howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep

KingstonTodd · 12-08-2009, 11:57 AM

We have a new pupyy and she is a howler. She does not like being left alone, at all, even to eat. I have to stay in the room for her to eat or she will leave and follow me. If I lock her in the room with her food with a baby gate she will paw at it and howl and not eat. This is going to be an issue, but I am sure she will overcome it as she settles in. It is creating a difficult sleeping situation. How to sleep with a howling puppy in a crate? I tried waiting her out, as you can't give in and let her out of the crate for howling or this will reinforce the behviour. I made sure she had pottied, and she does have doggie company in the room so she should not feel totally alone. 1 hour of howling and no end in sight. Oh My! There was a blanket from the breeder in there for familiar smells. She didnt care. I tried Annmaries "settle", NOPE. I covered the crate with a blanket, reduced it, but NOPE. Firm "alpha" QUIET worked for a but, but only for 30 minute naps at a time. Sleepless night number 1 for me (Finn did manage to sleep through this all, god bless him, I dont know how I would have handled a howling toddler on top of the puppy). Now this puppy is new but she already loves her dad, and she has been sleeping on my feet after dinner. So I had an idea. For night number three (I am skipping the repeat of night number 1, as number 2 was much the same) I pottied her, and put her in the crate with the sock that I was wearing. I know, gross, but it worked! She curled up with it, not a peep from midnight to 6 am. WOO HOO. I'll give up a sock everynight if it means 6 h of sleep.

We are working hard on ignoring and/or reprimanding whiney vocalizations and rewarding quiet sits, so lets hope she learns how to fit in to our peacfull little home.

**lindamarie** · 12-08-2009, 12:09 PM

I'm sorry.....but your writing style cracked me up!

No sleep is NOT FUNNY! I know and recall it all too well with Bogart.
When Bogart was a 9 weeks old, my dad was in the hospital. I would soend hours there and come home to a happy puppy my husband was watching......but he did the same thing when it was time to FINALLY get some sleep! My brother had to spend a couple of nights here since he lived far from the hospital and we were on high alert with dad. He decided to go home after awhile and risk the drive!

I can laugh at it now!
So, I called the the breeder and she suggested a rolled towel that we would bang on the crate every time he started up. Well, you can imagine how well that went over for us and my brother! HOWL! BANG! QUIET.........HOWL! BANG! QUIET.........
AWWW......this too shall pass. These poor babies just need to know they're okay and safe. But, I DO remember it well.

KingstonTodd · 12-08-2009, 12:19 PM

LOL,

HOWL
BANG
HOWL
BANG
HOWL
BANG.

too funny.

SamsonsMom · 12-08-2009, 01:07 PM

Todd you crack me up how you described it...and Linda I almost spit my drink on the computer screen with your telling of HOWL BANG...QUIET, etc.

Todd your new lil' puppy just already loves her Daddy so much she can't stand to be away. And hey if the sock works, I'd be leaving as many as necessary in the crate.

Hopefully they're not your gym socks though, because that would be kind-of nasty!

Jac · 12-08-2009, 03:07 PM

Brilliant! Your sock did the trick!
You know, every time we post these things, we are helping others...you just never know what will work and what won't...
It has been a comical read though!

freddies_mum · 12-08-2009, 05:07 PM

Awww poor pup just wanted the reassurance, but it is sooo not funny working out what will do the trick.

Night-wise I was very lucky with mine. Freddie slept through from day 1, and Darcey only asked to get up for the toilet a handful of times in the first few weeks. They were both crate-trained to start with, but did (and do) sleep in our room. I know it's not for everyone but I think the closeness helped.

We did have a problem at first with Darcey staying in her crate on her own for an hour or two during the day - I'm afraid we simply left her to it and I think once she realised that we were going to come back every time and she hadn't been abandoned she started to settle. Until around 6 months old when she decided she was too old for her crate at all! Now the crates have been banished to the loft!

