crying puppy problems.

[Square]

Hi everybody,

I am kind of new here and I need some help with a dog problem. My wife and I just got our first dog Kobe this Saturday. He is a little over 7 weeks old and has been very good with regard to bathroom issues.

The one problem we have had is with him crying at night when we put him in his crate and we leave the room. We put his crate in our bedroom and let him out when he cried the first night. Last night was the second night and I decided to try putting his crate in the kitchen. I set up a metal play pen (fairly big) in the middle of the room. Then, I took the door off his puppy sized crate and put it inside the pen.

He was pretty tired last night so we figured he would go to bed fairly quickly and quietly. Well, he cried for a pretty solid 30 minutes or so. He did eventually fall asleep, but he woke up a few hours later crying. He then cried for about 40 minutes in the other room until my wife could not take it anymore (approx. 1am). My wife is a bit of a soft-touch so she feels really bad when the dog cries. We put the door back on the kennel and put it in our room. The dog whimpered for a lil bit (just a min or two) and than fell asleep on the floor next to our bed for the rest of the night.

Is there any suggestions on how many nights the dog can/should stay in our room before making him sleep in the other room? Do all dogs throw this big of a tantrum when they are away from their littermates and owners? I would appreciate any suggestions. I have not had a pup in years so I kind of forget how long this stage lasts.

Thanks in advance,

Square

[Pure14K]

Puppies usually DO throw this much of a fuss after being seperated from their littermates. Pixie (my chihuahua) cried & cried for almost 2 weeks straight at night So I know what you are going through...

It is important that your pup has a safe place to sleep, free from drafts and harm. Many owners have their puppy sleep in an exercise pen, and although this can be a good choice, many puppies settle down quicker and sleep more soundly when they are snug and warm in a crate. Never hit your puppy for crying. If your pup is having trouble sleeping soundly in his crate, place a sheet over the front door of the crate. Leave the side air holes uncovered. The pup will soon learn that when the door is covered, it is time to sleep for the night. Some people choose to allow their pups to sleep in bed with them. Remember, this will quickly become a habit that will be difficult to break later. If you allow you puppy to sleep in bed with you, make sure that this is something you want to continue when the pup is fully grown. It is easier to train a young pup, than to retrain a grown adult dog.

If you do not want to allow the pup on your bed, wrap a shirt, one that holds your scent, around a warm-water bottle and a ticking portable clock. Tuck this next to the puppy when he is put to bed for the night in his crate. It will simulate the warmth and beating heart of his missed dog family, and may be enough to calm him.

Good luck, I know how frustrating this can be

[Deja]

Hi Square

I take a little different view with a new puppy. Instead of thinking of myself as a "softie" I think about the bonding experience and trust-building oppertunity I have with such a young puppy.

I keep all three of my dogs crated in my bedroom from night one. If for the first two or three weeks (or longer depending on the breed, size and age of the pup) I have to get up every hour to two hours because of whining or crying, I take that as a "potty" signal. I'll take the dog out of the crate and take him/her directly to the "potty place". I don't coddle, or make a fuss, it's all done in a "matter of fact" way. I don't talk much to the puppy either during the middle of the night.

Also, in the beginning, I put the crate close to my bed where I can reach my hand down and let them smell my hand through the crate door and usually that is enough to calm and soothe them. Eventually they totally accept being crated and should get in the crate on command.

Your "safe space" - small gated area with the crate door removed is a concept I advocate. It's a great way to confine and get your puppy used to not only the crate, but used to the rules of your house. My dogs, and dogs I train from puppy-hood - earn their way out of the safe-space. I use the safe-space when I'm up and around the house and can't keep my both eyes glued to the pup. Your puppy is so very young he's going to need to be with you - the time to lay the basis of a trusting bond starts now.

Have you tried putting a tee-shirt that either you or your wife has worn all day into the crate with the puppy? Sometimes the smell of you is very comforting. Eventually he will get used to his own smell in the crate and that will be enough to calm and comfort him. He'll make the crate his own bedroom/safe den - place.

Being isolated right now is the worst thing for him. His natural instinct and reflex is telling him when he is alone he must cry out so that his littermates and mother can find him! So - he's not crying for attention in the human sense of the word, he's crying because that is what his instinct is telling him he has to do to survive.

Would you be adverse to letting him sleep in his crate next to your bed? If this isn't a good permanent place for his crate you can always phase it out slowly over time and move him to where you want his crate to stay.

Seven weeks is *very* young and he's still being ruled by his instinctual behavior. Don't think of his crying and whining as a "tantrum" - he's only doing what comes naturally to a dog that age. When he is all alone the sense of isolation kicks in and tells him "I'm lost and away from my source of warmth, food and direction". Crying out is how he would be found and reunited with that source. You are now that source.

There is a happy ending to it all. He will grow out of it. It's up to you now though to set the foundation of security and trust.

It can be an exhausting and frustrating time, but you'll never have these "little puppy" days back

It sounds like you are doing a great job - and we are here for you!

Good Luck and please keep us posted!!

What breed is he? How big is he? Do you have any pictures?

[Square]

Thanks for the suggestions. My wife suggested keeping him in his crate in our bedroom. This may work out as the best solution. I think it is better for us to not have the dog sleep in our actual bed. He is only 9 pounds 9 ounces right now, but he should get to be 75 pounds or so when he is full grown. My wife likes the idea of a dog sleeping in the bed, but I know he will end up being too big to sleep with us. Kobe is a mix breed. He is half Labrador and half English Bulldog. Both his parents are AKC registered purebreds. I found a breeder that raises English Bulldogs, Labradors, and Chinese Pugs. They also have one mixed litter with an English Bulldog father and a black Lab Mother. The dog is awesome looking and seems to have the perfect temperment we wanted in a companion dog. Since day one he has been great about doing his "business" outside. Overall, we are very happy with the pup...we just have to figure out a plan for sleeping arrangements.

Thanks,

Square

[CTChin]

I think it is great you are letting your puppy sleep in the same room as you They want to be part of the pack and being part of the pack is sleeping near or with you. You don't HAVE to allow him to sleep in bed with you. In fact, my dogs sleep in the room with me but on dog beds on the floor. They are quite content just being near. I don't allow them in bed because I am a restless sleeper and none of us would get sleep if I had to share the bed with them