Help! I’m trapped

[Wineandrun]

By my 11 week old cocker 😭 my two year old woke up at 4, woke up puppy and now I’m trapped on an armchair with my fingers in his crate desperate for sleep. Meanwhile two year old is happily starfishes in my bed. Can’t leave pup to cry as he will wake-up all the children! If I move a muscle he gets anxious. I want my bed!! I’ve taken my slippers off ready to creep out but to get to the door I have to go past his crate, or open a creaky door. Which option do I choose?!

I thought he’d settled. Got up, my old bones all cracked and he woke up again.

Honestly, this is why our puppy slept in his crate next to our bed. Because when he inevitably woke up in the night, it was so much more comfortable to be lying in our own bed than it was trying to sleep on a chair or the floor or the sofa.

I know it's not for everyone but it's worth considering if you're struggling - it doesn't need to be permanent but it makes those early weeks a lot easier.

Put him next to the bed and get some sleep

Yeah.. move his crate next to your bed tonight. And in a position where if he wakes up he'll definitely see you (ie don't stick it at the end near your feet - same issue)

Ps you will not be making a rod for your own back. A reassured pup that has built up confidence by doing things at their own pace and realising they can do it is a confident pup that is far more likely to be able to do things alone as an adult than a puppy who was made to do things before they were ready. This also includes being left alone in the house.

Not saying that's you at all but just getting it in there before the rest of the internet.

put the crate .in the room beside you do you cover the crate ? puppies are an extra"child" you comfort them the same during the night ike the 2 year old or you as you saw got no sleep.

Did you spend time getting him happy and settled in his crate from day one?

I have slept close to the crate initially, until they were happy in it. This has never taken me more than a few days.

I also wouldn't sit at the crate.but talk to the dog from a seat or the bed.

Wrap a hot water bottle in a towel and give to him. He will lay alongside it and feel the warmth as if still with his “mother” .

I'd just put him on the bed with me.

This. He's only 11 weeks old. Only 3 weeks at most, he will have left his litter mates and the warmth of being snuggled up in a litter with mum. Hot water bottle (not hot but warm enough) will be a great comfort to the pup. Did you get a blanket from the breeder with the litter smell on it? If not use a jumper you have worn and wrap it around the water bottle. Do not give the pup attention every single time it whimpers, or you will condition it to whimper. This will make a rod for your own back. Children wake up, but generally fall back to sleep quickly if left alone. But that depends on their ages.

Good luck... it will get easier, very quickly if you're consistent.

Move the crate next to your bed or use a warm hot water bottle wrapped in a towel and a radio on low. I second the advice not to respond to every whimper but equally you need to reassure. Find what works for you, good luck.

thanks everyone, he was sleeping really well and we’ve gone a bit backwards. I don’t mind at all, I know it’s to be expected, but 4am is a lonely old time to be awake, as pups was telling me 🤣 he was better last night, woofed at 4 and went straight outside for a poo, I sat next to him again for 20 mins and back to sleep. And no toddler in my bed when I got back!

im absolutely not moving the crate next to my bed, our dogs have never been allowed upstairs or on furniture and it won’t change with this little guy! All the cuddles are at ground level 😊

So you need to stay with him at ground level until he’s comfortable being left.