sleep suggestions.

[Katie]

My puppy is 15 weeks old - had her since 8 weeks old. 

One of my biggest problems is her lack of sleep.  She absolutley hates her cage and it's getting worse.  When I take her to bed around 11:00 pm she usually tired and calm.  The minute I step in our bedroom she starts to get anxious, when I put her in the cage she is awake and nervous.  I lay down on the floor with her hoping she will settle down and go to sleep.  She will finally fall asleep but it's short lived.  She seems to pant and breath so heavy while she's in the cage.  Last night she slept 11-1 then 1-5.  I use the word slept loosly.........I was on the floor with her most of the night.  Even during the day when I fold laundry or shower she is anxious in our room.  I leave her cage door open hoping she'll begin to warm up to it.  I've given her a teddy bear and a nice pillow too.

She seems to get better sleep on my kitchen ceramic floor during the day.  she never pants or seems anxious on the ceramic.  

I know she's a puppy but it doesnt seem like her waking up is for potty breaks.

How can I get her to settle down and have some good quality zzzz's???

I do walk her before bed which has helped.

I also had a blanket over her cage but that just seemed to freak her out more. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

This sounds like you found the solution = laundry room for sleeping at night.

[Helen & Kirby]

She does sound anxious in the bedroom.  Can you block off an area in the kitchen or laundry room and let her sleep there? Can you use a baby gate?  

She might just need to be where it is cooler.

[Sue]

Puppies are a lot like babies....she is feeling your anxiousness and feeding off of it.....It is okay for a dog to bark and cry in their crate.....Much like a baby, once they have been fed, changed and are comfortable some will just cry for you....parents sometimes need to let them cry it out for a bit ( most will eventually tire and fall asleep) same goes for a puppy.....What worked for my puppy was a treat with cheez whiz in a Kong every time she goes in her crate....Now she does a happy dance to her crate bc she will get the Kong.....I also put on the radio or( white noise )quite loud in the house so that it sort of drowns out her whines.....I have left her there for over an hour and after 5-8 minutes she simply ate her treat and then forgot about whining.....Maybe give yourself 3 -4 days of this and see if it works.....remember that puppies need you to guide them....Patience is key and I know that it is extremely hard right now but you are the Boss and need your sleep to be a better alpha leader to your Pup...keep me posted...

[Katie]

Obviously, you all noticed my anxiety so she probably does too.

Hoping for better night tonigh!

[Sue]

Let me know how things are going....My pup is 15 weeks old as well so we are experiencing same/different challenges....I showed so much anxiety and frustration the first couple of weeks when I was not getting enough rest and i could tell she was feeling it.....Calm and in control is what puppies are looking for.....even though you may feel frazzled now....the more positive energy she feels coming from you the more calm and positive she will be.....keep me posted....

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Both of my dogs got too hot in their crates at night. A blanket over the crate is just going to make it hotter. We stopped crating them at night and kept them in our bedroom with the door shut and never had any problems. I still crated them in another room when we left during the day and they did fine. Not every dog likes the crate. I would opt for more sleep for both of you and let her out of the crate and see what happens.