How to Calm Your New Puppy at Night

You have a new puppy and everyone is excited and anxious, but remember, your puppy is leaving his mother, brothers and sisters and home. Be sensitive to that. Bring your puppy into a quiet environment. Remind children to treat him gently, like the baby he is. And like any baby, he is going to require around the clock attention. He will cry and whine and "misbehave." Being patient and kind during these first months will go a long way to determining what kind of grown dog he will become.

Things You'll Need

  • Flannel or fleece blanket
  • Wind-up alarm clock
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Instructions

    • 1

      Create a welcoming environment for your puppy at bedtime. His bed area, whether it's a crate or a corner, should have a warm blanket to snuggle against and a traditional wind-up alarm clock wrapped in a piece of flannel for your puppy to hear at night. The clock serves as a surrogate heartbeat for him and should make him feel more comfortable.

    • 2

      Play soothing music. Choose something soft and melodic to calm your pup at night. He's adjusting to his new environment and music often helps both people and animals make the transition.

    • 3

      Go to him. Just like a new baby needs a few diaper changes throughout the night, so does your puppy̵2;except you will have to take him outside. Even though a puppy who is not yet house trained will pee all over the house during the day, it is against his nature to go where he sleeps, so he will whine to get out. This is a good thing. Go to him, take him out (even if he doesn't have to go), and then put him gently back to bed.

    • 4

      Reassure him. Puppies don't have as long a sleep cycle as a grown dog. They will wake up during the night, especially during the first few weeks they are home. If you can, keep him in your room at night and go to him when he cries. If you know he doesn't have to go out, just give him a quick pat and tell him everything is alright. Sometimes using a "shhhhh...." noise will help, as the white noise mimics sounds of snuggling against his mother.

    • 5

      Be patient. You may not get a lot of unbroken sleep for the first few weeks. It may seem like a few months or years, but your puppy will sleep through the night eventually and being consistent in reassurance will go a long way toward making sure that your pup grows into a dog that trusts you and is bonded to you.