getting a puppy to sleep in a cage ?

[Nostalgia]

on friday night we bought our puppy home, but the problem is he wont sleep in his cage, he will cry ect, and will only sleep if he is on top of one of us, today we have put a ticking clock in his cage, and hes asleep at the moment in his cage, but if the ticking clock does not work tonight, what else can we do to help our puppy sleep, we dont want to spend to much money, on toys ect as he does have toys, we have been putting a hot water bottle in his cage in a cover with hot water from the hot tap, that hasnt really worked, so i was just wondering if the ticking clock in his cage does not work what else can we do to help him sleep ??? as at the moment it seems he will only sleep once he is lying on top of us. what else could we do to get our puppy to sleep ?

[taylalatbh.]

You need to cut off the habit of him falling asleep near/on top of you, otherwise he'll be doing it forever!

The ticking clock usually works, so I'd definitely try that out. But maybe you could put him in his cage while you're still in the room, and turn off the lights and have the telly on quiet. Then maybe he'll get used to sleeping in there.

Also, during the day if he gets tired and sleepy, put him in his cage to nap so he's used to it. It may be a bit of a process but he needs to learn that that is where he has to sleep.

Let us know how it goes, take care.

[TheLittleNinja]

The best way, really is to let him cry. Make sure he has a teddy or something of his in there with him.

You could try leaving the radio on quietly.

You could also give him something that smells of one of you.

But definitely get out of the habbit of letting him sleep with people - it can turn into a dominance issue

[Nostalgia]

we have been putting him in his cage today when hes fallen asleep, the ticking clock does seem to be helping we're trying the radio tonight, he has a teddy in their, hes got a hot water bottle cover which is a teddy bear and he also has my old toy lion, and he has a blanket aswell. he also has my sisters dressing gown / bath robe in thier with him, we've just played with him in the hope it will wear him out, we've found out he does not like his cage door being shut, so we have been leaving his cage door open. we've also been feeding him inside his cage so he thinks that his cage is a good place to go. we are hoping he will sleep tonight - we find it hard to leave him just to cry i am the worst when he cries i just wana scoop him up and fuss him! i know i shouldnt but hes sooooooo cute!

[taylalatbh.]

I think you're doing well

But it's important that he learns that bedtime is bedtime. And he will be alone sleeping in his cage for 8 or so hours. He will be fine. He might be crying but he's not hurt, he's fine.

Think of it like a sleeping toddler, they will cry themselves out, but the next night, it won't take as long for them to get to sleep. And within a week he'll be used to it!

Let us know how it goes tomorrow.

[Nostalgia]

true and earlier when were having dinner we left him on his own and he cired for three minuets then settled down and fell asleep next to some slippers and the toy lion. hes been alot more settled today hes slept in his crate a few times.

[Verità]

Originally Posted by SquidPid

he will only sleep if he is on top of one of us

You need to get him to stop that habit as soon as possible. From what I recall from Animal Science class during my Freshman year, that's actually a dominance thing (The alpha will sleep on top of lower members of the pack).

[Nostalgia]

we are trying to stop it, thankfully he now only cries a little at night and no longer sleeps on top of us, thank god! he is now staying in his crate, still waking up in the night abit but only cries for abit sometimes also howls, and my mum just goes down gives him a little cuddle/ pet / stroke, and then my mum goes back to bed and the puppy goes back to sleep in his crate, he is getting more settled. we've had him for 5 and abit days so hes setteling down now. we can even leave him home alone for a couple of hours and he is fine. we have put another blanket in his crate along with a toy squeaky monkey, a kong chew toy and chewy stick and chewy bone toy. we're getting there, just slowly, but what i need to remember is that the puppy is only 9 weeks so it is to be expected as hes in a new home ect.

[Heartlines.]

Hello Deary. I have a few things that work with my dog.

-Give him a treat every time he goes in the kennel. Then he will want to be there, because he knows he is getting a treat.
-Give him melatonin, to relax him. We give it to my dog, and it's completely safe.
-Break the habit of him sleeping in odd places.

Keep in mind, he is a puppy, a baby. Babies don't sleep all the way through the night. Puppies generally won't either.
Give it time. As he grows, he will become used to his kennel and he will sleep there all the way through the night.