HIS FIRST FEW NIGHTS AT HOME

[Brinkleysmom]

Can anyone tell me the best way to handle Brinkley's first few nights at his new home. I've heard some say that I should just put him in his crate in, ie. the kitchen, and let him cry it out. I've also heard that I should put him beside my bed so that I can talk to him and touch him occasionally, just to reassure him he's not been abandoned. Then move him to the kitchen after a few days, after he's feeling more connected with the family. I've even heard that it's a good idea to put him in an open box and put him by my bed and literally pet him throughout the night. Please share any advice or experiences. I want to do what's right, whatever will have him the most comfortable in the shortest amount of time and the family still getting their rest, too. Thank you!

Brinkley's Mom

[aspenaden]

When we brought Aspen home I put him in his crate and actually slept by the crate the whole night. Call me crazy, but I just couldn't let him be alone since he had been curling up next to his brother for so long. We were actually VERY lucky, Aspen was so tired his first night that he didn't even cry. I just couldn't let him think he could be alone, and ever since then we have seen inseperable.

Oh yeah, don't plan on getting lots of sleep, it's just like having a new baby, or so I've been told (I don't have kids - other than furry ones - so I'm not sure what kids do in the night). Anyway, good luck!!!

[LesliesPup]

Our puppy's coming home tomorrow, so we're in the same situation. As of now, we have a crate set up in our bedroom for him to sleep in. That's going to be tough though- our bedroom is VERY small. Our other option was to put the crate in the kitchen and just let him get used to it. I'm worried about the crying, I don't think either of us have the heart to leave him alone.

[Freshwaters Rylee]

WE were very lucky with Rylee ( 8 weeks)..we put her in the kitchen in her crate..mind you we live in a one level house so it was very easy to hera her when she cried.
The first 2 nights she woke up once through the night crying..we got up took her out to do her buisness and put her back in her crate...the first few nights she would cry for about half an hour before settling back down but we didn`t get up again and take her out even though she was crying..I wanted her to get used to sleeping through the night..after only 2 nights of this she now sleeps all night long..mind you she is up around 6.00am..but we get her up then and take her in our bed..she looks forward to that now and so do we...after starting to brush her teeth the puppy breath isn`t so bad..lol
I have learned that if she doesn`t have a poo before going to bed she will wake up at some point through the night but she just does her business and goes right back to sleep.
I realize all puppies are different but I think we lucked out somehow because we pretty much have gotten full nights sleep since we got her.
I think the big thing is Consistancy...they surely do learn a routine pretty quick.
It is all still trial and error though..what works for us may not work for you but you will quickly find out what does and what doesn`t.
Just a hint though as far as housetraining goes and believe me I am no expert but I found that you HAVE to take the dog out VERY frequently and they will quickly learn when and where they have to do thier business. Always after they eat..when they wake up..after playing and about every hour in between...lol...it is getting colder here now and we hads snow today so it is great that Rylee knows what she has to do when she goes outside..of course that is in between eating every leaf and piece of grass and trying to chew every pebble she can find.
AHHHHHH...patience IS a virtue...:rollin
Good luck..it will all come together for you..:rollin

[Freshwaters Rylee]

Just as a side note to my last reply regarding the crate.
At first I felt a little guilty keeping her in there..but soon came to realize it is safer for the puppy and safer for you and any damage that may happen if puppy has roam the house.
The other night we were all watching tv..Rylee was curled up at our feet but just couldn`t settle..she got up and I followed her to see what she was up to..anyway to my amazement she went right to her crate..curled up and went to sleep.
So then I thought...Geez..maybe it isn`t that bad:032

[Bittersweet]

We did the same as most of you here...we put Inga in her crate a couple of different times after we brought her home, but before bed time..she hated it, whined scratched trying to get out..we would leave her in it for a few minutes..we were trying to get her used to it before bed that night..anyway, we just started putting her in the crate at bedtime, and let her whine her way to sleep..it was very hard to listen to, and you feel so bad, but they get used to it, and she slept until the next morning..I think she only whined a couple of nights and that was it, and she was out in the living room as we don't have any room in our bedroom for the crate! She did fine, and yours will too..you just have to look at the situation as being the same as if you had a new baby in the house! I didn't worry at all about letting her out to go potty during the night, as I was just to dang tired! Anyway, she did fine and held it until morning! She was 8 weeks old when we got her!

[bkcfamily]

I think we were pretty lucky too. We got Biscuit when he was 10 weeks old. For the night, we put him in his crate in the laundry room with a radio playing softly. He only cried for a few minutes the first night and then never again. I think the sound of the radio playing helped him know he wasn't all alone.

[GoldenLover02]

This might not be the right method, but at night when Hunter(at 9 weeks) came home ..we kept him in our bedroom, he slept at the head of our bed. We did this so we would know when he needed to go outside and potty..at night we made it very peaceful..when he woke up to go potty..we would take him outside let him do his business(no playing, soft talking) after he was done, wiped off his paws and back at the head of the bed he went to sleep. Hunter is now almost 11 months old, and when we let him sleep with us..where does he go..the head of the bed. We could never use the crate, Hunter just didn't like it at all.

Congrats on the new puppy coming home! I miss those puppy days already.

Nicole and Hunter

[bahnson]

Paddington spends his nights in his crate in my bedroom. He cried forever the first night and cried even louder the second night. I barely slept for two nights. We ignored him except for a potty break halfway through the night and he has pretty much not made a peep in his crate since then. It will be sooooooo hard to ignore a crying puppy but do not give in. He may even cry louder the second night (I've since learned that these attention-seeking behaviors often get worse before they get better as the pup makes one last desperate attempt to get what he wants) but do not give in then either.

After those first few nights, I was convinced that Paddington would hate his crate and me, but luckily neither is the case. Now, whenever I can't hear him playing around the house I just go look in the bedroom and there he is, curled up in the back of his crate. Good luck with the puppy. You may be one of those lucky people with a puppy that sleeps straight throught the first night. But if not, don't worry. It will soon get better.

[Brinkleysmom]

Thank you to everyone for your replies. They have all be helpful and insightful. I am going nuts, waiting for him to come home. We are planning to go see him Thanksgiving weekend and taking pictures of him and the children for the Christmas cards. We did not intend for him to be a Christmas puppy, and since it has turned out that we will be getting him shortly before Christmas, I have made special arragements this year, so that he will have a quiet introduction to the family. Frankly, I think there are family members who are already jealous of him. Oh well!
Thanks again for all of the help.

Brinkley's Mom