New Puppy Help for Nights

Bringing a new puppy home is a life-altering experience for many families that is often compared to having a newborn in the home. A puppy requires lots of work, attention and patience --- but it's all worth it for that cuddly ball of fur. Several tips can help new puppy owners with their first few nights at home.

  1. Limit Evening Feeding

    • The first thing to be sure of before you put your new puppy to bed is that it no longer has any food in its system, otherwise you will be up all night taking it to the bathroom. Allow the puppy to have its evening meal about 6 p.m., then remove all food and water from reach. Take the puppy outside for the last time just before putting it in its bed for the night.

    Use a Crate

    • It is important when house training a new puppy, and helping it feel secure in its new home, to have it use a dog crate as a bed. Make this bed a comfortable place for it, including blankets and toys, and possibly an item of your clothing so it feels close to you. Do not use the crate as a punishment, or the dog will feel it has done something bad when it gets put in its crate. Crates can help a puppy feel secure and comfortable, even though it may miss its litter mates desperately. Consider keeping the crate in your bedroom to subdue the whining throughout the night.

    Prevent Crying

    • A new puppy can often feel vulnerable, scared and lonely in its new home --- especially in the dark of night. If the puppy is whining in the bedroom, consider placing your fingers inside the crate to soothe it. If the crying persists, drape a sheet over the cage so it feels more secure and comfortable. Take note, however, that a puppy can cry because it needs to go to the bathroom. A young puppy may need to go out once or twice a night for the first few weeks.

    Carry to the Door

    • If your new puppy does need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, be sure to carry it to the area where you want it to use the bathroom, be it a backyard or a puppy pad. Do not let the new puppy walk, as it will not be able to hold its bladder and will relieve itself on your carpet or flooring. Also, by carrying the puppy to exactly where you want it to go, it will begin to learn the proper place to use the bathroom.