Puppy British Bulldog- currently being cuddled by me whilst wrapped in blanket

[Xtraincome]

... it's his first night with no siblings or mum so I am being soft.

For tomorrow night, can you guys give me some suggestions on how to get past the whimpering and/or setup a simple routine. He is exhausted, 9 weeks old and seems very content. Already playing with DDs, following us round but also venturing to get his food and water in crate independently.

Crate training is not a training method we are fixed on so any other ideas are welcome. This is my first dog since I became a mum.

Any advice would be most welcome.
Thanks

He needs to feel confident and secure so I would give him lots of comfort and cuddles but I can't bear to listen to a puppy crying.

You'll probably get lots of people telling you to leave him to cry but I don't see the harm in cuddles and then phasing out cuddles as he settles in

Join us on the puppy survival thread. Lots of people with young pups and older pups. A very friendly group.

Many people are fans of crate training, others are vehemently opposed. I'm sort of in the middle. My puppy is 6 months old now. We have a crate and have used it occasionally during the day for naps or if he needs to be (very briefly) contained. But we've never used it overnight.

As for a routine, I would take things very gently at first. He's so little and in a new place with new people, new smells, new sights and sounds. I wouldn't leave him to whimper at all. Keep him with you, begin to form that wonderful, unshakeable bond.

And of course you must post a pic of your new boy!

Thanks guys. I will check out the puppy survival groups/threads.

@certainshepherdpups I think crates are great but yes, I agree that maybe not part of a bedtime routine. I liked the thought of the dog just being in the kitchen at night but won't do that until the pup and cats have bonded more

@RedMozzieYellowMozzie should I bring him up to bed with me then? I am staying in spare room as DH is up super early? Or is that game just too dangerous? The cuddles are helping him loads tbh. He is very peaceful.

Our boys name is Cassius!

Oh he's gorgeous!
I slept with my puppy for 10 days... me on the sofa, her at my feet. We tried a crate and she just cried and I couldn't do it! It also made getting her out for a wee much easier as I heard her stir, took her out, and striahgt back to sleep! She was totally clean and dry by 10 weeks!

It did no harm, after 10 days she was sleeping through, so I went back to my bed and when she was 6 months old I stopped keeping her downstairs and she has slept on the floor in our room ever since! (Ok when dh gets up early she gets on the bed and I wake to a huge hairy beast on my pillow!)

He's a baby..used to cuddling to his Mum/siblings. You wouldn't leave a human baby to cry, so why is a puppy any different. Just snuggle him for as long as it takes :)

We cuddled our teeny tiny Dobermann puppy for the first few nights...several years later we are stuck sharing a bed with the fat oaf every night!

My mum cuddled our boxer like a baby when he was a pup. When he was fully grown he used to race up the stairs & get in bed before my mum & dad (under the quilt with his head on the pillow) I’m not sure he ever knew he was a dog…

Omg he is adorable!

My DD and her partner spent about three/four weeks sleeping downstairs with our puppy, until puppy was confident enough to go upstairs with them.

18 months later, it's really paid off. She's a super confident girl.
We've only had rescues before and I was surprised that this dog has no fear of,for example,feet.

All our rescues would visIbly wince if I put my feet on my stool when they are near. This one doesn't.

It makes me sad the the other three must have been kicked sometime in their lives before us.

While this one will only ever know kind hands, despite the fact that as a Jack Russell and
a noisy little sod,sometimes.

We had a great night tbh. Very needy and cuddly but he went to his water when needed and toileted with success on either puppy pad or outside. He did his morning wee on the frosty patio this to lots of loud praise- neighbours are no doubt a bit at my high pitched celebrations at 7am

Husband is off work from Xmas Eve so we might tag in on a more long-term nighttime plan.

Am definitely going to get him a basket/bed setup that is snuggled and chunky and I may pop in a hot water bottle too just to encourage him to the warmth.

Cassius is adorable! Don’t let my pup hear me say this, but I think bulldog puppies win the award for cutest pups ever.

@certainshepherdpups I think wrinkles on puppies are a feature which bring out the schmoofly love in everyone!

Oh don’t leave him alone to cry it out! He’s the same as a badly - he’s crying cause he feels unsafe so you need to make him feel safe! Either you downstairs with him or him upstairs with you in a crate on the side of the bed so you can comfort him when needed.

Now I want a puppy