Dog does not do well in crate at night whins

[JulieMoen]

Put or new three month old lab and American staffershire in crate. Sleeps for awhile then wakes and cries and whims. Is it because has days and nights mixed.

[Adrienne]

Hi Julie,

Welcome to the forums!

Is your puppy doing well in the crate at night, but is struggling only during the day?

How long after being in the crate does your pup whine?

Do you make sure your pup has peed and pooped before being closed?

Where is the crate located?

Have you created positive associations with the crate? Here is a section on that with videos:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/video-archive/love-the-crate/

[JulieMoen]

Does well in day I think may have days and nights mixed up. When in crate whims and barks most of some nights. She has peed and pooped before going in also have been taking for walk before bed. Crate is in our bedroom. This is new puppy only had about week.  I had bought one of the puppies with heartbeat don’t seam to work very well for her.

[Adrienne]

Thanks for the extra details, they are very helpful!

New pups take some time to adjust in their new homes, it can be stressful, especially if the breeder hasn't acclimatized the puppy to the crate before. New home, new owners, loss of mother and siblings (pups like to sleep in piles and are used to warmth), plus possibly, never haven been in a crate much before, all this can cause pups to struggle. The first week or two are generally the worst, then in the weeks that follow, things start getting a little better.  I am glad to hear that she has been doing OK in the crate at least during the day, that's a good sign.

As for the night, it sounds like you are doing many things right. You are ensuring that she has peed and pooped before being crated and you are keeping the crate in your bedroom. You are also providing a walk before bedtime to tire her out. It sounds like you have also purchased a Snuggle puppy Behavioral Aid but it's not working.

So let's do some troubleshooting as to what can cause her to sleep for a while and then wakes up and cry. 

-Ensure the room is dark. Any lights of the early morning can trigger pups to wake up as pups tend to be early morning risers. If needed, you can try to place a blanket over the crate and see if that helps. 

-Try a small bedtime snack. Pups can wake up early when they feel hungry and there is excess bile buildup. You can try to give a little snack before bedtime and see if that helps.

-Make sure the air isn't too dry and the room isn't too hot. You puppy may be waking up thirsty or may be feeling hot. A fan can sometimes help.

-Keep the crate with the door facing your way so that your puppy can see you and feels reassured she's not alone.

-Try providing at bed time a Kong that has been stuffed with some peanut butter (make sure it's  not the sugar-free version with xylitol which is toxic to dogs!). If you freeze it hours prior, it makes for a longer lasting treat. This can keep her occupied and awake for longer and therefore she may then sleep longer. 

-Too many day-time naps may also cause less sleep during the night. Yes, puppies need their sleep and lots of it, but overdoing things can also put a dent. In general, puppies need between 15 and 20 hours of sleep a day. 

-Last but not least, at this age, I would expect her to need another middle of the night/early morning potty trip. So if she whines, it may be worthy giving her the benefit of doubt and taking her out on leash to see if she may need to potty. I would make this outing very calm so not to overstimulate her. No excited talking, no petting. Just acting matter of fact. Take her straight to the potty spot, give her a few minutes to see if she potties and then straight back to the crate. 

Hope this helps! With new pups in the home, it often feels like having a new baby, restless nights and lots of changes.

[JulieMoen]

Thank you will try.

[Adrienne]

OK, keep me posted! I am always here to do any further troubleshooting as needed.