I just really need some sleep!

[Sandy]

Hi all. We've had our puppy since Friday. Friday and Saturday nights we had his crate in the kitchen, during which time none of us got any sleep. The next night we moved it to our room, and it was much, much better. However, this morning he needed to go out at 6, and was up for the day, and yesterday at 5:30 - up for the day. Needless to say, I am exhausted. I am home all day, so I am with him 24/7 currently. Any thoughts on getting a good night's sleep?

[Jackie]

It's tough when they're little ones. Beckett got up at 5:30 or 6:00 for the day but he also got up every morning (or should I say Middle of the Night!) between 2:30 and 3:30 for quite awhile. Does your pup sleep thru the night till 6ish? That's good if he does. I never thought Beckett was going to sleep longer. But he did finally. I was exhausted but IT WILL GET BETTER! It goes by fast. I know it doesn't seem it at the time but it does. I had Beckett's crate in the bedroom too. I think it helps them to be near you. I think you should try to nap sometime in the afternoon when he's napping, if you can. Good luck and it will get easier,I promise. Congratulations on the new pup.

[Sam]

I know how you feel - it feels like being a new mum all over again but Ollie was sleeping through within the week.
His crate is downstairs in the family room which actually ended up being great as our vet nurse said that it takes three days of not going near him at all (even when he whinges) and he'll be right. She told us this after we'd had him a couple of nights and we had been going up and (gently..) shaking the cage and saying no - nothing else. She said the three days would start from that night if we did it her way and I was amazed that it worked. He sleeps good as gold now and only soiled the cage the first couple of nights. He will be 13 weeks on Saturday.
Are you putting a blanket or cover over the crate???

[Adina P]

He may be an early riser for a while. Rosco was like that...up WAY early for many months. But eventually he matured and at 2.5 years old he could sleeeeeep forever! He'll tire out eventually =) One suggestion is take him out for a potty then a little play time and then put him right back in the crate, plop in some earplugs into YOUR ears and go back for a little nap. If not right away then later in the day. ANYTIME you need a break feel free to crate your puppy. He will be just fine and will adjust!

[Lynn & Sadie in WI]

Hi, I wasn't able to pick up my puppy until she was 11 wks old due to some vacation we had planned so it may be that she was a little older but the first night she cried for 3 mins, I didn't respond at all just watched the clock to see how long it would take. I was happily surprised she quieted down after 3 mins. She woke me up about 6:00 the next morning and I left her out to go. The next night was the same thing, I didn't go to her when she cried and it only lasted 3 mins. After that, the next few nights there were a couple of whimpers then quiet and ever since she has been sleeping quietly all night.

One night she woke me up about 3:00 am whining, so I got up and left her out, she went and then right back in the kennel with no crying. She now sleeps straight thru the night, I always let her out and be sure she goes right before we all go to bed. Never an accident in the crate and she usually is happy to stay in there until at least 7:30 unless there is a lot of movement in the house then she wants out too.

Good luck, it will get better soon.

[Tamara & Giada]

When you let him out to go potty only go out, then right back in................. no playing, talking or fun. Make sure the room is dark which should be easier this time of year. Also, if you put him in the kitchen run the dishwasher, or fan for white noise....this really sooths them. If he cries do a shake can and tell him quiet. He will get the hang of it. Not sure if my dogs are an exception, but never had to deal with no sleep, these tricks always helped.

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

It is almost like having a baby - but it DOES get better - just keep telling yourself that over and over!!! I promise you it is true!! Good Luck - good night sleeps are ahead!! :-)

[Ali]

I think Lola did really well sleeping in. She would wake me up pretty early at first around 8 am (that is early for me, and keep in mind I do not get home from work until 12:30, so last potty break is around 1:30am). I would take her out, put her back in the box next to bed. If she kept crying I would feed her, then take her out again and then back to the box. If this did not work I would give her a flossie, at this age a flossie lasted a week, and would quiet her down until she fell asleep. If she is whining, she is probably letting you know she has a need for something, if you have satisfied all the needs then she is just crying for attention so just put the earplugs in. Eventually, Lola learned to go to sleep whenever I go to sleep. She falls asleep in one minute now. Good luck with everything!

