Crate training a puppy at night can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. It is crucial to teach them how to sleep in a crate during nighttime, as it helps simplify your life and prevents any mischief when you go to sleep.
The process begins by selecting a crate. Ensure that the chosen dog crate is spacious enough so that the dog can effortlessly fit inside, move around, and comfortably lie down.
Place the perfect match in a central location within your home, preferably near where you sleep at night, ensuring that your pup can always see you while you’re awake.
Now, let’s explore the details of crate training during the initial nights.
How to Crate Train a Puppy at Night
To make things easier, simply follow these steps:
Familiarize Your Dog With the Crate
If your puppy doesn’t feel at ease in their crate, how can you expect them to desire sleeping or eating in it? The crate should be seen as an extension of their home.
To ensure a gradual and consistently positive experience, position their crate in a centralized location within the home and keep the crate door open.
A collapsible dog crate that can be easily folded up will assist you in moving it around the house. Encourage your puppy to investigate by placing treats and toys inside, and avoid compelling them to enter.
By allowing your puppy to enter the crate freely, they will associate it with positive experiences and therefore not feel excluded or punished when you attempt to put them in the crate at night.
Serve Your Dog Meals Inside the Crate
Begin the process of nighttime crate training during the day by utilizing mealtime as a chance to establish positive connections with the crate. By serving your puppy’s meals inside the crate, they will associate something they enjoy (eating) with their crate.
If you have a puppy playpen or an indoor dog kennel available, you can begin by considering those options and gradually progress to using the crate.
If your puppy is fearful of their crate, start by placing the food bowl in close proximity to it. Gradually progress by moving the bowl nearer and nearer to the crate until it reaches a point where it is placed inside.
If the process is going smoothly, briefly close the door while your pup is inside eating to help them become accustomed to being temporarily confined without feeling lonely.
Increase Crate Time Gradually
When crate training your puppy at night, it is important to progressively extend the duration of time that your puppy stays in the crate. Instead of employing force, the approach should be based on motivation.
Ensure that every step you take to get your puppy into the crate is positive. Commence by closing the crate door for brief periods in your presence, gradually lengthening the time. Provide treats and toys to keep your puppy engaged and ensure a positive experience.
We advise starting with a duration of 30 seconds to one minute during the initial nights, and gradually increasing it to five minutes if the progress is positive.
Make sure to keep the crate in a location that is at the center of your home so that you are always in sight. If you are cooking, washing dishes, or doing laundry, this is an ideal time for your puppy to take a nap and unwind while still being able to see you. If feasible, incorporate this into your puppy’s sleep routine.
Use the Crate When You’re Away
All the steps you have taken up until now have brought you to this moment. If you have been patient and made your puppy feel comfortable and secure in their crate, it will ultimately assist in dealing with separation anxiety as your puppy will feel more at ease in their crate when you are away.
Ensure that their crate is filled with things they love, such as comfortable bedding. Begin the process by testing their tolerance level, by getting them inside the crate and then leaving them outside for one minute. Gradually extend the time to two minutes, three minutes, and onwards.
Begin by gradually training them to enter the crate, starting with shorter periods when you have minor tasks to complete. Prioritize spending ample time with them and ensuring they have been fed before implementing this step.
By being consistent and using positive reinforcement, your puppy will develop a sense of security when it comes to the crate.
Provide Nighttime Safety by Crating Your Dog
The main aim is to train your puppy to sleep in a crate at night, allowing you to have a restful sleep without concerns about misbehavior and possible hazards.
Nighttime crate training assists in establishing a sleep routine, leading them to correlate the crate with feelings of relaxation and comfort.
Begin by completing the nighttime potty breaks first, ensure they are given food, and have them enter their crate just as you would on any other day.
It is important to acknowledge that this process may not be flawless. If your puppy cries or whines, that is acceptable. Stay calm and choose comforting words to help ease their distress. By exercising patience and providing plenty of positive reinforcement, the process will eventually yield results.
Always Establish a Routine for Crate Training Your Puppy
To ensure consistency, it is important to consistently follow the same bedtime routine. If you intend to have your puppy sleep in their crate throughout the night, it is crucial to maintain the exact same steps for a few weeks. This also applies to potty training.
By following a sequence of steps, starting with a nighttime bathroom break and possibly a reward, then changing into pajamas and dimming the lights, eventually accompanied by the puppy’s crate, they will understand the routine. Perhaps you may even observe signs of reluctance or displeasure when engaging in these activities as they comprehend that it signifies crate time.
When crate training at night, you may need to approach things differently than you usually would. It’s important to remember that this adjustment is temporary, and in a few weeks, your puppy’s sleeping patterns will get better, making crate training less burdensome.
Why Do Puppies Bark in the Crate at Night
As you lie in your bed, you may find your puppy looking directly at you and barking, leaving you curious about the thoughts running through their mind.
Below are a few reasons and possible solutions for a puppy that barks during the night.
