Where did your puppy doodle sleep at night?

[NewfoundlandNic]

We are getting our doodle puppy tonight - Georgia is 9 weeks old and we have been watching her since she was three weeks old, so it is very exciting. Anyway, last time we had a dog was before kids and we had the crate in our bedroom. Now that we have a three year old and a nine month old, our bedroom is no longer quiet throughout the night - our three year old has entered a "monster" stage and often wakes up around 2 in his room and wants to come to ours.

 

I am a huge believer in crate training and have two crates ready: one for upstairs (bedrooms) and one for main. We do have an office upstairs as well, next to our bedroom. Should I keep Georgia's nighttime crate up there? How are they with being separated? What did you guys do?

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. We are very excited about our new addition! We haven't even met our little beauty yet. She arrives at 11:00 tonight - I think sleep is going to be limited for me. ;-)

 

Nicole

[NewfoundlandNic]

Thanks for all the tips and experiences. I remember with Parker we had bought a wicker basket -LOL. That lasted a long time not! She was primarily Labrador and our first night all I could hear was "crunch, crunch, crunch." The next day we bought the crate. I think I am going to try Georgia in our room in her crate, we eventually plan on having her dog bed in there anyway.

 

 

[Dot, Maggie and KoKo]

Maggie's crate is in my bedroom since I  got her.  She's 20 months old now and still is crated at night and whenever I leave the house.

 

When I got KoKo I wasn't going to put another crate in my room, so I set her up in the breakfast room.  She's 7 months old and based upon her behavior I don't ever see her being left uncrated.  She's my Loco KoKo...

[Robyn, Greg and Snickers]

Snickers slept in his crate downstairs in the family room as a puppy and still does. We actually bought a baby monitor and set it up so we could hear if he needed to go out.  He was fine and actually started sleeping through the night within 4-5 weeks of getting him. I think it is good to have a separate space for him to sleep it is his area and he feels very safe and comfortable in his crate. 

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Our Murphy, 8weeks old when we got him, is now 27 months old and slept in a crate downstairs on the floor by the couch and I stayed on the couch so as not to disturb anyone. He went out 2ce for potty, but very little whimpering. If he did, I just put my hand in the crate and talk to him. Cover the crate with a blanket and if you have a tic-toc type clock, placing it nearby will help remind her of her mother;s heartbeat. It worked great for both my pups. After the first few nights, he was right next to me in the crate on the floor, by my bed. They both were let out of the crate and into our bed or bedroom as soon as they were sleeping thru the night, which was very quickly. Ours hop in and out of our bed during the night, with Murphy being the primary bed sleeper. Bella (8 months old now) is a bit more independent and likes the floor. I just can't help but think how alone they must feel when first leaving their litter, so anyway you can make the transition easier for everyone will be the best. Good luck, very exciting. And how lucky for you to have 12 months maternity leave. USA hasn't caught on to that concept yet.

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

We rescued Lola from a previous owner who was very neglectful....which resulted in Lola being quite needy, and very upset if you left her alone. So....first few nights, we crated her downstairs, then finally clued in to why she was crying and brought the crate upstairs. Since we're both "dog in our bed" people, the overnight crating only lasted about a month after we got her, and she's been sleeping with us in our bed since. We left her in her crate during the day while we were out so she didn't tear our house to shreds, but that only lasted about 5 months ( I think!). Good luck, and congratulations! Can't wait to browse pictures!

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

At first, Dexter slept in a confined area in the kitchen.  Once he was old enough to be trusted (~10 months), he slept on a dog bed in our bedroom. 

We adopted Kirby when he was 1 and once they were comfortable together they both started sleeping in our bedroom.  Kirby sleeps on his dog bed on the floor and Dex usually sleeps on the foot of our bed.

[Donna K & Quincy]

When we first got Quincy he slept in his crate downstairs in the family room. There were a few nights I slept in the family room with him. After the first few nights he was perfect, as a matter of fact when we would take him out to potty in the morning he would run back in and get in his crate, I'm pretty sure it was the treat he got and not the crate. He slept in his crate until he was neutered at 6mos and couldn't fit in there with his cone of shame, he started sleeping in our room at that point and the rest is history. If I was doing it over again I would put his crate in my bedroom, of course there were no small children to worry about. I can just see you little one coming out in the middle of the night to play with the puppy. It's 10:30 now so I guess you are at the airport to pick up your baby. Goodluck. Welcome little Georgia.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We had a crate in our bedroom at home and in the living area in our RV when Ned was little.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Cooper slept in her crate in our bedroom. For the first few nights I would sit next to the crate til she fell asleep - max 1 hour. After a few nights she was sleeping right through, so after about a week or so we moved the crate into the kitchen area (we could hear her cry when she woke in the morning). She slept in there for quite a long time. Eventually, we let her sleep in our room - she has never really been interested sleeping on the bed (thankfully as 2 of our cats sleep with on my side). We would close the bedroom door so she couldnt destroy anything while we slept. When we started leaving the door open I would find her in her crate every morning.  Now she has full roam of the house, but always sleeps in our room. usually under the bed. I think if i put her crate in the bedroom she would sleep in it, but we have since moved house and it wont fit. She only sleeps in her crate now when she is really really tired from a days romp

 

Incidentally, we have a 7 month old kitten - he is crated at night or he climbs, knocks everything over and terrorized the 2 older cats - his little crate fits next to the bed and Cooper lays close by.