Puppies will cry and yell loud when separated from their families and left alone at night, especially for the first time. The puppy is worried about being abandoned forever and is trying to call for help and support.
Many times, this behavior is common when puppies are confined to an enclosed place or crate.
Whining in puppies is perfectly reasonable, although the sounds can be quite disturbing thus forcing us to worry about their welfare.
So what would you do if your puppy starts yelling and crying for help at night?
Well, there are many things you can do to teach your puppy to stop crying at night.
I have assembled several tips to help you stop your puppy from whining at night.
Without further ado, let me give you the insights:
How to train your puppy not to cry at night and how to get your puppy to sleep through the night
1. Try to understand what’s going on:
If this is the first night your pet is crying, he is probably missing his siblings or mom. He is worried he might never see his family again, or could even be afraid of being surrounded by new people. In such circumstances, your puppy probably needs some time to adjust so give him that if you can. To help him adjust to the new environment, give him a stuffed toy in his bed or crate.
2. Don’t rush to comfort him:
Most puppies love seeking attention, and they will do anything to get that – including whining at night when they are alone. Puppies love to test their keepers, and if given the chance, they will always demand more attention. If your puppy yells soon after entering his crate, you will know he is playing you. Don’t go there immediately to comfort him. Show up after some time and give him instructions to stop’ the noise. Call him by his name and tell him that making noise without a good reason is bad manners. Still, remember to teach him this using a firm tone. This teaching will show him that you are his leader, and he better get used to you soon.
3. Avoid changing sleeping places:
Puppies can be sensitive to environmental and behavioral changes. Most puppies get confused and stressed if their sleeping patterns or positions are altered every other time. If you decide to let your puppy sleep near your bedroom, let him stay there. Don’t put him in your room one day, and then in the kitchen the next day and then move him back to the bedroom. However, remember to bring him close to your bedroom on the first day or he will feel lonely and start calling for friends.
4. Take him out:
If your puppy is crying forty minutes or one hour after taking dinner, he is probably alerting you that he wants to go out. Take him out to his favorite place, let him walk, sniff and identify his position. Give him time to get relieved and bring him back to his crate. Congratulate him for alerting you at the right time by saying words like ‘good boy’ and ‘congrats boy’. Your puppy will feel appreciated, and he will soon start sleeping.
5. Treat him well:
Like children, puppies like to be pampered with love and good stuff. If your puppy is awake and missing your gentle love at night, he may start to cry especially during the first weeks. While you should discourage babyish behaviors such whining, howling and screaming, you may supply your puppy with nice stuff such as warm sleeping mats, safe chewing toys, and even puppy snacks to make him happy when he is alone. Also, you may need a stuffed animal, preferably a little bigger than him to make him feel he is not alone. Ensure that you have such supplies especially if other methods have failed to yield any results. Even so, avoid giving your puppy a lot of liquid foods or he will cry all night asking to go out.
6. Health considerations:
Unusual whining behaviors could be signs of health problems. For instance, perhaps your puppy has taken a bad meal for dinner that is causing him severe stomach upsets. If he keeps whining, he is probably trying to tell you something is not right. You should be able to notice signs and symptoms of ill-health. For example, if he has diarrhea, it could be an indication that he may have a stomach infection. Call your veterinarian right away.
7. Don’t disturb him when he is asleep:
Whenever you want to do other stuff at night, be careful not wake him up lest he will soon be announcing to your neighbors how upsetting you are! If you want to get out, be sure to open your doors gently and try to make as little noise as possible so as not to disturb him. Avoid loud music as he may get stressed and start barking. Even so, occasionally, you can let your puppy understand that you also have a lifestyle to keep by asking him to stay quiet and stay in his room when your are watching late night news, or you can as well invite him to watch your favorite cartoon channel with you during one of your free nights. Still, be sure to take him out before anything.
8. Crate your puppy when he is alone at night:
Teaching the crate technique to a puppy often requires patience and will. Crating your puppy in a well-pampered pot will keep him from crying all night.
Table of Contents
How to crate train a puppy at night:
Crate training a puppy at night involves the following strategies;
1. After dinner, take your puppy to go out.
2. Throw a small piece of meat into his crate and help him get in. Let him know that this is not a punishment and make him understand that it’s for his welfare.
3. During the first night, let the puppy sleep in your room in his crate. When he gets in, take some time with him. Touch him gently and let him feel the warmth of your hands.
4. When he falls asleep, supply him with a stuffed doll to make him think that his mom is watching him.
5. Bring him close to your bed. Remember he has just been separated from his mother and siblings so you can also get a ticking clock to seem like another dog is breathing nearby. Be sure to make as little noise as possible
6. When he wakes up in the morning, take him out the first thing and allow him to stretch a little before going back. Also, let him have some time on the mat as your make him breakfast. Repeat the same procedure for the subsequent nights until you are sure he can stay alone.
To Learn More About Crate Training Puppy at Night Click Here
By now I suppose you know how to train your puppy not to cry at night. Just remember not to yell at him or you will make him more stressed and scared than he already is.