If you have just got a new puppy, chances are he is not used to sleeping alone yet and that somehow it could be traumatic for them to learn to sleep on their own. You have to understand that since they were born, they’ve most likely been sleeping with mother and other puppies. To get him used to it, create a comfortable sleeping area for him and to patiently train him until he gets used to it.
Part 1: Crate Training
You can start of by getting him a crate where there is enough space for him to be able to stand up, lay down, and turn in it. It shouldn’t have an extra corner because they will be tempted that to use it to do his “business” instead of asking to go outside.
Next, you can train your puppy to go into the crate on their own. Let him familiarize with it first making him feel that it’s a safe place. Encourage him to explore his “new room” by dropping treats and/or toys inside the crate. Give him time to make his way in and explore at his own pace. Don’t forget to praise him in a happy and cheerful voice.
You can also place his meals in their crate. This is another way to encourage him to get in his crate. Don’t force him to go inside his crate if he’s not yet ready. Do it gradually instead by starting to feed him just outside the crate. Then on his next meal, try to put his feeding bowl right by the door where his head is inside the crate and keep on moving his meal each meal time until his entire body is inside the crate. You may repeat this and then gradually extend the time that he’s inside this time with the door closed from a few minutes to an hour to until he is comfortable inside his crate.
Part 2: Get Him to Sleep in His Crate
Since your puppy may still be in a separation anxiety stage, it is best to consider placing his crate where he still can see you for the first few nights like inside your bedroom. If you’ll put them away from you prematurely, the transition might become harder for your puppy and might be harder for you to train him. What you can do is gradually moving your puppy’s crate further away to his own sleeping spot in the house until he can sleep on his own without whining.
Yes it will be more than likely that he will cry and whine all through the night. But it is important to ignore those cries. If you give in, you are teaching him that whining will get your attention. Keep in mind that you are training him so you have to be consistent with this every single night because that‘s how they learn from it. Look for ways to tune down his cries like wearing an ear plugs or turn on white noise to help you ignore the puppy.
Get them be more comfortable in sleeping in their crate by giving them a cushy surface to sleep on. Anything that is comfortable and appropriate for the weather like be a dog bed, or a blanket and an old comforter for chilly nights.
I won’t deny that it’s going to be a long way but with your consistency and patience, both of you will get through this!
