You should not let your puppy cry it out; there are a few things worth knowing here:
If you have a new puppy who is crying every night, you should not simply ignore them and let them cry it out.
In many cases, your puppy is communicating a need that you should address. There are some situations in which they are just looking for attention, but you should not assume this.
Getting a new puppy can be very exciting. However, unfortunately, it isn’t all fun and games. One part of having a new puppy that can be very disturbing to new owners is the fact that they sometimes cry at night, so that you can’t sleep.
If you have a puppy who is crying all night, you might wonder what to do. You might wonder if it is better to let your puppy cry it out or to intervene and give them some comfort.
You Should Not Let Your Puppy Cry at Night
There are different beliefs about whether or not you should let your dog continue to cry at night. However, the general consensus among dog experts is that you should not. If you leave your puppy to continue crying every night, this is likely to make their anxiety worse and could lead to other behavior problems down the road.
Your puppy could be crying to try to fulfill a basic need. If you simply ignore your puppy in this situation, this can create problems with training later on.
Some people may find that if they let their puppy cry it out, the puppy will eventually stop. This is sometimes true, but this is not necessarily going to be in your puppy’s best interest. It is good for them to know that you are close by and there for them.
What to Do When Your Puppy Cries at Night
Generally, if your puppy cries at night, the best thing to do is respond to their needs. For example, they might need to go to the bathroom. If this is the case, you should just take them outside for their potty break and then back to bed again without doing anything else.
Sometimes, your puppy could be crying because they are feeling anxious. If this is true, you might just need to gently reassure your puppy that you are around and there for them.
In some cases, your puppy is just going to whine for attention. Over time, you will learn what each of the different cries signifies, and then you’ll figure out when you should respond and when it’s best to ignore your puppy.
Human babies cry a lot at the beginning as well. Just like babies, puppies eventually learn how to sleep through the night. Generally, adult dogs do not cry for attention unless there is something wrong. However, a puppy can take quite some time to settle into a regular sleep pattern. When you are dealing with this, the best thing to do is just be patient with your puppy.
You Can Train Your Puppy to Be Quiet at Night
Sometimes, when you first get a puppy, it will be helpful to let them sleep with you in your bedroom. You can simply start off with the puppy sleeping in your bedroom. As they start to become settled and feel less anxious in your home, you can gradually move them further and further away, until they are in the place where you want them to sleep at night permanently.
Alternatively, if you do not want to have your puppy in the bedroom, you can actually set up a sleeping place for yourself in the room where you want your puppy to sleep. This will only be temporary, until your puppy is comfortable and settled.
Puppies Cry to Communicate with You
You might wonder why puppies cry. Just like babies, they learn this form of communication very early on. They know that this is a way that they can get attention from you when they need something.
Dogs are social animals. They are accustomed to having company. During the first year of your puppy’s life, they really aren’t going to want to be left alone for long periods of time. Some puppies will even start crying when you leave the room for a few minutes.
This means that if you are leaving your puppy alone at night, they might feel vulnerable and scared. They will generally cry because they feel like they need comfort and company.
Sometimes, they will also cry because they want to do their business. You do need to make sure that you are very consistent with your new puppy’s toilet training routine at all times, including at night.
Puppies Cry in Crates Because They Are Not Used to Them
Many people crate train their dogs when they first bring them home. However, you should keep in mind that if your puppy is crying or whining in their crate, this is actually normal behavior. This may be happening because they are not accustomed to being confined in this way.
Additionally, they have recently been separated from their mother and littermates, and they might be lonely and confused. Dogs, particularly puppies, are social animals. They just want to be with their pack. This is why they cry. They want to get your attention when they are feeling alone.
How to Stop a Puppy from Crying in Their Crate
There are a few things you can do to stop your puppy from crying at night. You may not be able to stop this behavior entirely, but you can minimize it and make it so that they are more comfortable in their crate.
Make Sure the Crate Is the Right Size
It is important that your puppy has enough space in their crate, so that they can stay comfortable.
It should be big enough so that they can stand up, move around, and play with their toys. In some cases, it might be a good idea to get a divider, so that you can adjust the size that your puppy has to walk around in as they grow up.
Make Your Puppy Comfortable in the Crate
If your puppy feels familiar and comfortable with the crate, this will be one way to minimize crying and anxiety. You should be patient and take your time to allow your puppy to acclimate.
It will be counterproductive in this experience to use your puppy’s crate as a punishment for them. You should make the crate a happy and comfortable place for your puppy, with cozy bedding, chew toys, and treats. Also, when your puppy is being calm and quiet in his crate, use dog treats to reward them.
A lot of the time, once a puppy or dog is used to the crate, they will go into the crate on their own. It’s a good idea to leave the crate door open whenever the puppy is not actually in there, so that they can feel free to walk in anytime they want. The hope is for the crate to become a safe haven for the puppy.
Give Your Puppy Lots of Potty Breaks
Usually, when a puppy wants to do their business, they cannot hold it as long as an adult dog can. You need to make sure that a young puppy has plenty of opportunities to go to the bathroom, both during the day and at night.
If your puppy has already gone to the bathroom, it is much less likely that they will be crying and whining at night, at least for this reason.
Put Your Puppy’s Crate in the Right Place
Sometimes, the location of your puppy’s crate could be a factor in whether or not he cries at night. It’s best, at least at the very beginning, not to put the crate too far away from you.
You should put the crate close to where you are sleeping, or at least in an area where the family spends quite a bit of time.
If the crate is close to you, you will be able to hear the noises your puppy makes when they want to go outside. It will also help them feel less anxious, especially as they are still getting used to their new home with you.
Give Your Puppy Lots of Exercise
Playtime can be very important in minimizing your puppy’s nighttime crying. If your puppy is getting enough attention and exercise outside of the crate, it is more likely that they will be too tired to cry once they are in the crate.
It might even be a good idea to add dog treat toys or other types of interactive toys into your puppy’s crate, in order to help keep them busy while they are in there.
It’s Your Puppy’s Party, and He Can Cry If He Wants To!
It can be incredibly frustrating when you are dealing with a crying puppy at night. It interrupts your sleep, and sometimes you may not know exactly why your puppy is crying and may not know how to stop it.
The good news is that this is a temporary situation. Once your puppy has gotten used to the new environment, they are not going to be crying every night like this.
Some people may think that this means that it is okay to ignore a crying puppy, but this is not the case. You do need to make sure you are meeting and addressing the needs of your puppy as they come up.
Once your puppy has fully acclimated to your home, both they and you are going to be much happier. You just need to make sure that you take care of them in the meantime, so that they can continue to grow up well-adjusted and be a happy and healthy new member of your family!
