Episode #240 Helping Your New Puppy Sleep Through the Night

Sleepless nights with your new puppy? You’re not alone! In this episode, Amy shares a simple bedtime routine, tips for crate comfort, and how to handle whining so everyone can get a good night’s sleep—puppy included.

Chapters

• 0:00 Why Puppies Struggle With Sleep
• 2:01 Creating an Effective Bedtime Routine
• 2:58 Setting Up a Comfy Crate
• 4:28 Handling Nighttime Whining
• 5:33 Encouragement and Final Thoughts
• 6:25 Episode Closing and Resources

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

If you just brought home a new puppy recently, today we are talking about how to get that puppy to sleep through the night. I promise you're going to want to hear this one. Welcome to the Puppy Training Podcast. I'm Amy Jensen, founder of Baxter Bella, the online puppy school. Here we are all about helping you create the best possible experience raising a puppy, from training tips to practical tricks, all aimed at fostering a happy, well-behaved dog who truly feels like part of the family. So if you are ready to enjoy the journey and strengthen the bond with your dog, let's get started. Hey everyone, and welcome back to the Puppy Training Podcast. I'm Amy from Baxter Bella, the online puppy school, and today we are talking about something.

Speaker 1: 0:48

Every new puppy parent goes through sleepless nights. You know the drill You've brought home your adorable new puppy. You're so excited, but when the sun goes down and it's time for bed, they start to cry, maybe whine or bark a little bit, and suddenly you're not so sure this was the best idea. I promise this is so normal. Puppies aren't born knowing how to sleep through the night and with a little structure, patience and some comfort, we can help them learn that nighttime is a time to rest, not panic, let's get into it. So first of all, why puppies struggle with sleep? First things first, let's talk about why this happens. Puppies are babies. They have spent their whole lives, up to this point, snuggled up with their littermates and mom, likely in a warm pile of bodies. Then one day they're placed in a totally new environment that's your home, with new people, that's you, new smells, and suddenly they're expected to sleep all alone, comfortably. It's a big adjustment and, honestly, it's scary for them. Add to that their small bladders and the fact that they don't yet know what's expected of them at night and you've got a recipe for whining, crying and wake-ups every couple of hours. But don't worry, we can fix this with some structure and a little planning.

Speaker 1: 2:01

So next, creating a bedtime routine. Just like with with kids, puppies thrive on routine. A consistent bedtime routine helps signal to your puppy that it's time to wind down and relax, and the more predictable bedtime becomes, the more easily they'll settle. Here's what I recommend. Number one last potty break right before bed. Take your puppy outside for one final potty opportunity. Don't really play, just calmly go out potty come. Don't really play, just calmly go out potty, come back inside. Second quiet time, about 30 to 60 minutes before bed, start winding things down. Dim the lights, reduce excitement, stop roughhousing or tug games. You can replace that with a chew toy or snuggle time or gentle petting. Number three is bedtime cue. Use a consistent cue like time for bed when you guide them to their crate. Over time, that phrase will help them anticipate what's next. The key here is consistency. The same steps in the same order help your puppy feel secure.

Speaker 1: 2:58

Next up, setting up a comfy crate. We believe in crate training here at Baxter and Bella, so let's talk about crate setup. Because if your puppy's crate feels cold, lonely, bella, so let's talk about crate setup, because if your puppy's crate feels cold, lonely or scary, they're not going to want to sleep there. Here's how to make it a cozy, comforting space. First of all is location. Keep the crate in your bedroom for the first few nights, or even up to a week. Just being near you can help your puppy feel more secure. As for bedding, add a soft blanket or towel, but only if your puppy isn't chewing or ingesting it. You can also use a crate mat inside the crate if your dog wants a soft bed. If you notice them scratching and pushing it out of the way. They're probably too warm and they just want to sleep on the cool plastic floor. That's okay too.

Speaker 1: 3:37

Next up is a stuffed animal or a heartbeat toy. I love the company Snuggle Puppies. Those puppies have a little heart that goes inside that beats, and the heating pack a little Velcro pouch in the belly of that puppy that you can put a heating pack in and seal it off so your puppy can't access it, but that can provide some warmth and comfort. Just hearing that little heartbeat goes a long way those first few nights because, remember, they're used to sleeping next to their littermates and when they come to your house the littermates aren't there. I also like to add a little white noise. A quiet fan or a white noise machine can drown out sudden noises that might startle your puppy awake. I find that ocean sounds works really great.

Speaker 1: 4:15

And one more tip keep nighttime boring. If your puppy does wake up quietly, take them out to potty. No, play boring. If your puppy does wake up quietly, take them out to potty. No play, no talk, really. Then back to the crate for more bedtime.

Speaker 1: 4:26

All right, what do we do about whining? So that's kind of a big question, right? What do I do when my puppy cries in the crate at night. Now here's where it gets a little tricky, because sometimes they do need to go potty and other times they're just protesting being alone. So how do you tell the difference? If it's been more than two to three hours and they're under 12 weeks, it's probably a potty need. Quietly take them out, then put them right back in.

Speaker 1: 4:49

If they just went potty and start whining once back in the crate, it's likely attention seeking. In this case you can do your best to simply ignore it. Do keep that crate close to you. You can put your hand on it or near that front panel so that they can lick your hand and get some comfort from you. But we don't really want to talk to them or do much more than that. This part is kind of hard, but giving in to whining teaches them that crying equals attention or release. That's the opposite of what we want them to learn.

Speaker 1: 5:13

If you're consistent and calm, most puppies adjust within a few nights. I keep their crate close to my bed for the first two or three nights. Then I transition them to maybe the foot of my bed, then maybe my master closet or master bathroom, and then they can be out of my room once they're sleeping through the night on their own comfortably and they feel safe in their new space. If your puppy isn't sleeping through the night yet, please know this you are not alone. It's a phase and it doesn't last forever. By around 16 weeks, most puppies can go six to eight hours without needing to potty. Until then you may be up once or twice a night, and that's normal and okay.

Speaker 1: 5:48

If you're feeling discouraged, hang in there. Your effort now pays off big time down the road. A puppy who learns to settle at night grows into a dog who sleeps peacefully in your home. And, of course, if you ever need step-by-step support, you know where to find us inside the Baxter and Bella online puppy school Simply go to Ask the Trainer. All right, you guys.

Speaker 1: 6:05

That's it for today. I hope this episode gives you a game plan and some peace of mind for helping your puppy sleep better at night. If you love this episode, please leave a review or share it with a friend who's struggling with the nighttime crazies. And don't forget to check out our online puppy school. We've got tools, videos, live classes, community support to help you every step of the way. Have a great weekend, happy training. Thanks for tuning in to the Puppy Training Podcast. I hope today's tips help you feel more confident and excited about raising your dog. Remember, with a little patience and consistency, you can create a loving bond and a well-behaved pup who's a joy to have in your family. Create a loving bond and a well-behaved pup who's a joy to have in your family. If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe, leave a review and share it with fellow puppy parents. For more resources, visit Baxter and Bella online. Until next time, happy training.