Bringing home a new puppy is exciting! The prospects of your life together with this precious little bundle of joy fills your heart with such eager anticipation. You do everything possible to make sure your new little family member has everything they need: a nice comfy bed, a safe crate, quality food, fun new toys, and enough play and cuddles for a dozen puppies. After spending your first few hours together, you feel blissful as you put your new puppy to bed knowing that you get to wake up tomorrow and watch your puppy’s personality unfold……but then the whining begins.
It can be so frustrating when you finally crawl into bed exhausted from the day knowing you met each one of your new puppy’s needs, only to hear whining when you finally put your puppy to bed so you can get some rest. Why does this happen and what can you do?
Why do puppies cry?
Most people bring home their new puppy between 8-12 weeks of age. This means they are still an infant in every biological sense. Innately they know they are defenseless against predators and not skilled enough yet to acquire enough nutrients for themselves. Without the protection and care of a mature guardian they would be at high risk of death.
While some of this fear of being alone stems from a biological need to survive, it’s also important to consider that this puppy has grown up in a familiar environment with the safety and love of their mother and littermates. They are suddenly taken from this known environment where they have learned to predict what is safe and what isn’t. It’s going to take a while to learn about their new environment and those who live in it. Puppies from really good reputable breeders or knowledgeable foster homes tend to do better because they have been well socialized to learn that new environments and people aren’t very scary. Many have also already been accustomed to short periods of alone time in a crate or exercise pen and learned that this is just a routine part of their everyday experience and they are safe. However, even with proper socialization and training a puppy may still cry their first few nights in their new home.
The first few days with your new puppy
It’s natural for us to want to endlessly play and cuddle with a new puppy when we first adopt them, but it’s helpful to keep in mind that this big life change is a lot for a little baby dog brain to process. They need plenty of rest, exploration, and reassurance the first few weeks in a new home. It can be tempting to try to tire a puppy out right before bed hoping they sleep, but it can be counterproductive to provide all of this engagement and fun and then suddenly leave them in a crate or pen and expect them to sleep. Instead, make sure your puppy has about 20 minutes to unwind after a play session before bed. One way to help puppies unwind is by giving them something to chew, or sitting quietly with them while you engage in a quiet activity like reading a book or watching television.
Where should your puppy sleep?
You’ll find a lot of internet sources that suggest it’s bad to let a puppy sleep in your bed. As a certified dog behavior consultant I say it’s a matter of personal preference. It won’t negatively affect your puppy’s behavior to let them sleep in your bed and it may actually help everyone get a better night’s sleep. Puppies feel safe knowing they aren’t alone and if they need to go potty, you will feel them stirring and can take them to an appropriate elimination area. If you have safety concerns such as the bed being too high or being a heavy sleeper that the puppy might be in danger of being rolled onto, you can still offer comfort to your puppy. You can let them fall asleep on your bed while you’re awake before putting them in the crate or pen.
Since puppies feel the most comforted when they are not isolated, the best place for your puppy to sleep is in your room. If there is enough space, it can be helpful to place an exercise pen next to your bed. This offers them the space to have an area to go potty, a comfortable bed to sleep, and a cooler area to sleep if their bed gets too hot. If there’s not enough space for a pen, you can put your puppy in a crate, right next to your bed. You can elevate the crate to the level of your bed by placing it on a sturdy chair or large Tupperware box that is large enough to fully support the crate. This can be very comforting for puppies as they will be able to see you.
Introduction to the crate
As soon as your new puppy comes home you can start teaching them that the crate is a fun place to be. By propping the door open and sprinkling treats and hiding new toys inside, it will become a place they choose to enter and frequent on their own to check for hidden treasures. Once your puppy is happily entering the crate, you can close the door, give your puppy a treat through the bars, and then open it right back up again. Gradually, you can keep the door closed longer and longer while feeding treats every few seconds until you open the door again. This process can help puppies who are unfamiliar with being in a crate feel a little more at ease when night time comes. (For full crate training advice specific to your dog’s needs, or if your puppy seems to be suffering from separation anxiety, please schedule a consultation.)
Puppy communication
Puppies can be very vocal little creatures who express their needs in many ways, including barking and whining. Our job as pet parents is to meet those needs. As your puppy gets more comfortable in their new environment, the crying will decrease as they learn to feel safe. As you both get more sleep, it will get easier to feel that joy again watching your new fur baby mature and thrive in your home.
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