Trying to get my puppy to sleep

[cheeseyorkie]

We have only had our puppy a few days and he has been crying and yapping at night. We started by getting up and playin with him everytime he made noise but now we have been told we should leave him alone all night. We tried this last night, left the radio on for him but he spent half the night yapping. Is it right that we should leave him so he gets used to being alone all night? and are there any tips to help him sleep alone?

[Akbritt]

Sounds like he is already spoiled....just in that small amount of time he has got you trained to come to him every time he cries...LOL its ok...its really hard to I know....the best way to get your new puppy used to sleeping through the night is NOT to come to him when he cries....as you see he expects that from you now...and he will continue to cry at night...there are a few things you could do...one is to put a stuffed animal in his bed at night...because it reminds them of their litter mates...ive even heard put a clock in his bed that ticks...but what ive always done is...put the puppy in his crate...if he has one...and put it by your side of the bed... when he cries ...stick your fingers in side his crate so he knows you are near by...but your not getting him out and rewarding him with play....of course you will have a few sleepless nights ahead...but thats what happens with all puppies....he will soon get used to it...and you will be able to sleep through the night once again

Good Luck

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Good luck, eventually he will settle down and not cry or yap. It will take a few sleepless nights but it will happen. Are you covering his crate with a blanket? We did the radio and a clock. Also try putting something with your scent on it-a tshirt, pillow case or blankie.

Hubby wanted to keep Hot Rod in his crate in the family room so I was a wreck. I got a baby monitor so I could keep an ear out for what was going on. It helped with potty training.

Good luck.

[cheeseyorkie]

Thanks ever so much for your help and the tips. Good to know hopefully he'l get there eventually just wish we had been a bit more firm from the start and ot ran to him every time he made a noise! just so hard to say because he's so cute! lol

[KCKD]

Just picked up a wonderful new puppy from South East Texas Yorkies-- (Friday). Kirista gave us a blanket that had the puppy's (and her litter mates) small on it, to help ease the transition to our house. We put her in a puppy playpen (with a small box containing the blanket), and she cried 3 times during the night. First a whine, then a howl, progressing to a very 'ticked off' bark/growl. We pretended to ignore her-- of course, no sleep for us. Each time she fussed about 5 - 10 mins, then went back to sleep. Night 2 was the same, but the duration was shorter. Night three brought a few whimpers, but no barking. Last night she slept until 5 am, then woke all of us up-- We picked her up and praised her--

Good luck with the puppy -- by the way, I'm sure that our puppy will soon answer to 'No No'!

[Bhikku]

We have only had our puppy a few days and he has been crying and yapping at night. We started by getting up and playin with him everytime he made noise but now we have been told we should leave him alone all night.

Yeah, that first bit of positive reinforcement for yapping will make it harder to stop it now...

I agree with what everyone else has said so far, I just want to add that in the "new puppy" section of Petsmart, there is a stuffed puppy that has a microwavable heater in it (sack of buckwheat) that acts as a warmer and surrogate littermate to calm the pup down to sleep at night. That's what I use for my 8 week old.

Also, if you can keep the puppy's crate in your bedroom where they can see/hear/smell you, it will be much more peaceful.

Good luck!