New Puppy Owner - Need Help!

[Bella]

Hi all - we got our black lab, Bella, last Saturday. She is a sweet and gentle puppy and at just over 8 weeks, she's already learned quite a few commands. My biggest challenge is that she has not slept in her crate this week. She goes in and out, will play in there with her toys and eat her treats but I have not had the heart to lock her in there at night. She's currently sleeping on her bed which is beside her crate and i am sleeping on the couch to watch her. At night when I take her out to pee, she comes back in and will curl up beside me on the floor and sleep. I am also waking up every two to three hours to make sure she gets outside and to make sure she hasn't gotten into something that she shouldn't. I have clearly made a mistake by not making her sleep in her crate. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to do that? DO i just put her in there tonight and latch the crate? If she falls asleep on her bed or on the floor, can i pick her up and put her in the crate? Please help! all suggestions welcome !! P.S. I have never had a dog before...

[Maxx&Emma]

First of all, hi and welcome!

Try moving the crate to your bedroom and putting her in there tonight, with a high value treat, at bedtime. You may have a couple of rough nights but it will be worth it, you just have to convince yourself she will be just fine. If she stirs in the middle of the night, take her out to potty, bring her right back in and back in to crate. All no nonsense, no playing, interaction, etc.

[MikeLynn]

Have never crated any of my dogs (didn't need to), so I can't give you any tips or advice; but Hi, Welcome, and good luck.

[Jollymolly]

Hi and welcome

[Piper'sMom]

Hi and welcome The first couple of nights will probably be a little rough but if you just put her to bed with a little treat ( I always tried to wear Piper out a little before bed) and take her potty when she whines it will get better quick. Agree,though, with the no playing during potty times at night. Straight to potty, straight back to bed. Good luck!

[OHfemail]

Hi and welcome! I'd try placing her in her crate at bedtime (using a command word like "crate" helps train them), shut the door, and give her a small treat. Honestly, I'd leave it where it is. Since she's used to you sleeping on the couch near her, I'd do that for a couple more nights. That way, you can continue to wake and take her out, bring her right back in and she knows you're close by. If she whines, you can sit next to the crate for a few minutes, maybe give her your fingers to touch through the crate and make gentle shooshing noises - no lights, just keep it peaceful and calm. She sounds like a smart girl, so she should pick up on it quickly. We did exactly that with Gabby, and she was sleeping through the night within the week - and we were in our own beds!

[Gibbysmom]

Start feeding her in her crate also, make the crate a nice place to be not something that she will feel like she is being punished. They quickly learn to go flying inside of it to get fed.

[PinkDragon14]

Welcome!

The first few nights/week is the hardest. Each night before bed, I would put a little bit of kibble in Murphy's kong before I took him out for the last time. That would be his motivation to hurry up and get back in. All I have to do now is say, "Hurry up, make your potty. There's a treat in your bed!" and he finishes up and runs right in. I also made him more "comfortable" in the crate by putting him in there for short periods of time during the day (ranging anywhere from 15-45mins). Be sure to put "safe" toys in there too (nylabones, kong) so if she wakes up during the night and is bored, she'll be able to chew on her toys. Leave out the plush toys because you never know what will happen (I woke up to a crate filled with stuffing one morning. Never did that again).

[Charlotte K.]

Welcome. Just do it: be in charge, fair and firm and kind. You would make sure a baby was safe, and crating a pup is like putting a baby in a crib for a nap. You have to sleep sometime! I, too, sleep on the couch near new rescues or pups from time to time: with the crate door latched to keep pup safe.

[POPTOP]

We home older dogs and crate at first. These are dogs who have been in kennels and can go whenever they want to. They will not go in their bed. Unlike puppies, they can hold it all night.

I feel it's very important to have your pup comfortable being crated. What if they have to stay at the vet or, god forbid, an emergency situation where they have to be crated. You don't want the extra stress of a new situation piled on top of another stressful situation.

Archie is 8 now and his crate is beside my side of the bed. I actually leave the door open now but at first he would nose me all night if I didn't close the door.

Not great on puppy advice but wanted to welcome you and pass along what little advice I can.