[Stephanie]

Oh my GOSH!!! I soo know what you mean! LOL Me and Sam are going through this right now. I work at night, so Sam gets all the sleep with Brody sleeping at night. Then I get home...and Brody is ready to get up, and I am left to try to 'nap' while Brody naps during the day and Sam is gone to work. To get my 8 hrs of sleep before I have to go back to work that night is almost impossible, and its always broken up into little bits.

Brody just turned 10 wks on Monday...and he's been doing really well, but it wasn't always like that. He used to get us up 2-3 times in the night...between 12 and 8 am we were up at *least* twice, sometimes 3 times on potty runs. We just started using his crate and now he will sleep from 12ish till I come home at 7:30am.

What time do you do his last potty run, and what time does he go to bed? You just got him last week...so is he still only 8 or 9 weeks old? If he sleeps from "bed time" till 6ish every am....that is pretty amazing! If its still not enough sleep for you, I would try getting up with him...doing a potty run and playing HARD with him for 20-30 minutes which should tire him out pretty good if he's still that young. Throw toys so he runs after them...or whatever else he likes to do. Also maybe give him a little 'snack' size breakfast...maybe a 1/4 of his normal meal size? These things worked for me when I needed to sleep while Sam was at work. This is only in the am if he is ready to be up for the day...not a good habit to start in the middle of the night...trust me!!

If I am really tired I will play with him for a good 45 minutes...and then take him potty. Usually after that he is ready to nap for at least an hour maybe more.

And use his crate if you are tired. Put something in there for him to chew on or play with and take a nap. I can now honestly say...it works! And they really are okay...they're going to lay down anyways, why not in a place where you know he will be safe, and your things won't get ruined?

[Sandy]

Last night Toby slept from 11-6:30 a.m.!! No breaks in the night! I am feeling much better this morning. Plus I had a half hour nap last night. :) I haven't had a puppy for a very long time - we adopted our last dog at the age of 2, and we had him put down 2 weeks ago at the age of 14 1/2. So....I think I'm just not used to puppy-ness. Toby is 8 1/2 weeks now, so it can only get better from here.

[Carole (*Koda*Monty*Bindi)]

Glad you got a good night's rest Sandy :). Things are looking up!

[27cir57x69mpb]

It will come. Be patient. I was up with my puppy at all-hours when he first came home to us. 4 am. 5 am. There was no rhyme or reason to his potty habits at that time. Having a new puppy is very much like having a new baby (trust me, I know). Just follow the advice on potty training, walk often, do not ignore (even for a minute) the signs that the dog makes before he has to go and praise, praise, praise. He will gradually fall into a pattern. My guy has been w/us for 7 or 8 weeks and is now totally trained, completely reliable and manageable. He is still up on the early side (6ish) but I can see a gradual improvement and I know before long he will be sleeping later. It is a process...

[Park Mom]

Is the problem that he needs to pee in the night? Or is it also that he makes noise and is generally nocturnal in addition to sometimes needing to pee?

I am no expert, but I just talked to one -- a great dog trainer here in Brooklyn. I asked just this basic question. That is, I told her we were having trouble deciding where in the house our new pup should sleep when she arrives. The trainer recommended trying and excercise pen for the puppy to sleep in, if you have room. Basically, it's an indoor fence that allows you to safely confine the puppy in one area with a wee-wee pad (or litter box as some pups are apparently trained to use) as well as a bed all contained therein.

All I can say is what people told us when we had our first human baby: sleep when the baby sleeps. It's age old advice, and it does work. If you're not a napper, it's hard at first, but you do reach such a state of exhaustion that you'll sleep at any time.

Good luck making it through this tough stage.