Let’s Get Some Better Sleep
By: Lauren Trollope | Published: August 19, 2024
Well you just brought home your new puppy! The house is full of newness, new puppy, new smells, new noises, new schedule and now new SLEEP! All puppies are different, some adjust very quickly and others can take a few days to acclimate to the changes. Struggling to sleep at night and being ok with “being alone” can be hard!
This is really common with new puppies — you’re in the tough “transition period.” Your little one has just left mom and littermates, and the crying is their way of saying “I’m lonely, scared, and not sure what’s going on.” The good news: with a few adjustments, most puppies settle in within a couple of weeks.
Here are some strategies that can really help:
🐾 Environment & Comfort
Proximity to You: At first, puppies often sleep better if their crate/pen is in your bedroom so they can smell/hear you. You can gradually move it farther away over time.
Warmth: Use a warm (not hot) rice sock or heating pad on low under the bedding. Puppies are used to sleeping in a warm pile.
Heartbeat toy & blanket: You already have the heartbeat plush — great! Also drape a blanket over part of the crate to create a den-like feel.
🐾 Night Routine
Potty first: Always give a potty break right before bedtime.
Wind-down ritual: Play and exercise in the evening so they’re a little tired, then quiet cuddles right before bed.
Remove food/water 1–2 hours before bedtime: Prevents middle-of-the-night potty accidents and restlessness.
🐾 Managing Crying
Don’t let them cry it out endlessly at this age. A brand-new puppy crying for hours is usually scared, not stubborn.
Soothe briefly, then back to crate: If crying persists more than a few minutes, quietly reassure them, take them out for a quick potty, and put them right back. Keep interactions boring and calm (no play at 2 a.m.).
White noise: A fan, sound machine, or soft music can help drown out new-house sounds.
🐾 Training & Consistency
Puppies will cry the first few nights. Consistency is key — if you sometimes bring them into bed and sometimes not, it confuses them.
Most adjust within 7–14 nights if the routine is predictable
Here is a sample sleep training guide to help you navigate the first week. This should absolutely give you a peace of mind knowing that one day you will all sleep through the night.
If your bedroom doesn’t have a large space for a pen, using a crate or folding pop-up playpen will work just great! Find more shopping tips and items on our website.
Puppy Sleep Training: 7- Day Guide
Day 1–2: Comfort & Security
Crate/Pen Location: Place the crate/pen right beside your bed so your puppy can hear and smell you.
Bedtime Prep:
Potty break right before bed.
5–10 min calm cuddle/wind-down (no play).
Warm rice sock/heating pad (low, under a blanket) + heartbeat toy.
When crying starts: Gently reassure with your voice or fingers through the crate. If it persists, quietly carry pup for a quick potty and immediately return. Keep lights dim and don’t engage in play.
Goal: Teach pup that bedtime means calm, safe, predictable routine.
Day 3–4: Shortening Comfort Interventions
Keep crate by your bed, but when crying starts:
Wait 2–3 minutes before offering comfort (instead of rushing immediately).
Use calm “shh” or soft touch without taking the pup out unless you suspect potty.
If potty is needed, in/out with zero fuss.
Goal: Pup learns to self-soothe for short periods.
Day 5: Begin Gentle Independence
Move crate a few feet away from your bed.
Keep the same pre-bed routine.
Comfort interventions become briefer — soft words only, avoid picking pup up unless absolutely necessary.
Goal: Increase confidence sleeping independently while still feeling you nearby.
Day 6: Build Night Stamina
By now, most puppies can last 3–5 hours overnight without potty (depending on breed/size).
Set a scheduled midnight potty break instead of waiting for crying. Quietly take pup out, no play, back to bed.
Ignore brief whines if you know pup’s needs are met.
Day 7: Establish Routine
Crate can be in its more permanent spot (still in bedroom or gradually moving to hallway/living area if desired).
Stick to consistent bedtime/wake time.
Continue bedtime ritual: potty → cuddle → crate.
Allow some mild fussing but do not break routine unless potty/urgent need.
Goal: Pup sleeps in crate, accepts routine, and fussing reduces significantly.
🐾 Extra Tips
Daytime naps: Encourage naps in the crate too, not just free-roam, so bedtime doesn’t feel “new.”
Exercise balance: Too little play = restless energy. Too much = overtired crying. Aim for short bursts of play and training throughout the day.
White noise: Keeps them from startling at small sounds.
While there are moments when you will feel that you have made a mistake, that you will never sleep again, I promise you…..there is sleep at the end of the tunnel.
