Re: puppy

In Reply to: puppy
Category:   Other
Posted by:  Deanna
Posted on:  December 27, 2002 at 08:58:16

: my jack russell is 9 wks. old and has to be next to or on the lap of eigther myself or my husband to sleep. At night he will sleep half the night in his crate, but after around 2am he has to sleep w/me in the bed. We've tryed putting him back in the crate, but all he does is bark. How can I get him to sleep by his-self during the day, but mainly all night?

Response:

Dear Deanna,

Your puppy may WANT to be on/near you when he sleeps but if he can sleep half the night in his crate, then he's shown he doesn't HAVE to be on/near you or your husband...understand?

It is never too early to teach a pup to be independant though it can be difficult...for us! I mean, geez, who doesn't love having a wee pup curl up on our lap or snuggle under our chins; it's one of the joys of having a pup. The key is to find the balance between getting your daily "puppy-fix" and teaching your pup to feel secure without you.

In my opinion, the best way to accomplish this is by using the crate throughout the day as well as at night. It is perfectly acceptable to crate your pup while you are at home; the crate should be in a central location during the day (kitchen, family room) so the pup is part of the goings-on in the household. This way, a pup also learns that the crate does not equal being "away" from it's humans as in you all actually leaving the house. It's also important to not make a big deal out of it when he goes in, or comes out, of his crate.

You can expect the early morning "wake-up calls" (!) for the next couple of months since your pup is physically incapable of holding it all night. When he first fusses to be let out, keep things as low-key as possible -- talk to him quietly and only turn on enough lights so you can see to take him outside. Encourage and praise him for going potty but tone it down a little; this is a night-time potty break (not a play session) so he needs to stay as calm as possible so he can go back to sleep in his crate.

Please take advantage of our search engine to read more tips on crate-training a pup both during the day and at night. Congratulations on your new pup and hang in there!