[Closed] Any tips for a Puppies first night?

When my ginger terrier turned up, on the first night he howled in the kitchen, I ended up sitting on the kitchen floor with him for an hour or so and then I suddenly awoke on cold lino 7 hours later. The little blighter was snuggled up in my armpit and I melted. Have stayed pretty much melted ever since.

The RSPCA advised me to put one of my t-shirts in with mine on the first night. She's a beauty though, all the best.

I recommend that you give me your dog. Or post more pictures.

Blanket and hot water bottle for the pup and good earplugs for you.
Our Boxer pup is 4 months now and still whines a wee bit first thing in the morning but it's getting less and less.
Attention good or bad is attention and that is what the dog will react to.
IGNORE IT WHEN IT CRIES!

Do _NOT_ under any circumstances give in and go down to reassure your puppy when she starts crying. If you do, you're on a hiding to nothing as she will start to associate crying with you coming down and making a fuss of her.

We did this with one of our two spaniels and Ted still whines when we are not with him. He's three now and it drives my wife mad.

It may be worthwhile crating her too. It's a good way to start off the house training and can help avoid costly chewing incidents (Ralph, the younger of our two spaniels, owes me two new T-shirts and a merino baselayer after he chewed the armpits out of them).

By the way, she looks lovely! Enjoy!

"D.A.P." spray/plug in diffusers can make a big difference if you're concerned. It's a copy of the pheromone the bitch secretes when suckling her pups and just helps to keep them relaxed.

Other than that, somewhere warm, draft free. And if you don't want to create a rod for your own back, don't go back to her if she starts crying - she'll soon settle down.

Good luck - I'm sure she'll be fine. Borders are great little dogs

start as you mean to go on

do not give into her, it [b]will[/b] be a kids face next time.

I am sorry, I appear to have been wrong. My dog is now 7 but I spose that first night I spent bonding with him could come back and rear it's ugly head in the end.

+1 for D.A.P spray & plug. Works very well.

Always ignore the puppy for at least 10 minutes when seeing it for the first time that day, whether that's morning or after work. If you great it, make a fuss of it as soon as you get home, you can bring on seperation anxiety which could mean barking/howling/chewing things while you're not there. This also goes for everyone that is going to come round to see your new puppy.

Its not so much training the puppy, its about training everyone who is going to interact with the puppy/dog.

As above, leave them something of yours. Lock 'em in a cage in the kitchen. Close all doors inbetween. They'll be reet.

This works with children too.

I had the best intentions when I had my GSD puppy. He was going to sleep down stairs. Sert up a box, blanket, hot water bottle, ticking clock.

Woke in the middle of the night to the crying. Took him upstairs in the box. Still crying, so on the bed.

That was it, he slept on my bed for ten years. (not non stop, that wopuld be silly.)

[i]Do _NOT_ under any circumstances give in and go down to reassure your puppy when she starts crying. If you do, you're on a hiding to nothing [/i]

In theory correct, in reality ... trying to sleep with a dog howling and barking and whining... neighbours trying to sleep with a dog howling and barking and whining...

Like the controlled crying technique with children, it's a gradual process. Yes, don't go and reassure immediately, but in the end you have to do it.

We had to start with ours in the bedroom and gradually move her further and further away, week by week! Took a good few months before the whining stopped, but she happily sleeps downstairs now.
We didn't have ours from a small puppy, so you should find it a little easier 🙂

[typed before the site went down, so may have already been answered!]

My school of thought is very similar to Torminalis and DezB. Whether right or wrong I think it will be unfair on puppy to get her and leave her on her own on her first night.
On day two I will be getting her used to leaving her on her own in her crate for very small amounts of time and slowly building this up.
I have read The Purfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey which I found very useful but it's always good to hear from peoples experiences.

For Mrs Toast.
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Puppy cage, cuddly toy and ignore, man up a bit now or forever pay the consequences, oh and remember to socialise it once it's had it's jabs

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We have a 7 month old Border Terrier, Gylly, he is awesome as you can see, so well done on selecting a Border T!
1st and 2nd night he cried quite a bit and for the 1st two night, yes we did give in a little bit. We didn't spend any time with him in the night, just reassured him we were there. Come night 3 we decided it was time to toughen up and ignored him. The barking did stop. He now does not bark/cry at night at all. Ok he does bark if he hears something outside. So yes, be tough and do not spend time with them at night.

We left some of our clothes with him in his crate.

To be honest you biggest challeneg is going to be the biting of you she will do with her razor sharp teeth!

Happy to share border care tips if needed having just been through 7 months of Border growth!

Just remember - it could be a kid's face next time.

(beat you to it Phil! 🙂 )

Dogs are pack animals, give in to them when puppies and they think they are pack leader which will cause alsorts of problems in the years ahead

There are plenty of other methods for asserting leadership.

The first night with Sprocket our Border Terrier was accompanied by all of the above whining and crying, we went down to see him and stroked him until he went to sleep.

The following night I'd read somewhere that if you put a ticking clock in with them it sounds like their mother's heart beat and helps them get to sleep. So second night we tuck him up in bed with his clock and stroke him until he nodded off and off we toddle to bed feeling very pleased with ourselves as good parents.

That lasted until 3am when the alarm went off on the clock and really set him off 😳

For Mrs Toast.

Puppy! \o/

I'd really like a dog, it'd be a bit cruel though as we're both out of the house all day. 🙁 My brother is lucky, he owns his own business so he gets to take his dog into the officer.

oh really dez?

philconsequence - Member
do not give into her, it will be a kids face next time.

😆

i want a puppy! it'd be cruel though as neither me or mrsconsequence are home during the days and our housemate can't look after himself let alone an animal.

Ah, bum! Missed that!