A puppy's first nights at home
Why the first week matters, why a brief spell sleeping in the bedroom is fine, and what not to do when a puppy cries at night.
The first few nights can be hectic: a puppy is used to sleeping close to his mother and siblings, and will now have to do without them.
To sleep well at night, a puppy needs a reassuring environment. His new surroundings won't provide that reassurance on their own yet, but the presence of his owners will help settle him. Even if you don't ultimately want your dog sleeping in a particular room (kitchen, living room, etc.), there's no need to put him there from day one. It's actually advisable to let him sleep in your bedroom for a short week or so, until he feels at ease in his new world. That said, he must be kept off the bed itself — allowing that would be a hierarchical mistake.
If you don't want the puppy in your room even for the first few days, put him to sleep in the room where he'll spend his nights going forward. He's likely to bark and whine for much of the night. Above all, don't intervene: he's demanding your presence, and if you reassure him — or even if you scold him — he will have gotten what he wanted, and he'll simply start the whole thing over again the next time his owners leave.
Stephan MairesseProfessional dog trainer & canine behaviorist, 30 years of experience across 16 countries. Certificat de capacité N°750108. Read his full background →
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