It’s finally happened - you’ve brought your new puppy home! The first night with your new puppy is always thrilling and full of anticipation - but it can be nerve-wracking too. Before you know it, your pup will be all settled and seeing your home as their home - but on the way to that point, there will be a fair few bumps in the road.
Let us take you through what to expect on bringing this cuddly pup into your home environment, and how to prepare to ensure the best possible ‘first night’ experience for you, your puppy and any co-parents.
What should I expect?
On the first night in their new home, your puppy will understandably feel a bit out of sorts in these unfamiliar surroundings. Up until now, they’ve only known their brothers and sisters and mother; or perhaps they’ve bonded with the staff in a rescue centre, or the person who bred them. Though they’ll love and trust you soon enough (and it doesn’t take long!), a puppy needs some time to adjust to the newness, and they’ll probably let their discomfort be known throughout the first night.
Here are some common first night behaviours:
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Inquisitiveness/wandering. Your pup doesn’t know where they are, and will be keen to suss out this new space. It’s unlikely they’ll feel relaxed yet, so will have their nose in everything.
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Crying and whimpering. Your pup is likely to be anxious in their new surroundings without their litter friends or familiar faces they’ve grown used to, so will cry to show distress.
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Loss of appetite. A puppy in a new home may feel so overwhelmed with the experience, that they forget to eat or don’t feel a desire for food.
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Toilet accidents. Pups who aren’t toilet-trained in a new home may pee or poop about the house, and probably in the night, too.
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Disturbed sleep. A pup that won’t sleep is one of the most common factors of a first night at home. Your puppy will probably wake up to get attention a few times, either being curious, excitable or distressed.
Preparing for a puppy’s first night
Though there are some elements of a puppy’s first night that you can’t avoid, preparing for the expected can make sure you all have the smoothest time with no sudden surprises. In the lead-up to your puppy coming home, you’ll need to prepare the space so that your new best friend settles in quickly.
Here are some ways to prepare yourself and the house for the puppy’s arrival…
Before bringing your puppy home…
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Puppy proof your house. You don’t want your puppy getting stuck between furniture or taking a bath in the toilet, so the most important safety measure is to install barriers or baby gates to secure off-limit areas. As well as this, hide loose electrical cords, lock kitchen cupboards and move dangerous items well out of reach. This includes plants and delicate objects, which are at risk of being knocked over by a zoomie-fuelled pooch!
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Agree ground rules with co-owners. If you have one or more puppy co-parent, you’ll all need to be on the same page over the rules for the pup. Decide on schedules, bedtime, where they’ll sleep, mealtimes and treat allowances together - including who’ll take on shifts during the night to see to the puppy if they need attention.
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Create a comfortable sleeping area. Your puppy will need their own sleeping space, which should be in a cool, dimly lit area without a lot of foot fall. If they have a crate or cage, be sure it’s inviting with lots of blankets and toys.
Establish a puppy bedtime routine
A bedtime routine is super important for keeping your puppy feeling safe and cared for. The theory is, when they know what to expect each evening, they’ll be prone to behaving themselves.
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Preparing your puppy for bed. Be sure to have worn your pup out with lots of attention and games. If they’re too young for walks outside, running about the house will physically exhaust them. Also, select a toy for them to have when it’s time for bed, and they’ll soon learn to associate the appearance of this toy with sleep time. Calming dog treats might also help, as the ingredients have been thoughtfully selected for their calming properties.
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Offer mental stimulation. Mental activities can wear your puppy out, so they’ll easily drift off to sleep at the right time. This could be puzzles, fetch games, or training sessions.
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Take your puppy out to pee. Get your pup used to going out to pee before bed. Setting up a toilet schedule which includes going outside before sleep will not only indicate to them that it’s bedtime, but will make them less prone to disturb you in the night with accidents or wanting to go out.
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Make their crate/sleeping area a safe space. Crates are naturally calming to dogs, so if you do crate train, then be sure it isn’t a bare or unwelcoming space, but a cosy one! Fill their sleeping area with blankets, toys and comfort items so your pooch finds it easy to settle at bedtime.
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Reduce any sleep disruptions. If there are flashing lights, disturbing noises or anything that might keep your pooch awake, do all you can to reduce these. Make sure curtains are closed so they aren’t distracted by goings-on outside the window.
