Sleeping Arrangements
Where should our puppy sleep?
Remember, this is the first time your puppy has been away from their brothers and sisters, familiar smells and sounds, so they are likely to be unsettled and a little scared.
There may be little sleep for humans and your new puppy for the first week, as they settle into their new home and sleeping arrangements. Be patient, and consistent with your approach and they will settle in (& you’ll get some sleep!)
There are many different views on getting puppies settled into a new sleep pattern, especially in the first few nights.
Bedding
A crate is great for a number of reasons - puppies don’t like going to the toilet in their bed so the confines of a crate teaches your puppy to hold on, which increases your chances of being able to sleep through the night. Crates are also a great safe place for a puppy to escape to when they need quiet time.
If you want the puppy near you, put the crate in your room (this is my recommendation after many years of trying different things). Puppy should settle a little quicker as they can see and smell you and hear your reassurances. Placing a toy that they’re familiar with, or a blanket or shirt with your scent on it will help give them some reassurance that they’re not all alone.
If you do not have a crate, then you’re best to confine puppy to a safe enclosed area, for example a bathroom or laundry. Remove anything that can be chewed or soiled and put down newspaper, or puppy wee pads for their toilet.
If the puppy is to sleep outside, make sure it is in an undercover area where there are no draughts, on a raised bed with plenty of blankets. (I do not recommend puppies start outside for sleeping. It will be foreign and stressful for them to start this way in a new home.
What should we do before bed?
Routine is key, consistency and repetition will help puppy to settle in more quickly.
Before bedtime, have a gentle play session, but don’t over stimulate them, as you want them to sleep.
Take your puppy to the toilet immediately before going to bed - this is a great routine to establish from day one.
It is likely puppy will cry - you need to be prepared for this, as it may happen for a few nights till they settle in.
OK, what’s the magic trick to getting them to sleep through the night?
It is natural for the puppy to cry and be overwhelmed the first few nights. It is not unusual for a puppy to cry for 20 minutes or more!
You must be strong. If you know they have gone to the toilet and they are not hungry then it is better to ignore them and they will eventually give up and settle. If they are in a crate alongside your bed, talking to them and putting your fingers through the mesh, so they can scent you, will help to calm the puppy.
Your puppy may wake frequently and remind you that they are there! You will soon learn the difference from a whinge because I want a cuddle and a whinge because I’m busting to go to the toilet.
Never wake a sleeping puppy to go out to the toilet during the night.
This is where YOUR learning curve kicks in. Labradoodles are highly intelligent dogs and if you cave in, it won’t take them long to work out that by crying or barking during the night, you’ll come running. This will become a difficult habit to break later, if you’re not consistent with your approach from the start…no matter how cute they are!
Initially, give the puppy the benefit of the doubt and take them out to go to the toilet. If they toilet, be sure to praise them, and return them to their bed(crate). If they cry again, shush them gently - they’ll soon get the hint.
As your puppy matures, their bladder will get stronger and they won’t wake as often in the night and gradually will sleep right through the night, and will only alert you if they are desperate.
As soon as you wake in the morning, take your puppy to the toilet straight away.
Putting in the effort from the start, and being consistent and repetitive with your approach will mean puppy settles into routine faster, and you’ll get your sleep back.
Resources
Crate Training your Puppy (petcircle.com.au)
Why & How should I Crate Train my Dog (RSPCA)
Choosing a Pet Bed (petcircle.com.au)
