Do I leave my 7 week puppy in the crate or leave the door open and put the crate in pen?
Hi everyone… I just got a cute 7 week puppy. I was reading Dr. Ian Dunbar’s book BEFORE AND AFTER GETTING YOUR PUPPY and it says to crate train the pup during the day (short term confinment) and during the night put the pup in a pen with her crate which is left open (long term confinement). This way the pup can make mistakes (poo/pee) outside of its den/crate. I’ve also read a lot of things about keeping the pup in its crate and putting it next to your bed at night and taking the pup out every 2-4 hours to relieve itself. My puppy whines and howles so much and for a LONG time at night. I think cuz she knows she’s alone but I’m afraid she will do that all night if she is by my bed. (I wear earplugs to get some sleep) But, I also wake up a few times to take her out anyway, even though she has puppy pads in the pen. Can anyone please help me with the best method of doing this? I want the best for my puppy but I don’t want her to always get her way when she whines. HELP.
The way I did it was crate at night and ANY TIME that I am not able to give close supervision (like shower or if I have to cook, eat dinner etc), and just really watch them as close as you can when they aren’t crated. I think you’re having a problem with the crying because your pup is so young. 7 weeks is really about a week too young for the pup to be away from her mom so she is going to be a little sad and lonely BUT – what is done is done. Don’t give in and bring her into your bed or you’ve taught her that whining will get her what she wants. I know it’s hard to ignore it but that’s what is really best for her and that’s what you have to do.
I suggest getting her a stuffed animal or wrapping a ticking clock in a blanket. At PetSmart I actually saw a stuffed animal that ticks like a clock made just for puppies to snuggle with. I’ve heard these work wonders and I bet it would be a great comfort to your little pup. Don’t forget to get up every few hours to take her out and give treats OUTSIDE right after she goes.
It was hard with our dog too for awhile. At first we let him sleep on our bed – then he seemed to want to sleep under it. But after too much chewing went on at night and a few accidents I realized I really had to be crating him at night – and he’s been crated at night ever since. He doesn’t like to be left alone in his crate at night (the crate is in our bedroom), but if we are in there too he doesn’t whine or anything now. I’d say he was probably 4 months old before he was really ok with being crated at night – so it will take some patience.
Good luck!
Ian Dunbar puppy training