Build a strong bond with puppy during the first day
Your cute, fuzzy puppy will start to bond with you almost immediately, so you should keep that momentum going throughout their first day at home. Give lots of cuddles, play games and talk to them a lot so they get used to your voice - this should strengthen the bond between you throughout the first day. This burgeoning trust will help your pup feel calmer once night falls and it’s time for them to sleep with you nearby.
Dealing with your puppy crying at night
No matter what you do to keep your pup safe and sound, the chances that they’ll cry during the first night are still high. If your pooch just can’t seem to settle on those first couple of nights, don’t worry - it’s completely normal and should improve over the coming days.Stay calm and patient, and know that better nights are to come.
How to settle a puppy at night
Here are some tips to keep calm and controlled when your pup just won’t sleep…
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Comfort them. Your pup might just want to feel the safety of someone nearby. Soothe them by stroking them and lulling them back to sleep.
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Check basic needs. They may need the toilet or a drink. If they won’t settle after being comforted, try taking them outside to pee, or offering them water. As a last resort, offer a small amount of nutritious puppy food (they might be hungry, but don’t do this often as they shouldn’t get into the habit of eating at night).
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Be consistent. Follow the same routine of comforting them for a short while then leaving them to sleep again. Bringing them to your bed sometimes or always offering them different things will be confusing, and encourage them to wake up more often.
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Reduce the amount of time you stay with them each night. As each night passes, stay with them for a shorter amount of time when they cry. They should slowly get used to being independent.
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Use positive reinforcement. Don’t punish your puppy for waking or crying, they’re still a baby and don’t know better yet. Instead, offer positive reinforcement, such as praise or petting when they do calm down. In the morning, if they’ve had a quiet night, praise them for doing so and offer a healthy dog treat.
Remember, the preparation for a good nights’ sleep begins that morning. Get ahead of the risk of a puppy night-time crying by following these golden rules:
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Follow a consistent bedtime routine. Indicate bedtime with a routine; such as giving them a calming treat or specific toy, taking them outside to go to the toilet, and gesturing towards their bed - and do this every single evening.
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Keep their sleep space comfortable. Fill their bed or crate with comfort items, toys and calming treats, and ensure the temperature, light level and smell of the space is pleasant and inviting.
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Tire them out during the day. Physically and mentally exhaust your pup with play, lots of exercises, training games and interactive activities.
Recognising signs of anxiety in puppies
Perhaps it’s gotten to the point where you don’t think your puppy’s level of anxiety fits the norm. If you’ve tried all of the above tips over a period of weeks and are still having trouble getting your pup to settle at night, it may be time to see a vet or dog behavioural therapist. Look out for these signs of severe anxiety in pups:
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Constant crying and whimpering that doesn’t settle over time.
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Destruction of the house/toys/property that doesn’t improve.
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Aggressive behaviour (biting, snapping, growling) that doesn’t improve with training exercises.
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Going to the toilet in the house, despite plenty of chances to go outside.
FAQs
By now, you should hopefully feel confident to handle the first night at home with your new pup - the start of a long and happy life together! To finish, here are some final commonly asked questions about your puppy’s first night…
Where should a puppy sleep on the first night?
Your new puppy should sleep in the same room as you for the first few nights after bringing them home, to ease them into their new surroundings and avoid separation anxiety. This can either be in their own bed or a crate nearby, or even on the bed with you, if that’s your preference.
Is the first night with a puppy the hardest?
As a general rule, the first night is the toughest for a puppy as everything is so new for them. They might have a few rough nights throughout the beginning weeks in their new home, but things will settle eventually and you’ll have your peaceful nights back once again - we promise!
Should I leave my puppy alone the first night?
It’s not recommended to leave your puppy alone on the first night. It’s likely they’re used to company when they sleep, either with their littermates or previous caregivers, so they’ll be very anxious in a new space with unfamiliar faces. It’s best to keep your pup at least in the same room with you for the first few nights so they feel safe and comforted.
How long should I leave a puppy to cry at night?
Just like a human baby, tending to a puppy when they cry should be balanced with leaving them sometimes to self-soothe. If you see to your puppy in the nights when they cry, try to leave them alone for a bit longer each time, so they don’t associate crying with immediate attention from you. In time, they should learn to soothe on their own, and eventually won’t cry in the nights at all.
Should I let my puppy sleep with me the first night?
This is a personal choice, and something lots of puppy parents do for maximum comfort and bonding with their pup. Others prefer to set boundaries from the start, and have the puppy sleep where they always will; in their crate or bed. Whatever you decide, try to stay consistent with your pooch so they know what to expect and how to behave.
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