Puppy cries at night.

[lab.lover]

I have just got a 10 week black lab puppy and I am not sure whether I should keep coming down to her at night when she cries. The first night she cried a little, the second night not at all and then last night she cried loads so in the end I came downstairs to see her several times. She sleeps downstairs in a basket with her toys. She starts off with a little cry then it turns into a howl, I left her for 20 mins but then I couldn't take it anymore.
I have a RSPCA complete dog care book but it doesn't have any info on sleep. Can anyone please advise me on what I should do? Thanks.

[simmone12]

the only answer is to leave her to cry.if she knows you r gona come and see her everytime she cries she will do it all the more.sorry but its the only way.i did it with my dog and she was fine after a few days.

[bigmamma]

I have a black lab and when I first got her at 9 weeks of age I left her downstairs in the lounge with a toy , some water and a soft toy to cuddle , maybe I am just fortunate but she has always been quiet.
Maybe give your little one an item of your clothing with your scent , or leave a bit of music or radio low for her .
Labs are quick learners and love to please , give it time and I feel she will soon get the idea that she sleeps in her basket and must not make any noise at night .
Enjoy :-)

[lankeela]

She has taught you your first lesson - the owner's recall!

Make sure she has had something to eat, a little game and then been let out to wee before leaving her with something to chew on, and she should settle quietly. If she does cry, ignore it if you are determined she must sleep downstairs.
10 weeks is still very young and it has been used to having the company of mum and littermates. This should not last more than a few days and she will be into your routine.

I always have a new puppy in a cardboard box beside my bed, so I can just hang my arm down to comfort it and it usually drops off to sleep no problem. I then know as soon as it wakes up in the morning and can take it out for the first wee of the day, before going back to bed to get my nose bitten and the bedclothes pulled off.

[someonesgirl]

when we got my family dog when i was growing up, we were weak to his whimpers aswell! We always ended up going downstairs to comfort him...........He gradually wormed his way into sleeping in the bedroom and then on the end of the bed.......The dog then ruled the roost for the rest of his life and slept where he pleased.....which then led to weeing and pooing where he pleased when he got very old!! .......not nice waking up to a dolop on the end of your bed let me tell you!!! I would establish a sleep routine with him as early on as possible, as you wont be able to change it later on!!!!

[Robinia]

I did what bigmamma suggested (re the 'something with your scent' ).
Wear a soft sweatshirt, jumper or something similar for a few hrs before bedtime. Roll it up & leave it with your pup...worked like a charm for me with 2 different dogs. :o)

[kita1]

All my dogs have slept in the bedroom from day one and never had any problems!

And they certainly did not rule the house! (and never messed in the bedroom either).

[kita1]

"I have a RSPCA complete dog care book"

Never had a dog that did it by the book!

By all means read all you can about dog care/training, but don't be surprised if your pup does everything different to what you read!

Use common sense and you won't go far wrong.

[andy-hughes]

Pop your sweater or sweatshirt into puppy's bed last thing before you settle her down - it will still have your body heat and scent on it.

Why not try wrapping a ticking clock in the sweater - the ticking will soothe your puppy.

[lab.lover]

Thanks for all your advise. As I have two young children, I would rather keep the puppy (Ruby) downstairs. My 2 year old son still gets up quite alot in the night so I think I would like to keep them apart. Besides I think Ruby would like the break away from my youngest as he is just getting used to the puppy and is still a little jealous of the attention she gets. He keeps trying to flick her and poke her. She is very patience with him though.
I will give her an old T shirt tonight and see if that helps. I have never had a Lab before but I am very pleased with her. I was told she is the best family dog to get. :o)

[leelapops]

good luck lab.lover, everyone has given sound advice already, so I can't add much, but after a few days of whining she will soon settle, and it's definitely best to ignore her until she settles, or she will have you wrapped around her little paw!
On our first night with Jack, now almost 3, I think I cried even more than he did! If my partner hadn't told me to stay put in bed and tolerate it, I would have been down there sleeping with him! He is, nevertheless, a really clingy dog, but then that's definitely something to do with how I have raised him! He's my first dog, so I am even now still learning!
Lots of love for Ruby, and wishes for years of happiness!

[lab.lover]

Thanks Leelapops,
I gave Ruby an old shirt last night, put her to bed just after 11 and didn't hear a cry until after 7 this morning. She was very very good. I just wish my 2 year old son would do the same!

[bigmamma]

Pleased you got a peaceful night from your puppy , if not your 2yr old ..lol.. As I said , labs are very quick to learn and I have no doubt puppy will settle , My lab is 5 now and is the most loyal well behaved dog and a treasured member of the family , she has always slept downstairs .
Keep us up to date with your progress , hug to puppy :-)

[leelapops]

Just to second bm, who always puts things so well :P :) x

[O'Reilly]

Labradors are so intelligent and can twist an owner round their little claws. Some owners expect a bedroom to be free of dogs - I don't as I like my dog to have full run of the house (my dog settles wherever I am) so I have my dogs bed in the bedrooom. I think you just have to ignore the dog so the puppy will learn that whining or crying will NOT get a response. Put a radio on low volume to give youor puppy some company and noise, that may help. Don't attend to your puppy through the night - they get bored and go to sleep eventually.

[ruby27]

sometimes it can be the room that is the problem. I have never allowed my dogs to sleep upstairs with me. Not cos I think it is a control issue, just I am slightly allergic to dogs which is exacerbated by them being in my bed.
My most recent dog, albeit very small had almost destroyed the kitchen door, No one went down to see it and after 4 months it still cried every night for at least half an hour constant and then periodically during the night. But we knew preserver, do not give in what ever. However due to decorating work, dog went into conservatory. No cries from night one. Problem solved until winter when I shall start posting about Whippet's and coats

[maviscoull]

awe...sweet. we have a black lab too. he sleeps at my husbands side of the bed.....on top of his jeans that he leaves lying on the floor. even when my husband is away on courses he still sleeps on the jeans. our lab is 2 now and i would never be without him, he is adorable.

[rhoscun21]

Ear plugs! I got a staffie and he cried a lot when I first took him home. Like children, dogs soon learn cause and effect. If every time your little one cries someone appears she will keep doing it! Its so hard when they are small and cute but if no one comes she will soon give up! In the meantime ear plugs do fight against sleep deprevation (having said that I fought the battle and at 7 years old my "baby" is now firmly ensconsed in the bedroom!

[lab.lover]

I have now had 2 peaceful nights with Ruby. Not one cry so maybe she has mastered it. Also when I came downstairs this morning she hadn't even been to the toilet on the newspaper, she waited til she was let in the garden. Very impressed! I know that this could possibly a one off but fingers crossed for tonight!

[rhoscun21]

Blimey you are obviously a natural born dog owner - sleeping through night and toilet trained! Hats off should be asking you for tips LOL x

[bigmamma]

Well done lab.lover , and a clever little puppy :-) x