getting pup to sleep through the night

[moogalicious]

Hi all, I'm new to this topic having picked up my puppy last Friday. He is 12 weeks old, has a lovely temperament and is doing well with his housetraining.

BUT I need some tips to get him to sleep through the night! He whines and howls when I go upstairs, but I can settle him ok. The problem is, he is waking every couple of hours and it seems to be getting worse - he is learning that if he howls I will go to him. Leaving him to cry it out is not an option as I have 3 dc's. He is not crated and ideally I would like him to sleep downstairs - I can feel my resolve crumbling though and am thinking would be wrong for him to sleep in our room in his own bed?

I have been up since 5am with him and now he is fast asleep at my feet

I am going to get ready for the school run, then go back to bed so will check for messages later.

We had this problem with our puppy. On advice from his breeder and the puppy training classes we ignored him. He didn't wake up the DCs.
It took 2 nights of ignoring and he hasn't woken up since and he's now 18 months old.

I suggest you try a crate as your puppy will feel more secure in an enclosed space that over time he regards as his own den. Loads of reading on this but basically get the crate and build up positive associations by feeding pup in their, playing games in it, throwing treats and running to it excitedly etc. Make a lovely cosy bed in there and put him in there with door open for his day time naps. My 13 week old pup loves her crate and can hardly bear to get up in the mornings (6.30 having been put in crate at 11.30). Since you're already having a bit of separation anxiety you could try having a crate in your bedroom initially.

Having said all this it is very early days for your pup. I hope she settles soon as I'm sure you all need your sleep!

Thanks for the advice. He slept outside my room this morning while I went to bed with only minimal crying, so I'm going to give that a try tonight. I have work tomorrow (dh at home) so need some kip! If that doesn't work, I'll try the crate.

As you say yes it's early days and he's doing so well with everything else. Only one accident today and that's because DH fell asleep and didn't let him out.