardens more with windows open.

Hi joannemay,

I had a couple of pups like this from a previous litter, luckily not the whole litter as you appear to have but one or two that were desperate to invade the whole house. :-)

Mine have always had a good 50ft living and play area constisting of conservatory and from 6 weeks also day room with a very large proportion of sectioned off garden to come and go in as they please, we are with the pups all the time, they have toys and lots of socialising and their mum goes in and out as she pleases, you would think that is enough............

Yet, some will still sit at my divide crying to get into the rest of the house. :-D So, I think we can safely say it has nothing to do with space.  I came to the conclusion that pups hate being able to see somewhere but are blocked from exploring and getting through, I found a very, very simple solutions, I popped a couple of throws across the room divide so that they could not see through it, it worked it then became a closed wall.  The two pups which were desperate to come through to the kitchen and anywhere else, could now not see and went back to playing with their siblings and exploring the places they were allowed, I did not get anymore howls or cries early in the morning and I have done this ever since if one or two pups want to gate crash.

So.......... give it a go, place some throws, blankets or sheets around the pen on a night time so that they can not see through it therefore have no need to escape or feel frustrated by bars.

Does your pen open up to become a barrier by the way, that you can use as a room divide?

Pups are born to explore, and when they can't some will get upset, just turn the open but bared spaces into walls, problem solved. :-)

Guess what?  Another has gone and today they are much better.  I think he was the 'noise ringleader'.  He would start moaning and the rest copied.  They are still doing it, but to a more 'normal' degree now.  Thank God!!  I think his new owners are going to get a headache lol.

Carrington, you have made me think too.  From the pen they are in at night, they can see out into the garden, because I tied the curtains up to stop them attacking them.  I'm sure this isn't helping - I hadn't even thought about that til you said it.  So tonight, I will move the pen slightly and draw the curtains :-)

Feeling much more positive about it all now - thanks everyone.

hi joannemay ,glad to hear things are getting better for u our last litter we had one of the pups would alway get out !!!and we would be greeted at the living room door his tail waging and a pile of poop lol ,and any day now we will be doing it again lol  x