Should a puppy sleep in a crate the first night? This is a very good question. New puppy owners are often told how important it is to gradually accustom a puppy to a crate and therefore it may seem too drastic locking up a new puppy in a crate from the very first night, especially with so many changes to deal with! So should a puppy sleep in a crate the first night? The answer is yes, you can have your puppy sleep in a crate the first night as long as you follow some important guidelines that are meant to reassure your pup and help him feel comfy and less stressed. However, if your puppy appears in distress or you want to go more gradually, you can always start a bit later if feasible.
Start Early in the Day
If possible, pick up your puppy from the breeder as early as possible. This will buy you some precious time that can be well invested in getting your pup to grow somewhat accustomed to his new surroundings.
While you’re there picking up your pup, ask the breeder if he or she can provide you with a blanket or towel that smells like mom and his siblings. This item will help reassure your pup on his very first nights. Plugging in a DAP diffuser in the bedroom where the pup will sleep may also come handy.
Once home, don’t give your puppy the whole run of the house. Things can get overwhelming for a small pup! Confine your pup to a small room and start showing him how great the crate is. Place the blanket/towel in the opened crate (tie the door open to prevent it from scaring your pup) with a few new toys and treats inside.
In an ideal situation, a good breeder should have already introduced their puppies to a crate so that when they are in their new homes, they aren’t too hesitant to enter on their own. You can also feed your pup his meal right next to the crate to create positive associations.
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Lavishly praise your puppy any time he enters the crate to investigate and get his little prizes. If he is a bit hesitant, it doesn’t hurt to have him watch you toss a few treats inside to get his attention as you say the word “crate!” Praise (good boy, good girl!) as he enters and is about to eat the goodies. Repeat tossing the treats/kibble inside the crate several times throughout the day.
At some point, start closing the gate briefly, and reward your pup when inside feeding several kibble/treats in a row. Once outside, no more treats. Great things happen only in the crate. Repeat several times until you notice a positive emotional response to entering and being in the crate.
As Night Approaches
Place the blanket/towel with the pup’s mom and littermate smell inside the crate. Place the crate in the bedroom right besides your bed the first night. This can be just a temporary place, as the days go by and pup gets more used to his surroundings, you can gradually start moving the crate a little bit more each day to wherever you want your pup to eventually sleep.
Take your pup outside to eliminate right before bedtime. Ideally, make sure he both poops and pees. Make sure to set the alarm every 2-3 hours to take your pup out. You may wake up your puppy for these outings or your puppy may wake you up to be let out.
If your puppy starts whining, right when he’s first put in the crate you know it’s likely not from needing to eliminate if you were able to get him to pee and poop just minutes prior. It’s important though to make sure the pup is not too hot or too cold or has other unmet needs. If the pup appears distressed, it’s best to give the benefit of doubt. Sometimes pups have diarrhea their first night between all the stress of the car ride and possibly new foods.
In most cases though the whining is due to the puppy feeling a bit stressed from being in a new place and feeling lonely. It’s OK to reassure the pup by just saying “I’m here”and/ or gently touching the pup. Won’t this reinforce attention whining? Well, it can eventually, but you will have several of opportunities to not reinforce this form of whining later on as the days roll by and the pup adjusts.
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Turning around the crate or whining though that takes place in the next couple of hours may be from an actual need for going potty. You want to promptly reinforce that by opening the crate. Make these outings matter-of-fact and rather boring. However, when your pup eliminates, make sure to immediately praise him the moment he’s done squatting and give him a treat. Use a treat again to get you pup inside the crate as you say “crate” and then close the crate. Lights are out again. Rinse and repeat.
“Housing the puppy in isolated areas where there is minimal human contact, such as in a laundry room or basement, should be avoided.”~Debra Horwitz, Gary Landsberg
Should a Puppy Sleep in a Crate the First Night?
Should a puppy sleep in a crate the first night? Yes, but there are some exceptions. For some pups, the first few days in a new home may be particularly traumatic. Some pups are more sensitive than others and might not have great coping skills in such a stressful situation. These pups sometimes feel better if you place a small stuffed animal or warm water bottle wrapped in towels inside the crate for comfort. A blanket over the crate may provide comfort as well. Talking to them and touching them may help.
Often though, this may be simple a matter of the pup not having had much opportunity to love being in the crate. If your pup appears still in distress (keeps crying out relentlessly) or if you simply prefer to go more gradually, it’s not a big deal if your pup doesn’t sleep in the crate the very first nights.
You won’t break any major laws by being a bit permissive as long as it’s just for the first few days. Actually, consider that the “cry it out” method, may cause pups much distress and may put them in a state of learned helplessness. Many new pup owners elect to have a pup sleep on a mat (in an area closed off to prevent the pup from getting into mischief during the night) besides the bed.
Crate training means making the crate a wonderful place to be. A pup crying in it all night definitely doesn’t see it as such. Taking it a bit slower at the pup’s pace is not a bad idea.You can always allow your pup to get better used to being in the crate during the day by letting your pup go in it for a nap during the day with the door open, so that he can learn that the crate is his new place to sleep. You can also feed your pup in it and place chew toys to gnaw on. There is plenty of time for crate training once the pup has settled in his new home and is comfortable in his new surroundings.
Now, it may be tempting for some dog owners to bring the pup in the bed. Using plastic mattress covers may come handy during the potty training process. This though may turn into a habit that may be quite difficult to overcome if done for several nights, unless the bed is destined to become the pup’s permanent sleeping area.
Many dog owners allow their dogs to sleep in bed. There are some disadvantages though to consider such as how will the dog feel when he’s boarded in a kennel or with a pet sitter? What will happen as the dog ages and no longer can climb up the bed or becomes incontinent? Good thinking is needed before deciding where the pup’s future sleeping area will be.
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