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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Puppy's first night at home

22 replies

shoutymcshoutsmum · 10/12/2011 18:45

One friend said put the pup in his crate downstairs and don't go down till morning. Another said put him in your bedroom. What did you do?

OP posts:

bamboobutton · 10/12/2011 18:51

what the first friend said.

it will be a huge mistake taking the pup into your room, unless you like the idea of the dog being in your room for the next 14 years.

ditavonteesed · 10/12/2011 18:53

I ut both of mine in a crate downstairs, cherry whined for about ten mins then we didnt hear another peep out of her till morning. eric on the other hand cried so much that after about 20mins we realised he wasnt going to settle and I ended up sat on the floor next to the crate hushing him all night (if it was up to me he would have been in our room). so it really does depend how the dog reacts. please dont leave poor pup crying all night though , have you got a ticking clock to put near cage? A hot water bottle wrapped in towles in cage.

crypes · 10/12/2011 19:01

Got a puppy yorkshire terrier and have made him sleep in his little cosy bed by my bed from first night, altho he wakes up at 5am to go downstairs to do wee and poo on his newspaper by backdoor, then i give him a biscuit and put him back in his bed and turn off the light.

MiseryBusiness · 10/12/2011 19:26

Our Pup was a bit of a nightmare, we put her in her crate downstair and she screamed and I mean she really really screamed!!
She bashed herself against the crate, we'd tried to train her to like it before hand, feed her etc in the crate and she was happing in there as long as we were downstairs, she was even happy to have it closed as long as we were there.
The moment we tried to go to bed the screaming started.
We ditched the crate and tried putting her in the kitchen, she was noway near as bad but still cried a lot so after about 6 days we brought her to sleep in our room.
She slept on her bed in the corner for 2 weeks and then we moved her onto the landing and then downstairs and now she sleeps in the kitchen, she never made a fuss again.
I know people say not to do it but she was driving me up the wall and it ended up working really well for us.

Original poster

shoutymcshoutsmum · 10/12/2011 19:37

My goodness. This all reminds me of the controlled crying vs attachment parenting discussions that we used to have when we had human babies! If you leave them in their bed in a crate, won't you still need to go downstairs at some point during the night to let them out for a wee?

OP posts:

scrappydoodah · 10/12/2011 19:43

Crate in a cubby hole in the boot room downstairs. They feel safer in a den like corner and will settle faster. Also cover the top and sides of the crate.
I'd be nervous about a hot water bottle though as they are likely to chew it and might get scalded.
If you put them in your bedroom on the first few nights, then move them, you unsettle them twice. It's fairer to have one place and stick with it.

Melindaaa · 10/12/2011 19:47

we put our puppy who was ten weeks when we got him, straight into his crate at night, and completely covered him. He never got up at night, or messed ihis crate.

Original poster

shoutymcshoutsmum · 10/12/2011 20:03

Melindaaa, your first night sounds like a dream! Is this likely?

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belindarose · 10/12/2011 20:16

Ours was great from the first night too. I set the alarm for about 2am and took him our for a wee. Never did it again though. He sleeps for up to 12 hours at night and doesn't whine at all, just sits up and wags his tail when we go downstairs. In a crate, by the way. Good luck!

DaisySteiner · 10/12/2011 20:18

In a crate in our room for first few nights so we could hear if he needed to go out for a wee in the night. He only woke the first night so after we were sure he was happy going all night without a wee we put him in kitchen. Always covered crate up so it was nice and cosy.

Original poster

shoutymcshoutsmum · 10/12/2011 20:30

I will go buy a crate and a cosy blanket then. Any bedding recommendations?

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belindarose · 10/12/2011 20:31

Vet bed. Mine now likes a pillow under it too.

ditavonteesed · 11/12/2011 08:41

hope it went well and you got some sleep.

Original poster

shoutymcshoutsmum · 11/12/2011 09:26

murphy doesn't arrive till the 23rd (though he is not a xmas present to anyone may I add!). we can't wait!

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ditavonteesed · 11/12/2011 09:31

well you probably did get some sleep then (doh)

belindarose · 11/12/2011 09:42

Wow, you'll have an entertaining Christmas then!

grafit · 11/12/2011 10:28

We put ours (arrived two days ago) in his crate in a corner of the kitchen. He sleeps all night and doesnt wee in his crate. I think fine in your bedroom for a few days. We would have done if he had been miserable, but he isnt.

Original poster

shoutymcshoutsmum · 11/12/2011 11:36

I am amazingly nervous. i have read the Perfect Puppy from cover to cover and now my husband is. I just don't wAnt to mess up!

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belindarose · 11/12/2011 12:12

It's a good book. Read Ian Dunbar as well. Google him - most of his book is available free on his website.

grafit · 11/12/2011 21:39

I thought Perfect Puppy had some really good stuff in it but it did remind me of Gina Ford a bit...am sure a lot of it is common sense and trusting your instincts - like baby rearing!

sitandnatter · 12/12/2011 06:21

RSPCA advice to us was to crate straight away you might have a sleepless first night but if you feed them in the crate put their toys in it they learn to love it.

They said if she cries go downstairs walk passed the crate if they stop crying there is absolutely nothing wrong with them other than wanting you. They said not to give her attention but to pretend you were coming downstairs for something else then go back to bed and ingore her. The first night we had a couple of hours where she wanted us but then realised she wasn't going to get any attention.

After night two it was happy days in the crate.

Original poster

shoutymcshoutsmum · 13/12/2011 17:48

Thanks sitandnatter. I really hope Murphy reacts in the same way.

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