Puppy Help Need ASAP

[BEloveDisney]

Oh my!

We bought a pupppy! Horray! She's a four month old yellow lab. She was mellow the whole way home, waiting in the car with my husband while I went to the store to buy puppy things (we thought we'd have to wait to take her home and didn't), and for the few hours before we all went to bed. The breeder said she was crate trained. Either she lied or we don't know what that means. She cried/whined/barked from 1:00-3:00 stopping only when we took her outside. We tried everything we could think of, took her out multiple times, gave her more water, fed her, laid down in the front of the crate. Eventually, by husband gave up and took her downstairs and stayed up with her all night. Obviously, this can't continue. We don't want to give her back and don't want to give up, but we can't be up all night every night and neither can our poor neighbors. Any tips?

 

[wdwmom2]

She's in new surroundings, this is normal for a puppy. I would not feed her or give her much to drink after supper. Potty her right before she needs to be put in the crate. Then put in your earplugs. Do not get up and play with her. This is HER training YOU to come entertain her. She needs to learn to sleep. That's not saying that sometime during the night she may need to go out, but once done, put her back in the crate and your earplugs back in.

This could easily last a few nights or more until she gets the routine down.

Good luck with your new puppy. I hope all this new adjusting goes quickly for you!!!!

 

[sue1013]

I've had many puppies in my life they all cry the first few nights. Having a puppy is like having a baby neither settle into a routine immediately. If you are thinking of giving her back already after one night I have to wonder if you are prepared to train a puppy.

 

[MommyJack]

Your puppy is just missing her home. Give her time to adjust to her new home, she will be fine. When we brought our puppy home he cried and whined for hours at night. We put his crate in our room at night, but he still cried. Try putting a blanket over the crate. As in all things with dogs, be firm. Tell her to be quiet using a firm voice. Expect a few sleepless nights, but she will adjust. Also, we didn't really want the crate in our room and had to go through another adjustment when we moved his crate into the kitchen. My husband (not much of a dog person) ended up putting him in the basement a few nights.

 

[Mermaid02]

You brought a baby home- they cry at night. Give her a little time.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

Try an alarm clock that ticks under a blanket or just outside the crate. It sounds like the mothers heartbeat and helps them feel less alone.

 

[N&B'smom]

Then put in your earplugs.

We just got a puppy about 3 weeks ago and I actually did use ear plugs. The first few nights he cried for awhile and it was off and on throughout the night. I knew it wasn't because he just had to go out so in went the ear plugs and a great night's sleep. Sometimes he still cries but only for about 2 min and that's it.

Trust me, it'll get better!!!

 

[PUZZLDY5]

Routine is the key. It's just like having a baby. She/he has to know that is where it sleeps. We crate trained all our dogs and yes it is nerve wracking (sp?) the first few nights but it does get better. What worked for us, not saying this works for everyone, was when they started to wimper and whine and we knew we did everything to meet their needs, we would tap (not hit hard or slam or anything) on the crate and say a stern "NO". The tap is just enough to distract them. We would do this about 2 to 3 times and then leave the room. They got it pretty quick.

 

[sunnyday123]

A four month old puppy can only hold it about 4 hours. There is no way she's going to last the entire night without havign to go out. Also, it's the first night away from all of her siblings, mom and familiar surroundings.

It doesn't sound like you were very prepared, and honestly neither was the breeder if they let you take the puppy knowing you had nothing for it. I would recommend getting a training book and enrolling in obedience classes.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Congrats on your new family member! You'll all be fine -- as others have said, it's just a baby, scared with the change.

I've always put new dog's/puppy's crate near my bed where I can just reach over and stick my fingers through to let them know they're not alone. And no, this "co-sleeping" hasn't created dependent dogs -- they've all grown up to be fine, well-adjusted dogs with no separation anxieties!

Give her time and be patient with her -- you're going to have a lifetime of loving with your new baby and you'll figure out the bumps!

 

[Hannathy]

A four month old puppy can only hold it about 4 hours. There is no way she's going to last the entire night without havign to go out. Also, it's the first night away from all of her siblings, mom and familiar surroundings.

It doesn't sound like you were very prepared, and honestly neither was the breeder if they let you take the puppy knowing you had nothing for it. I would recommend getting a training book and enrolling in obedience classes.

Seriously!

You need to plan on getting up thru the night to let them out for at least another month some dogs longer.

I'm very concerned that you mention getting rid of it already after 1 night. What are you going to do when you have to watch it constantly so it doesn't chew everything in sight and when it has the inevitable accidents on the rug or chews a shoe or glove or kids toy if you have kids?
If you don't think you can handle it give it back now while it is a cute puppy and will get adopted don't wait until it is and adolescent and has less chance of being adopted.

 

[MushyMushy]

I've never had a dog that didn't sleep with me, so I don't know about crate training. But even with them sleeping with me, the puppies always cry the first few nights. Of course they do! They are in an unfamiliar environment for the first time. It's scary.

She'll get used to it, you just have to be patient. If you're sure she's not hungry or has to go out, be firm with her. Don't try to comfort her like you would a child, but instead shush her. I know it sounds mean, but it's not -- a dog isn't like a child.