**MaxandMe** · 12-09-2009, 12:26 AM

well now that we all know TODD's socks are smelly

i am happy t o hear it did the trick

KingstonTodd · 12-09-2009, 01:48 PM

Ha ha. They were socks that had regular wear, not gym socks, so they were not too bad. It worked again last night and she slept from midnight to 7:30 am. So great. Knock on wood we are done with night time wake ups.

Jac · 12-09-2009, 02:10 PM

I think that t his is very smart...

wannadoodle · 12-10-2009, 09:36 AM

Doodles do love feet! Great idea Todd. Toby is three years old and he still sits on my feet every time I stop. What sweet babies.

**lindamarie** · 12-10-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannadoodle

Doodles do love feet! Great idea Todd. Toby is three years old and he still sits on my feet every time I stop. What sweet babies.

They DO!!!! Great socks TODD!! :P

zbargainmama · 12-12-2009, 12:06 PM

LOL it sounds like Autumn first two nights

The thing that really worked for us was putting on a sound machine with the heart beat setting and then covering the crate (which I know you have already tried). I have also heard putting a small clock near the crate for the consistent ticking sound.
Good luck sleepless nights are never fun. Glad Finn is sleeping through it all.

deepnite10 · 12-13-2009, 10:00 AM

it s funny cuz most of us can relate to it..

our intention was to crate our Toby until he was potty trained..he picked up on it within 3 days..he did nt howl..but, sorta just whimpered..first it was the blanket over the crate, then the clock and finally leaving the tv on..wish i had thought of the sock idea

where i did lose alot of the sleep was the potty training..taking him out every hr. during the day..every 2 hrs in the evening..the first decent night sleep finally came after 2 weeks..

12-08-2009, 11:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
KingstonTodd Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,005	howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep We have a new pupyy and she is a howler. She does not like being left alone, at all, even to eat. I have to stay in the room for her to eat or she will leave and follow me. If I lock her in the room with her food with a baby gate she will paw at it and howl and not eat. This is going to be an issue, but I am sure she will overcome it as she settles in. It is creating a difficult sleeping situation. How to sleep with a howling puppy in a crate? I tried waiting her out, as you can't give in and let her out of the crate for howling or this will reinforce the behviour. I made sure she had pottied, and she does have doggie company in the room so she should not feel totally alone. 1 hour of howling and no end in sight. Oh My! There was a blanket from the breeder in there for familiar smells. She didnt care. I tried Annmaries "settle", NOPE. I covered the crate with a blanket, reduced it, but NOPE. Firm "alpha" QUIET worked for a but, but only for 30 minute naps at a time. Sleepless night number 1 for me (Finn did manage to sleep through this all, god bless him, I dont know how I would have handled a howling toddler on top of the puppy). Now this puppy is new but she already loves her dad, and she has been sleeping on my feet after dinner. So I had an idea. For night number three (I am skipping the repeat of night number 1, as number 2 was much the same) I pottied her, and put her in the crate with the sock that I was wearing. I know, gross, but it worked! She curled up with it, not a peep from midnight to 6 am. WOO HOO. I'll give up a sock everynight if it means 6 h of sleep. We are working hard on ignoring and/or reprimanding whiney vocalizations and rewarding quiet sits, so lets hope she learns how to fit in to our peacfull little home.

12-08-2009, 12:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
lindamarie Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Birmingham, Michigan Posts: 6,171	Re: howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep I'm sorry.....but your writing style cracked me up! No sleep is NOT FUNNY! I know and recall it all too well with Bogart. When Bogart was a 9 weeks old, my dad was in the hospital. I would soend hours there and come home to a happy puppy my husband was watching......but he did the same thing when it was time to FINALLY get some sleep! My brother had to spend a couple of nights here since he lived far from the hospital and we were on high alert with dad. He decided to go home after awhile and risk the drive! I can laugh at it now! So, I called the the breeder and she suggested a rolled towel that we would bang on the crate every time he started up. Well, you can imagine how well that went over for us and my brother! HOWL! BANG! QUIET.........HOWL! BANG! QUIET......... AWWW......this too shall pass. These poor babies just need to know they're okay and safe. But, I DO remember it well. __________________ Linda & Bogart Dogs=Unconditional love "We have it all! Just like Bogie & Bacall!"

