Crate Questions!

[BettyBo33]

If your new puppy sleeps in his crate in your room the first few nights do you move the crate back and forth to the kitchen during the day? We’ll want to crate him during the day for small periods and for him to get used to his crate in the kitchen.

We’ve already got a 3 year old dog who sleeps in the kitchen in a bed...when would be good to put new pups crate etc out to get the older dog used to the idea? Or do I just bring pup and his stuff into the house at the same time?! (Picking him up on Saturday!)

I’m sure I’m overthinking it all more this time around!

Yes I would move the crate from one location to another. Hopefully you will be able to leave the crate in one location when your puppy is used to it and happy.

I would put the crate up as soon as possible. If the breeder is close it would be good to get a blanket that smells of the puppy and put it by your existing dogs food bowl. This helps to associate good things when he is near the puppy.

Enjoy your puppy

I'm in the same situation with my 10 month old who we've had for 24 hours. Last night his crate was in the cloakroom (cool, dark & quiet) but he hated being left in it & the room door shut. He was whining & banging around & tearing up his blanket, in a proper pickle. I slept in the hallway next to him where he could see me & he settled. Tonight I've moved the crate into the sitting room so at least I can sleep on the sofa! I'm prob being too soft as my friend said I should just tough it out while he cries, but he's a rescue/stray & I think is very anxious about being left on his own. I hope once he learns to love his crate I can move it back to the cloakroom & sleep in my bed! Any insights/advice very welcome. He's such a good boy in all other respects, but being on his own during the day or night seems to worry him a lot.

@AppleBlossomTimeNow you are spot on. Sleep near the puppy so that they are not stressed and they will be happier and contented. Over time increase the distance until you get back to your bed.

Let them cry it out as your friend suggests is heartbreaking for the puppies and also can create bigger issues later on.

The less stress when they are young the better

We’ve had ours 3 weeks and we’re still lugging the crate back and forth although we live in a flat which means it isn’t so bad. We’ve just moved his crate a few metres further away from the bed and will be slowly moving it to the living room over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a faff but he seems to sleep well at night so far!

Thank you!!

And agree with PollyRoulson re ‘cry it out’, that’s just nonsense. None of us would like to be transported to a new unfamiliar place and then just left alone with the door shut, why should dogs be any different? Getting them used to separation is important but not literally as soon as they arrive, it’s far better to get them feeling comfortable and trusting you first and then gradually build up the alone time.

Thanks @PollyRoulson & @FirewomanSam - that's reassuring to hear. He really is such a lovely chap i hate to think of him feeling stressed.