New puppy crying in crate at night

[Mary Minier]

So we just brought Sunny home, our 7 week old goldendoodle. Her first night home was awesome, she went right into her crate and we didn't hear a peep out of her for 6 hours since she slept so well. However, last night, (her 2nd night here), she woke up several times, crying and whining, wanting to be let out of her crate. We've heard that the crying and whining needs to be ignored so we're not reinforcing or rewarding this behavior, but does anyone have any suggestions on how to get her to stop this and stay quiet through the night? I tried the first time, taking her outside, thinking she just needed to go potty, but as soon as I put her back in the crate, she started whining and crying again...

[Drew & Lauren]

The first couple nights are always the worst, but stick it out!! Trust me I thought it was never going to stop, but now our Rory knows the command crate and goes running in. I would always make sure that they do not have to go out before you put them in there. A nice trick we learned was warm a blanket or toy for them. We got this little toy that warms up in the microwave. It reminds them of there mother and really seemed to help Rory. He still sleeps with it every night and its 7 months old (we do not warm it anymore). Also, you have to try and let him when he is NOT whining or between whines. I know that is tough, but if you let him our while he is whining  he will know to whine and you will open the door. 6 hours is a long time for a puppy (which is great), but i used to set an alarm and wake myself up to let him out that way I was waking him before he could wake up and whine. Hope that helps!!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

If you haven't already, place the crate next to your bed so when your puppy wakes you can dangle your fingers through the top of the crate (provided your'e using a metal crate). That was always enough for my 2 to quiet and settle. We moved Lucy's crate downstairs after 3 nights (at the time, I'd read somewhere that it shouldn't be any longer). She did fine, but after the addition of Oscar 3 yrs later, we extended the time to over 1 week. He just was not ready to be moved downstairs after 3 days. He was much needier. Crate training does take patience, but it does pay off in the end. Both my doodles love their crates (5 yrs and almost 2). Good luck!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Teddy is so cute!  Quincy is a bit over two- and like any mom, I have already blocked most puppy not-so-great memories, so there is hope that this too shall pass.  But good advice from other posts!  and if you do a search in Puppy Madness, there are likely many more.  

[Ona & Buster]

We never had that issue with Buster, but I brought the crate upstairs and put it in the hall landing between all of the bedroom. So every night we went to bed he came up and went to bed too. He would wake up and look in my room see me then lay back down and go to sleep. Worked up until he outgrew the crate.

Good luck!

[Laura & Sophie Doodle]

Sophie whined for the first few days we had her at night. She would especially whine after I let her out for a potty break at ~4 am.. how convenient, right?! ;) Definitely IGNORE the whining because it does go away pretty quickly! We just used ear plugs and a "white noise" background for the first few nights to tune her out and she was quiet before we knew it. Hang in there! :) 

[Wynnie & Jim]

Our puppy came home at 8 weeks. I was religious about not giving her water and food after 7 PM, and taking her out to do her business just before our bedtime. I also placed a Suggle Puppy in her crate. The combination of a beating heart and the warmth from the Snuggle Puppy had her sleeping through the night. In fact, at nine month she still love her SP and we have a hard time getting her up in the morning.

[niru]

My Fiance and I lay beside our puppies crate for a little bit until she settles down and then we will just jump back into bed. It obviously interrupts our sleep but our puppy Chloe stops whining and whimpering and now she will only do either if she has to go potty. 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We kept the crate on a chest that made it the same height as our bed.  I had it right by the bed so I could reach in and soothe her if she started whining.  When she went in her crate at night she got about 5-6 pieces of kibble which she quickly learned to look forward to.  If she started whining I could just roll over and soothe her with a couple fingers.  Most of the time that is all it took.  If that didn't work then I assumed she needed to potty.  I quietly took her outside (on leash) to her potty spot.  I tried not to turn any lights on as not to get her wide awake.  As soon as she pottied she went right back in her crate and I just soothed her until she went right back to sleep.  Don't put too many things in the crate with him as they do get too warm.  As a side note, 7 weeks is a little early for him to have come away from the mother, so I would anticipate it might be a little bit harder than normal.  

[Michele Moss]

Put a shirt you have worn (has your scent on it) in the crate and that might comfort the baby.