Anxious Barking
The crate is still new to your barking puppy, and whether it’s their first full night in it or their tenth, it doesn’t make much of a difference to them. They don’t like it, and it makes them nervous, but you know in your heart that you’re making the right decision for their well-being. Keep in mind that there could be a handful of reasons you didn’t think about why they’re feeling nervous in the crate. Maybe they don’t like the dark, or perhaps there is something in the room that is bothering them. Try your best to create a soothing environment by playing soft music or leaving a TV on low volume while you sleep. Just remember how these things can create permanent habits, so don’t do anything you wouldn’t be willing to do every single night.
Vocal Demanding
When your puppy whines, it is important to remember that they are often seeking attention. It is important to neither completely ignore them nor give in to their demands. It is crucial to establish your dominance and not reinforce undesirable behavior, as it will hinder your crate training progress.
Instead of immediately giving in, delay until they cease whining or barking. Only when they stop, allow them to be let out briefly. This helps them learn that you won’t acknowledge their barking instantly but will provide attention at the appropriate time.
Bathroom Break
In order to successfully potty train, it is important to differentiate between genuine potty breaks and attempts to seek attention. Although it may be challenging, relying on established routines can assist in avoiding unexpected potty breaks.
Young puppies, who have limited bladder control, may require relief during the night. To establish a regular potty routine, take them outside before going to bed, ideally at a designated time for a nighttime bathroom break. In order to prevent stimulating play, make sure the outing remains calm and quiet.
When your puppy grows older, this problem will naturally resolve itself as they develop better bladder control and a desire for undisturbed sleep, much like you.
Puppy’s Mealtime and Water Schedule Impact Their Nighttime Potty Break
However, it is possible that you are responsible for causing these late-night trips to the bathroom. To prevent this, monitor your puppy’s consumption of food and water towards the end of the night. Avoid giving them a big meal before bedtime and allow a few hours for digestion before their last bathroom break of the night. Additionally, managing water intake is crucial for regulating potty breaks. Offer water freely throughout the day but limit access leading up to their final bathroom break.
7 Reasons Why Your Puppy Is Still Not Sleeping Through The Night
If you and your dog are experiencing nights without sleep after three to four months of age, it is possible that there is an underlying issue. The following are some common reasons to consider investigating:
- They’re Teething: Puppies that are teething may be uncomfortable because of their teeth. If your new pup is teething, offer some soft toys or treats to chew on. Ice cubes or frozen treats are another popular option to help soothe sore gums. Be patient and know that this stage will pass!
- They’re Uncomfortable: Just like you prefer a cozy bed, your dog would like to be as comfortable as possible while sleeping. Place their favorite toys in the crate along with clean, soft bedding they like. If you notice they struggle to settle down and are constantly fidgeting or scratching, check if they or their bedding has fleas or another biting insect. Even if you don’t find any bugs, wash their crate and bedding in hot, soapy water, just to be sure there aren’t any unwanted guests.
- They’re Too Tired: Another possibility, particularly with very young puppies, is that your puppy is overtired. You know how tired toddlers get cranky and throw a tantrum, then fall fast asleep? Your puppy can do that, too. This will typically happen after a very big day where a lot of new or exciting things happened. Be patient until they settle down.
- They Don’t Like Their Crate: Your puppy will need time to acclimate to their crate. Crate training helps them adapt to spending time and sleeping in this space, so take your time to train your pup. As a bonus, crating at night is an excellent way to speed up house training because your puppy will naturally avoid soiling their space, and it prevents messes or damage throughout your house. Crating is also a valuable life skill that your dog will probably need at some point in their life.
- Separation Anxiety: Some puppies get anxious when they’re separated from their parent. You can address this by having them sleep next to your bed until they’re older. Once they are comfortable sleeping in their crate right next to your bed, you can gradually move the crate farther away if desired. Your puppy may enjoy having an old shirt or something else with your pheromones on it to sleep with.
- They Have a Medical Issue: If you notice that your puppy is showing any signs of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, decreased appetite or energy, or acting uncomfortable or not like themselves, they should be examined by your veterinarian. Even if there are no outward signs but you’re pup isn’t able to sleep through the night, it’s still a good idea to bring your puppy to the vet to make sure there aren’t any underlying issues.
What To Expect On Your Puppy’s First Night Home
Similar to humans, dogs are generally more active during the day and have a natural inclination to rest during the night. Despite taking occasional daytime naps, they typically experience a deep, prolonged sleep once the night arrives.
By the time you bring your puppy home, this process will probably feel natural to them. Nevertheless, like other young animals, they might feel anxious in a new sleeping environment and struggle to control their small bladders.
When you bring your puppy home, the first night is likely to be either one of two ways.
- They will be totally exhausted from the excitement of the day, and fall asleep in their sleeping area or kennel.
- They will have trouble settling in. After all, moving to a new home with strangers for the first time can be a stressful event for any dog, including young and old puppies. This is true even if all introductions go smoothly and you’ve made their new environment as comfy as possible.
If your puppy is younger, it is less probable that they will be able to sleep continuously throughout their first night. Dogs avoid soiling their sleeping area, so if your puppy needs to relieve themselves at night, they may cry, whine, or bark. Older puppies can hold their urine for longer periods (more details on this are provided below).
If you notice your puppy crying, it is advisable to take them outside briefly for a walk and bathroom break. Afterwards, you can bring them back inside and return them to their kennel.
