Snuggle Puppy vs. Puppy Cuddle Pal

[Christine + Ellie]

Hi all - I'm getting my puppy in about 3 weeks and I'm looking into something that will make her feel that she is with her littermates when she sleeps in the crate. Which is most effective? The snuggle puppy or the puppy cuddle pal?

I know the snuggle puppy has the heart beat feature while the puppy cuddle pal doesn't, but the price difference is almost $20. Does anyone have insight as to which one they prefer?

[03pilqobzlvp7]

I didn't use either, but I can't say whether that is best or not. I put the sweatshirt I was wearing on the drive home in there so he wouldn't feel alone and we have a very strong bond (not sure if that has anything to do with the sweatshirt). Some of his littermates had already left the roost when I got him, so we just used plain old patience and put him in a crate next to our bed. Although the New Skeet Monks ("The Art of Raising a Puppy") recommend tethering him to a dog bed or blanket within your arms reach from bed to calm him in the middle of the night. They say to tether him so that he won't wander and use the bathroom where he isn't supposed to. It's a great book for new owners; I recommed it.

[Lynne B]

If your breeder is near you, you might take a small blanket to them and ask them to put it in the whelping box with mom and the pups for a few days- that is usually the most reassuring scent that you can offer to a puppy. I got some cheap stuffed toy that could be microwaved to make it warm, I put that with my puppy for about the first week and he would snuggle with it, after that he started ignoring it and chose another toy to lay next to when in his crate

[Kyoko]

Yes, This is what we did, too. I had no problem with Charlie being in her crate, loved the mommy blanket.
She also suckled on her stuffed piggy along with the mommy blanket.

[Tammy & Gracie]

I also used a "used" sleep shirt of my own for her bed in the beginning.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Christina, I got the cuddle pal based on Teri's recommendation. Also, Teri is going to send some material with Ellie that will have Delta and her little mates' scents on it, so that will help. I am also planning to leave something with my smell in her crate while I am gone and while Peri sleeps. I think if we put their crates next to our bed, use the cuddle pal, and have those scented towels, etc...in there, they will be pretty happy!

[Sonja]

We spent the bucks on the Snuggle Puppy, with the heartbeat, and we had no crying in the kennel or apparent distress. Maizy still loves her Snuggle Puppy, even though the heartbeat battery is dead. She takes it in and out of the kennel to go to bed at night, and runs to it if there is a "traumatic" event, like a new loud noise in the driveway or something. We are going camping next week, and plan to put the battery back in to transition to sleeping in our camper....with our other dogs we used towels and alarm clock, and always a bit of scent from the litter. This time we didn't take any scented blanket scrap or anything...not sure why we didn't think of it . I don't know if a stuffed animal without the heartbeat would have been as effective or not, but I'm glad we have the option now for new sleeping situations.

[Tracey]

Can't compare, but we've been using the Snuggle Puppy for Seamus' first few nights. *Knocking on wood* He sleeps in his crate like a champ! Though he seems to like cool areas on his tummy, so I didn't put the heater in it (kicking myself for ordering extra in a panic...he was one of 9 pups, figured he'd want the warmth!). First time in the crate, he put his head right on it and went to sleep. May have helped it's the same color as his littermates? Who knows ;). I also slept with it the night before so it had my scent on it. Also put in a baby towel that had his littermates'/moms' scent on it as well.

[Kate]

We used the Snuggle Safe warming pad in the kennel, along with a ticking clock (to imitate the heartbeat sound) on top of the kennel. Macey has been a really good sleeper from the beginning and I attribute it to having these things for her from that first night on. That being said, I'd recommend the one with the heartbeat feature, or plan to do the cuddle pal along with a ticking clock. Good luck!!

[am01qqc850mo]

We didn't used any of them with our 2 doodles, and they both never cried! Boef came from Tegan, Australia and had no blanket with the smell of his littermates with him, still, he didn't cry, not even the first night. Bickel is 10 weeks now, and when we visited him at the breeders place, we put a blanket with him and his littermates. When we picked him up, we brought the blanket home with him. He didn't cry eather. The blanket is washed alrealy (he threw up on it...) and he doesn't miss it at all. So, what to deside? I don't think a Snuggle Puppy or Puppy Cuddle Pal is really necessary, but if you like to buy it, your doodle will love it anyway I think ;)