 

[Hannathy]

Forgot to add that a tired puppy is a good puppy. Make sure it is getting enough exercise. A nice long walk in the late evening also makes for better going in it's crate and sleeping time. When our dog was that age we used to take it for a walk around 10-11 then it was more than willing to go lay down!!!!
If this isn't possible at least make sure that during the day it is getting a long walk in everyday. They have a tremendous amount of energy and if you don't give them a good outlet for it they will find a not so good outlet on their own.

 

[MushyMushy]

Forgot to add that a tired puppy is a good puppy. Make sure it is getting enough exercise. A nice long walk in the late evening also makes for better going in it's crate and sleeping time. When our dog was that age we used to take it for a walk around 10-11 then it was more than willing to go lay down!!!!
If this isn't possible at least make sure that during the day it is getting a long walk in everyday. They have a tremendous amount of energy and if you don't give them a good outlet for it they will find a not so good outlet on their own.

Personally, I don't think a high energy dog like a lab is really a good first dog for someone. They are wonderful after about the age of 3, but up to that point, they are pretty high maintenance. (yes, I'm generalizing)

 

[mjkacmom]

Expecting a new puppy to sleep through the night is like expecting a new baby to sleep through - they don't. I'd never get another puppy - if and when we get a dog, it will be a rescued older dog.

 

[damo]

Personally, I think a four month old puppy can sleep through the night. Mine all did. I think that it is just a matter of the puppy getting used to its new surroundings and feeling happy in its new home. Start making a night-time ritual just like a child. A nice walk and no water for the last hour or so before bedtime is a good idea.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Oh my!

We bought a pupppy! Horray! She's a four month old yellow lab. She was mellow the whole way home, waiting in the car with my husband while I went to the store to buy puppy things (we thought we'd have to wait to take her home and didn't), and for the few hours before we all went to bed. The breeder said she was crate trained. Either she lied or we don't know what that means. She cried/whined/barked from 1:00-3:00 stopping only when we took her outside. We tried everything we could think of, took her out multiple times, gave her more water, fed her, laid down in the front of the crate. Eventually, by husband gave up and took her downstairs and stayed up with her all night. Obviously, this can't continue. We don't want to give her back and don't want to give up, but we can't be up all night every night and neither can our poor neighbors. Any tips?

Sounds like you were not prepared for a puppy. Dogs are work and require A LOT of time and patience. esp. puppies while cute they can drive you insane at times.

Do some reading and begin puppy training. 4 months old is certainly old enough to jump in with obedience training.

I found that walking is a great way to make the bond quicker. The fact you have a lab means they can walk a lot. So grab the leash and walk walk walk. Use a 6ft leather leash and not a flexi. It is your most valuable training tool.

 

[doxdogy]

Is the breeder close to your home? This is a trick we use to use when a puppy went to a knew. We would take an old towel and rub it all over the mother. Try to go back to the breeder and see they will allow you to do the same. Then put the towel in the crate with the pup and see if that helps. Or you can even try one of your dirty towels from the bathroom.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

We adopted a four month old puppy about a month ago. The first few nights were h-e-double hockey sticks, no doubt about it. I was up every two hours taking him outside. However, after five nights he started sleeping from 9 pm to 5:30 am, with a quick potty trip at 11pm before I went to bed. This morning he stretched it out to 6:15, and I felt like I'd died and gone to heaven.

Consistency is key. I would give him water around 8pm, and then have a big play session with him. I'd take him out just before 9pm, and then put him in the crate in our bedroom. If I was in the room, his whining never lasted for more than a few minutes. If I heard him stirring in the night, I'd try to get to him before he started whining...I didn't want him to learn that there was a payoff from making that dreadful noise!

There have been lots of times that I've questioned my decision to get a puppy (mostly because we are still having house training issues). However, I never really considered sending him back. I just keep telling myself that if I'm consistent and follow through with his training, it will get better (just like it does with kids!). I think that a little bit of hard work in the beginning will pay off in the end!

 

[Magpie]

We got our puppy at 8 weeks old. It really IS just like having a baby. Just as exhausting and infuriating and frustrating. The good news is, they grow up faster.

I had to get up with her for a middle of the night pee break until she was about 6 months old. How long your dog can hold her bladder is a matter of physical development, just like it is with human children. Some get it early, some take longer. Our puppy had accidents, and required almost constant supervision day AND night.

We skipped the whole crate business and put her in a laundry basket by my side of the bed (there's a pillow in the basket). For a little while we stuck a suitcase in front of the basket so she couldn't just hop out. She quickly learned that this was where she was expected to stay at night, and the only times she's ever left her basket without permission were when she was sick. She goes to the front door to barf - she's probably go outside, but we never get there fast enough.

When she whined, I just reached down and petted her. She quieted quickly and I was able to go back to sleep.

Oh, and we did take an old rag from her mother's basket to bring home with us. She still sleeps with it, though I'm sure it smells nothing like mommy anymore (it's been washed a few times).

Our bedtime routine is simple. When we're ready to go to bed, we open the front door and she runs out onto the front lawn. We say, "Go pee-pee!" and she does whatever she has to do out there. Then she runs inside and we say, "Go to bed!" She hops into her basket beside our bed, and there she stays for the night. Oh... and I snap my fingers and point whenever I give her an order. It seems to help her focus (she's a little ADD ).

We were fortunate in that I stay home, so I was able to be with our puppy 24/7 for the first year. I think it made training a lot easier. Of my friends who have to leave their dogs alone all day, most of them are still having problems with their adult dogs making messes. And then sometimes eating it.