12-08-2009, 12:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
KingstonTodd Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,005	Re: howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep LOL, HOWL BANG HOWL BANG HOWL BANG. too funny.

12-08-2009, 01:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
SamsonsMom Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 590	Re: howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep Todd you crack me up how you described it...and Linda I almost spit my drink on the computer screen with your telling of HOWL BANG...QUIET, etc. Todd your new lil' puppy just already loves her Daddy so much she can't stand to be away. And hey if the sock works, I'd be leaving as many as necessary in the crate. Hopefully they're not your gym socks though, because that would be kind-of nasty! __________________

12-08-2009, 03:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: northern California Posts: 9,243	Re: howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep Brilliant! Your sock did the trick! You know, every time we post these things, we are helping others...you just never know what will work and what won't... It has been a comical read though!

12-08-2009, 05:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
freddies_mum Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 8	Re: howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep Awww poor pup just wanted the reassurance, but it is sooo not funny working out what will do the trick. Night-wise I was very lucky with mine. Freddie slept through from day 1, and Darcey only asked to get up for the toilet a handful of times in the first few weeks. They were both crate-trained to start with, but did (and do) sleep in our room. I know it's not for everyone but I think the closeness helped. We did have a problem at first with Darcey staying in her crate on her own for an hour or two during the day - I'm afraid we simply left her to it and I think once she realised that we were going to come back every time and she hadn't been abandoned she started to settle. Until around 6 months old when she decided she was too old for her crate at all! Now the crates have been banished to the loft! __________________ Jo, Freddie & Darcey x

12-09-2009, 12:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
MaxandMe Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 15,103	Re: howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep well now that we all know TODD's socks are smelly i am happy t o hear it did the trick __________________ *Annmarie, Max,& Peanut* "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France uncondtional love: what a dog always does for us and humans strive to do but can we?

12-09-2009, 01:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
KingstonTodd Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,005	Re: howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep Ha ha. They were socks that had regular wear, not gym socks, so they were not too bad. It worked again last night and she slept from midnight to 7:30 am. So great. Knock on wood we are done with night time wake ups.

12-09-2009, 02:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: northern California Posts: 9,243	Re: howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep I think that t his is very smart...

12-10-2009, 09:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
wannadoodle Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Knoxville TN Posts: 377	Re: howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep Doodles do love feet! Great idea Todd. Toby is three years old and he still sits on my feet every time I stop. What sweet babies. __________________ LeeBeth and Toby-Doodle Dandy

12-12-2009, 12:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
zbargainmama Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: California Posts: 56	Re: howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep LOL it sounds like Autumn first two nights The thing that really worked for us was putting on a sound machine with the heart beat setting and then covering the crate (which I know you have already tried). I have also heard putting a small clock near the crate for the consistent ticking sound. Good luck sleepless nights are never fun. Glad Finn is sleeping through it all.

12-13-2009, 10:00 AM	#13 (permalink)
deepnite10 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Norcal Posts: 1,358	Re: howling puppy and the crate overnight: How to get some sleep it s funny cuz most of us can relate to it.. our intention was to crate our Toby until he was potty trained..he picked up on it within 3 days..he did nt howl..but, sorta just whimpered..first it was the blanket over the crate, then the clock and finally leaving the tv on..wish i had thought of the sock idea where i did lose alot of the sleep was the potty training..taking him out every hr. during the day..every 2 hrs in the evening..the first decent night sleep finally came after 2 weeks..

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
Labradoodle Forums Advertisement