One of the toughest challenges you’ll face as a new dog owner is getting through the first night with your puppy. The old school of thought dictates that a puppy should be put to bed at night and ignored behind closed doors until the next morning. However, this can be really upsetting for a dog. After all, getting used to a new place without their mother or littermates can be hard. At Valley Animal Hospital, we’ve prepared a list of tips to help you and your new pup get through the night as easily and efficiently as possible.
Your pup has a long and happy life ahead, so let Valley Animal Hospital help you keep him/her strong and healthy. Contact us for more information today.
Helping Your Pup Settle In
Once your puppy has met the family, your other pets, and is ready to hit the hay for the night, make sure to follow the following instructions:
- Place your puppy’s crate outside your bedroom door and make it nice and comfortable. To emulate their mom’s warm body, place a water bottle filled with warm water within the crate’s bedding.
- Take a trip outside to let your puppy relieve itself. Once it has finished its business, bring it inside to its crate. You can make its temporary room extra cozy by covering the crate with a blanket, leaving the front exposed.
- Know that your puppy will likely whine once you’ve gone to bed yourself, but it will settle down if it senses you close by.
- It’s important to resist the temptation to go to your puppy and bring it with you into bed. The last thing you want is for it to expect first class treatment every single night.
- Your puppy will surely need to relieve itself in the middle of the night. To prevent it from soiling the inside of the crate, set an alarm every 2-3 hours to get you to take it outside. This may sound exhausting, but don’t worry, it won’t last forever and will help train your puppy in the long run.
Count on Valley Animal Hospital
The first night you and your puppy spend together is just a milestone in a long and happy life ahead. At Valley Animal Hospital, we know how much your pawed friend means to you, so know that we’re here to help you keep it strong and healthy.
