5 tips for surviving your puppies first night

Bringing a dog home can be a very exciting experience yet can also be very stressful and overwhelming especially for your dog. This is especially true since your dog is in a new environment with new humans but also there is a high chance that this your dog’s first night away from his family which is more likely if your dog is a puppy. However, here are some tips that can help make your puppies's first night enjoyable. 

Tip 1: Make the crate a safe space 

• Crate training is essential for all puppies and dogs in general however this is especially essential to do during your puppy’s first night home. When dogs are nervous, they tend to seek out small spaces to create a protective shelter for themselves. A crate can be a great way to provide a safe haven for your dog. Something that can help ensure that your crate is a safe space for your dog is feeding meals or keeping dog toys in the crate which is seen as a reward by dogs and will create a positive association for your dog. In addition to this, you can add a dog bed or blanket to the crate to make it even more comfortable; even though some dogs prefer sleeping on hard surfaces. Most importantly you must ensure to never use the crate as a punishment as this can ruin your pet’s feeling of security and make the crate feel like less of a safe space.

Tip 2: Plan the dog’s dinner correctly 

• Make sure to establish a feeding schedule when you bring home a dog. Puppies under 14-18 weeks should be fed three times a day (once first thing in the morning, once at lunchtime, once at dinnertime).Once they are older than 18 weeks, they should be fed twice a day. The first meal should be in the morning and the second meal should be in the evening at 5 pm (approximately 4 hours before they go to sleep) in order to allow your dog’s digestive system to digest the food before your dog goes to bed in order to prevent you from taking your dog outside in the night. Make sure to keep your dog feeding schedule consistent as this can help make his bowel movements more consistent. 

Tip 3: Schedule playtime before bed

• Playtime before bedtime is ideal for tiring your puppy out to help it sleep well. Having playtime in the hours before bedtime is idea, however it is important to avoid overstimulating your puppy just before bedtime by relaxing the hour before bedtime to allow your dog to slowly calm down which help your dog sleep better. Some good stimulating activities to do before bedtime includes training your dog which dogs love and can provide a lot of benefits for dogs as it is mentally and physically enriching. Another stimulating activity are long walks which provide dogs with physical exercise as well as provide mental stimulation from all the different smells. Finally, playing games like tug of war, hide and seek, scent games, and playing with puzzle games can also be very enriching for a dog. 

Tip 4: Take a potty break just before bed

• Take your dog for a short outing before bed which is just long enough for your dog to relive itself right. Even if you take your dog for a potty break just before bed, expect to take your new dog out during the night during the first few week. While it is recommended to take a new puppy to the potty every 1.5 hours during the day, during the night a puppy can hold it for 4-6 hours.

Tip 5: Expect to hear your dog to cry

• It is very common and very normal for dogs to cry or whine their first few nights as up until now they have been surrounded by family during the night as a result the dog feels anxious and lonely their first few nights. Some things that can help your dog to feel more comfortable in his new home includes putting the crate in your room in order for him to feel close to you while still having his own safe space. You can also put something in his crate that smells like you such as a t-shirt you wore recently to help make him feel close. However, it is very important to distinguish between a dog’s anxious crying and a dog crying to call you to take him to the bathroom. To differentiate, anxious crying usually occurs early in the night while crying to call you to take him to the bathroom would likely occur in the middle of the night. 

  Bringing home a new dog is a huge change for both you and your dog. But once the difficult first few nights are over and your bond strengthens, you and your dog will become each others closest companion. Although having a dog may be difficult at times, their love is worth it.