Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:44 pm Post subject: Where to put puppy to sleep?...(sorry me again!)
We're picking our puppy up next weekend and have got his crate set up in the open plan kitchen under a work surface. I'm on the look out for a good size cardboard box to make it more den-like for him to be cosey in. We also have two cats who also are locked in the kitchen every night and will keep the radio on for them.
I was planning to just put him to sleep in the crate every night and set the alarm twice a night to let him out for a wee with very little communication and lots of pacing (as per Di's posts) and just to let him cry. Not to be cruel, but I've done this with both my children and they seem to be ok now! hehe...not that he's child but I was just going to apply the same methods. However, I've been reading the forum and have noticed that some poeple have suggested putting puppy in his crate in our bedroom for the first few nights and then moving him onto the landing for a few nights, then the downstairs hallway then into the kitchen. I can see the theory behind this i.e. not too much separation anxiety, making him feel more secure, easier to get to to take out for a wee...
so now I'm confused as to which to do!! I'm very of the mind that I want to start the method I intend to use as it's not fair or me, pup or my family to be changing it all the time but can see benefits to both methods...help!?
xx
PS also another question was what treat to use for rewarding, my friend suggested I just use the puppy's normal food but I didn't know if that would work it whether it was worth getting something specifically "treat"-y...?
I'm afraid we stuck with one place for the crate right from the start. Personally I thought that it would send mixed messages to the puppy to keep moving it all the while. I mean how would you feel getting all settled in a place then being moved only to settle again and then hey ho it's moving day again?!!
We were very lucky that we didn't have any problems with Tilly crying - none at all she never cried once - (tough cookie!). We had her crate in the front room and it stayed there until we introduced a dog bed. Then once she started to go in her bed in preference to her crate (about 2 months ago aged 8 months) we took the crate away.
Regarding the treats we used a bit from her daily allowance and it worked fine - in Tilly's case as long as it was food she was happy!!
Personally, i have never put a puppy crate in my bedroom... I think it just mades the whole thing harder when a few months down the line they are removed from the bedroom and put to bed in a different room all alone... The poor things must be so confused as all of a sudden your no longer next to them at bedtime! So personally, i would stick with the crate in a different room and keep the pups sleeping arrangements as planned and put him/her in the crate at night in the other room. Like you planned - ignore the crying! It has to be expected the first few nights, or even first week or so, but the pup will learn that bedtime is just that, and no-ones gonna come play games at 3am!! lol
At such a young age, i'd stick to the treats being the pups 'normal puppy food' - unless its wet canned food your planning to feed. I just got a 2nd pup and as soon as i give her anything which isn't her 'normal' puppy feed she gets a terrible batch of the runs!!! It's horrible! Their tummys are so sensitive at that age, just like a babies.
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject: sleepless nights
Hiya
Just read your message, I would definetely leave the crate in the kitchen! We did with stella and she's a very happy dog. She'd cried the first night and it was awful but I left my jumper that I'd been wearing all day and she'd smelt next to her crate and she settled down after a while, she was fine after that. Moving the puppy about will just be confusing. We also used normal puppy food, which were biscuits for treats and they seemed to work, luckily labradors love food fullstop!!
I agree with the other posts so far .. stick with your plan to have the crate in the kitchen. I know some people try the other way but Rolo was in the dining room from day one and didn't mind at all .. you might be just as lucky and you will not know if you don't try it.
If this doesnt work out and your new baby finds it impossible to settle away from you - then you have an option if things get too tough.
Regarding treats .. I too used the normal dry kibble. I aslo used small pieces of carrot and apple when I wanted to be more 'treaty' ..to be honest she was just happy with any foodstuff as a treat - typical lab
If you are still unsure of a name there are several puppy name threads ongoing in the 'Off Topic'' forum if you need some ideas
Im sure you are very excited .. cant wait to see some photos of the little one.
Make sure you get some good sleep in before the pick up date!!
I got my lab to settle the first night, i took a towel with me and rubbed her mothers scent on it and she was happy with that as i wrapped a warm hot water bottle in it.
Now ofcourse she doesnt like the towel with her old mummies smell on she like to steal my knickers and bras pmpl
Really, I know some work well with the softer more gentle appriocah of putting the crate near you, but YOU don't sleep as the pup is shifting about and having a little moan now and then AND then you still have that big step of moving it somewhere.
Put a radio on, don't worry about a cardbnoard box round the carte, just throw a duvet cover over it - they have GREAT fun tugging it through the holes in the crate
Oh and really, if the pup goes down about 11ish then only one wee break should be enough at about 2.30/3am.... if they soil the crate then consider it was probably because they were leaping and moving about the first few nights as they get used to it, once they go in and crash, as they will, they don't soil. Its all that moving stirs it up
I do rather throw the pup in the deep end, but its such a huge transition from litter to home with humans that one more change makes little ill effect and as long as you are strong and don't go to the pup, two or three nights will be all it takes to get the pup to accept where he will probably be for 14 happy years
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
Rolo has always had his crate in the utility room and likes it in there.He is 21 months now and still knows he goes in there when I go out or to bed.When hubby gets up at 5 am he lets him upstairs to sleep with me but on weekends he is happy enough to stay there until someone comes down. our previous dog Billy was on our bed all night and we were determined not to let it happen again.
We did the "hard act" crate training for Pheebs - she didn't cry once thankfully She was downstairs in the living room and we were upstairs over the other side of the house so she couldn't hear us moving about above her.
I read somewhere once that being near them while they are in their crate causes more anxiety and is a little bit mean as they can smell you, hear you and yet they can't get to you......go see your neighbours with a nice bottle of Claret and take the pup round to introduce them.....once they see that cute, happy, smiling, waggy, sweet, little poooooppy, they won't be able to be cross with it for crying (if it does cry)
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