Puppy sleep help

[GuyFawkesDay]

FawkesPup is 10 weeks today.
He's a bit of a velcro pup/mummy's boy. Has been since day 1.

He's got a crate which he was sleeping ok in at night. In our room. We bring it downstairs in the day and he sometimes sleeps in it but more often than not he's on the floor at someone's feet. Mine are first choice.

He's started being really painful at night. Last night and night before just won't settle in the crate after night wees unless I sit and stroke/settle him or he whines and complains and wakes people up. He's quite a chatty puppy and often makes little noises. He whimpers in the car for 2 minutes on every journey, then sleeps. I can't work out if this whining is protest or fear?

I've got a bad back from sleeping on the sofa the first week so we moved the crate upstairs at night but I'm really starting to feel bloody exhausted and fed up that I can't get the puppy to sleep away from me.

Not sure what to do next....abandon the crate for a bed? Start ignoring the whining for a night or two?

themuttyprofessor.co.uk/2017/07/20/crate-debate-crate-not-crate/
Dogs are polyphasic sleepers. This means they sleep in short periods, like to get up and move around as well as changing positions.
Changing surfaces that they sleep on also helps them regulate their temperature
Therefor, crating dogs goes against their natural way of sleeping and removes all option of them fulfilling this instinctive behaviour.

Have you got a blanket or similar over the crate? Can he see you too?
Have you got a night time routine? I currently have a 13 week old puppy and we 'wind down' in the evening and I put him in his play pen around 9pm, which means he's generally sleepy or asleep by bed time at around 10 . Then it's a quick pee and bed in a covered crate in the bedroom, but he can still see me. Because he's half asleep he doesn't whinge really, but I ignore any squeaks - I don't even say anything.. possibly the answer is making bed time rather boring and very unstimulating!
Do you take him out during the night? Again, I barely speak to mine then beyond a 'good boy'. I suppose I am trying to teach him that night time is a quiet time. It's early days for you - he will get the message eventually. If, every time he winges he gets your attention, he's only going to keep doing it.

You have to ignore the whining, it’s really hard but it’s the only way.
If they whine and you go to them. Theyll continue to whine to get you to come to them.

Our pups 13 weeks old and it’s been hard but finally sleeping in the crate 11-7:30.

Cover the crate, only go to let them out of the crate when they are quiet so they don’t associate noise with getting out x

It's discerning whether it's an "I need the loo" or attention seeking whine that's hard!

He's got a blanket bed one side and the state is 3 sides plastic so nice and "contained". He can see me.

He howled something chronic in the pen. May be worth trying it again though and see. He settles into his crate downstairs about 9, voluntarily. Quick wee about 10 and then up to bed.

Will persevere but ignoring the whining when it's waking everyone up is hard.

If you leave hmi in his crate downstairs and leave the room will he stop whining after a few minutes?

However if the whining goes on longer then I would move the crate back up to your room and gradually over several days (weeks) move the crate away from you. Not go from being in your room to being downstairs all in one go.

During the day I would lift the sleeping puppy in to the crate to sleep with the door open and you close by.

Thanks. Gradual move was the intention. I will try him left in rate on his own again. Last time he howled and got quite upset but he's had another week since then so worth another go. He HATES being left by me. I think possibly cos I am the feeding monkey so maybe he worries if I'm not there he won't get fed?

He's such a lovely sweet natured, affectionate lad I don't want to "damage" him but not spoiling them is important too

If he's 10weeks you can't have had him more than a week or so, so still very early days?

I second the advice on boring. It's really hard though as puppy cries are so much louder than people think!

2 weeks on Tuesday. He's 10 weeks today.

I definitely do boring at night: no lights no talking other than "toilet" and good boy". This is because I am not really capable of more than those words at 2am 🤣

Will do the lifting into crate for naps and just keep going with quiet night wees.

He's only very little, so I want to get it right!

If you’re worried he needs a wee when he’s whining, you can quickly take him out (lead on) out for a wee and then straight back in, I’ve never had to do it and couldn’t bare it but my friend suggested let them whine for 30 mins - wait for a quiet spell (even a few seconds) then take them out no fuss and back in.

Maybe work on some general positivity around the crate, throwing treats in there getting him to stay there with the door open, getting more treats, come out and then repeat?!
I did that on day one for a few days until she’d go to the crate on demand. It’s hard work but has paid off. She literally only whines to get out when she’s desperate for the loo now.

Maybe some ear defenders for everyone in the meantime as I definitely did that on the early days when we were trying to get her used to it!

Thanks all. Did the ignoring which worked until the 4:30am "I want to get up and play after I've been to the loo".

I put my hand in his crate and was a Han chew toy in the dark and quiet and eventually at 5am he went back to sleep. Progress!!!

He's just settled at my feet so I've popped him in the crate and he's settled for a nap.

Thank you for all the advice!!!

Glad you had some progress. You could try giving him a chew at 4.30 tomorrow morning (if he wakes and after he has been to the loo) to see if he settles on his own and to save you hand

Will do. He's tiny so his nylabone of the rubber ball with treats stuff in will have to do.

His calming bed arrived today and he's napped in his crate in it twice now. Maybe he just needed that secure feeling in there.