Crate training at night

[Calla]

Hi all,

I'm new to the Labrador breed though I currently have 3 American Cocker Spaniels. I brought home my 8 week old black lab today....her name is Quinn :-). Anyways, I will be crate training her but I would like to know if it is best to leave a puppy in the crate all night (even with crying) or to take them out to potentially potty. I know it's difficult for them to hold though I don't want to start a precedent of taking her out every time she is fussy.

Thoughts or advice appreciated....

Janet, Riley, Maya, Sam & new puppy Quinn

[Laura]

Never second guess a puppy (or child) that tells you that she has to pee.

At her age, it is expected that she would need to eliminate frequently. If she cries in the night, take her out to potty, then unceremoniously put her back in her crate.

[smartrock]

At 8 weeks, she may have to still go out every 2-3 hours at night, sorry! I slept with my puppies in the bedroom next to my side of the bed. If he/she awoke and started fussing, I'd pick them up, take them outside, give them a few minutes to go to the potty, then take them back inside, right back into the crate- no snack, no playtime, shh shh shh, go back to sleep. And then do it again in a few hours. The first few nights/weeks will be interrupted sleep. If the puppy has just gone outside and actually gone to the potty and start fussing as soon as you put her back in the crate, you can shush her, but if an hour or 2 has passed, best to take her back outside again. I was fortunate that within 2-3 weeks, they could sleep through the night without a potty break, 6-8 hours, but some puppies take longer to make it through the night.

[sparky]

Hello and welcome.
Yep, expect 2-3 weeks of interrupted sleep. I will 2nd the-take Quinn straight out to potty and straight back to the kennel. No snacks, no play. Something our vet told us was to give 2-3 teaspoons of plain vanilla yogurt when you put her to bed in the kennel. This does a couple things, it keeps her from being hungry too soon, it will not effect her digestive system and it associates the kennel with a fun place. Our boy is 2 YO and still has his "mogurt" every night.

[Snowshoe]

I agree, I'll never heed that old rule to let them cry at night again. The first night Oban shreiked, I finally went down, he was soaked in pee. Poor little guy tried to tell us. He needed out twice a night for about month, then once a night.

I will never make the crate so small again either. Oban could not find a place to pee where he did not have to stand or lie in it. Poor wee guy. And that will happen again, I'd be late home or something.

We used to be told to let human babies cry and now the instruction is, if they cry they need something, go see what it is. I think puppies too.

[Calla]

Thanks all.... I have 3 other dogs besides Quinn but this is a question that I have had through my dog owning life. I usually play it by ear as all dogs are different though I always have taken them out to pee during the night. Just wanted to touch base with others experiences.

So, last night (first night home with me and in crate), Quinn slept 8 hours with an outside (unceremonious) pee around midnight and that was her only waking. And, she only cried a few minutes til she settled after being put in crate at bedtime and after pee.....granted, I sang her to sleep lol (crate is at bedside). I know every night is different but this was a good start :-).

Thanks again,
Janet

[smartrock]

Sounds like a great start!

[barry581]

If they cry at night in the crate, take them out. They have little badders, and if they wake and need to pee, let them

[Mudlark]

I'm old school and expect a lot from my adults regarding their behaviour, and certainly don't mollycoddle my pups, but never, never would I leave a puppy crying in a crate!
It's why I find pups so knackering - they don't get put into their crate until they are peed, poo'ed and tired out, then I tend to sit beside them until they fall asleep. It's a lot of hassle to begin with, but does result in dogs that love their crates all their life.