Crate Training A Puppy General Chat

[Bianca]

We welcomed a cocker spaniel puppy into our lives last week. She seems to be settling in well and happy in herself. We crate her at night and sometimes during the day for an hour or two if needs must.

She is around 6kg so biggish for her age, I guess (she was 11 weeks yesterday).

Here's how it has gone so far at night:

Night 1 - I can't remember! I was honestly too excited

Night 2 - Crate at 10.30pm. Awake at 3.30am to wee, back in crate but didn't resettle til 4.40am and awake at 6.15am (longest sleep 5(ish) hours)

Night 3 - Crate at 10.45pm. Awake at 12.50am to wee, back asleep around 1.10am and awake at 6.10am (again, longest sleep 5(ish) hours)

Night 4 - Crate at 10.30pm. Awake 6.30am (was not up during the night at all) longest sleep 8 hours, we had a big day that day she was out a lot (although as she hasn't had full vaccination yet not meeting other dogs etc)

Night 5 - Crate 11pm. Awake 12.55am to wee, back asleep and up at 6.15am again circa 5 hours

Night 6 - Crate at 10.40pm. Awake at 12.40 to wee, back asleep and up at 6.45am, so 6 hours of sleep.

What we have been doing is let her chill when we watch TV and then when we are going to bed crate her.

Are we doing ok or should we not be getting up at 12.30-1.30am when she wakes. Looking at the above perhaps night 4 was just a fluke and really we should be aiming for 5 hours or so, so bed at 10.30 - 11pm and expect to get up to her at 3.30-4am, if she cries before that leave her?

Or is she a bit young yet for that?

Any comments or suggestions are appreciated as we are total newbies at being puppy parents.

 

[Sophie]

It sounds like you're doing great. I always get up with them and take them out when they cry and then back to bed like you say. It doesn't feel like it at the time when you're tired but it's only for a few weeks. I have them in my room in the crate/pen and they usually settle straight away after going out.