I am bringing home my puppy in 12 days, and bought a crate today...figured we would bring it up & down the stairs each day - it's too big! So, I thought we would keep it downstairs & put the pup in there when we were out & when he needed quiet time away from the boys. I don't know what to do for sleeping arrangements for him. The guy at Petco said I should have him sleep in the crate downstairs. Well, then I won't sleep! I will be checking on him all night & probably waking him up!
A friend has a Maltipoo that sleeps in a crate in her room & is comforted by knowing her people are close...I figured this is what I would do...any suggestions?
Do your pups sleep in your rooms? Are they in crates? I just want him in there til he's housebroken (we had new carpeting put in not to long ago!) and then he can have his own bed in my room.
Can't wait to have him home with me!
In a crate in my room - has been since night two. Night one was good, night two was a nightmare....until he came to our room. Not a peep since, and he's 15 months old now.
Permalink Reply by Lori on October 20, 2009 at 6:10pm
Our puppy is 16 weeks. He has always slept in his crate in the kitchen and it works fine. We got him one of those Snuggle Puppies and put it in with his mom and littermates the day before he came home so it had their scent on it. He has never cried at night. We do have two other dogs, but they are usually in either my room or my daughter's room, so not exactly a lot of comfort for him!
I have one somewhat smaller crate upstairs in my room where the 9 mo. old sleeps while my older dog sleeps here and there mostly in the same room. When I leave the house they both are in large crates in the dining room downstairs. They both seem fine with this arrangement. Sometimes I'll say, very conversationally, "Calla you're tired. Why don't you go in your crate?" she then does, more often than not. She never seems to question why she's in a crate at night and Luce is not.
Hi Lori! OOO! I can't wait to see pictures. We actually borrowed an extra crate from my sister (which she wasn't using anymore), washed it down and threw in some articles of our clothing BEFORE she came to us. We did NOT leave the clothes in the crate when she slept. Good thing too - because she was a big-time chewer!!! We put this crate in my son's room. Which by the way... I said I would never allow a dog to sleep in the bedrooms (I'm a bit of a germ freak -lol), but... as children have ways of changing us, so do our dogs! She actually slept great from the first night. Years ago "BC" (before children) we had a Golden that we put in the bathroom to sleep. I spent MANY nights sitting in there with him as he cried - LOUDLY. This time - not worth it. At times when we first put her in, she yelped, but soon settled down and slept right through the entire night. She now sleeps downstairs (her choice). in a crate. She'll be in our faces all night I think if we left her loose. But we'll try one night soon on vacation from school.... Good LUCK! Can't wait to hear all about your puppy!! ~ Shelly
We are getting our new puppy next week. We definitely are crating him at night next to our bed. The crate is too big to move around, so we are getting a smaller plastic type crate to move around if we need it. We'll see how it goes! Doesn't 12 days seem like forever? We have been counting down the days for months now!
Permalink Reply by Lori on October 20, 2009 at 6:32pm
12 days DOES seem like forever! I have been waiting for this little guy since July when I first contacted the breeder & now I am so incredibly excited! Thank you all for your advice. I think I might end up getting a smaller crate too...bring on the Puppy Madness!!!
Well I started with the crate at night and it went well for 3 months. Then I went on a road trip with one of my sons to Bend , Oregon. Because Winston had been in the crate for 8 hours in the car, I couldn't put him back into it for the night. I just didn't have the heart to do that to him So, that was the end of the night time crate. He rides in the car in a crate, but he sleeps on the bed with his rottie sister. He sleeps either on his side or on his back with his legs in the air.
I have added picture of the two of them, but I'm not sure I did it correctly. This is the spare room, and it was a photo op, but it is what they do at bed time. However, they are always invited to get on the bed, they are not allowed on the bed any other time.
Our plan was originally to have him sleep in his crate next to our bed, but once we let him sleep in his bed in the room, we got a lot more sleep. He just seemed more at ease there. When they are little, you can tether them to a small spot (towel/bed) near your bed. If they are tethered, you shouldn't have too much trouble with accidents as long as you get them up plenty during the night.
According to "puppy etiquette", Zach and I are horrible parents. I had never had a puppy before Harper, and have always been raised around cats...who obviously do whatever they want. So, it was definitely a struggle with us when deciding what we would do in terms of crate training, furniture manners, and car rides. By her third night with us, Harper was sleeping on a pillow on our bedroom floor-no crate at all. Also, she's allowed on furniture, when asked, and is not crated during car rides. We drive about 4 hours every other weekend to visit family, so we decided to go the harness route, and let her roam a little in the back seat.
The way I see it is...there is no "right" or "wrong" way to raise a puppy. If you feel inclined to do something that seems to work better for your family, even though all of the books and tv shows tell you not to...DO IT! Harper has been potty trained since 10 weeks, and is honestly such a well behaved dog. So, if you want her free at night, do it! Just be sure to keep all objects you don't want chewed up and out of the way.
In a crate in your room, is best. Mine cried out in the living room in the crate, but once brought into our room, when she would start to whine, I would say it's ok, go to sleep and she would hush right up. Not a peep for several hours. then the same again. After two night she would sleep all night. (She knew we were there and she was safe) Honestly the only night I didn't sleep was the night she wasn't in my room. She is 15 mos. old and has been sleeping on a bed on the floor at the foot of our bed since she was about 8 mos. old. Quiet as a mouse, woke me only once to go outside one night. As far as new carpeting, buy some good home carpet cleaning spray, you will need it at least once. We put a bell on a ribbon on the door and within 20 min. she knew what to do. Prior to that, I was the one trained. Remembering to take her out every 30 min. or so and after every meal. We only had to clean the carpet a few times. They are smart dogs and will catch on quickly! Have fun, and remember they are babies and need to learn, be patient.