August 14, 2025 • 7 mins
Sleepless nights with your new puppy? You’re not alone! In this episode, Amy shares a simple bedtime routine, tips for crate comfort, and how to handle whining so everyone can get a good night’s sleep—puppy included.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
If you just brought home a new puppy recently, today
we are talking about how to getthat puppy to sleep through the
night.
I promise you're going to wantto hear this one.
Welcome to the Puppy TrainingPodcast.
I'm Amy Jensen, founder ofBaxter Bella, the online puppy
school.
Here we are all about helpingyou create the best possible
(00:21):
experience raising a puppy, fromtraining tips to practical
tricks, all aimed at fostering ahappy, well-behaved dog who
truly feels like part of thefamily.
So if you are ready to enjoythe journey and strengthen the
bond with your dog, let's getstarted.
Hey everyone, and welcome backto the Puppy Training Podcast.
(00:42):
I'm Amy from Baxter Bella, theonline puppy school, and today
we are talking about something.
Every new puppy parent goesthrough sleepless nights.
You know the drill You'vebrought home your adorable new
puppy.
You're so excited, but when thesun goes down and it's time for
bed, they start to cry, maybewhine or bark a little bit, and
(01:03):
suddenly you're not so sure thiswas the best idea.
I promise this is so normal.
Puppies aren't born knowing howto sleep through the night and
with a little structure,patience and some comfort, we
can help them learn thatnighttime is a time to rest, not
panic, let's get into it.
So first of all, why puppiesstruggle with sleep?
First things first, let's talkabout why this happens.
(01:25):
Puppies are babies.
They have spent their wholelives, up to this point,
snuggled up with theirlittermates and mom, likely in a
warm pile of bodies.
Then one day they're placed ina totally new environment that's
your home, with new people,that's you, new smells, and
suddenly they're expected tosleep all alone, comfortably.
It's a big adjustment and,honestly, it's scary for them.
(01:46):
Add to that their smallbladders and the fact that they
don't yet know what's expectedof them at night and you've got
a recipe for whining, crying andwake-ups every couple of hours.
But don't worry, we can fixthis with some structure and a
little planning.
So next, creating a bedtimeroutine.
Just like with with kids,puppies thrive on routine.
A consistent bedtime routinehelps signal to your puppy that
(02:09):
it's time to wind down and relax, and the more predictable
bedtime becomes, the more easilythey'll settle.
Here's what I recommend.
Number one last potty breakright before bed.
Take your puppy outside for onefinal potty opportunity.
Don't really play, just calmlygo out potty come.
Don't really play, just calmlygo out potty, come back inside.
Second quiet time, about 30 to60 minutes before bed, start
(02:31):
winding things down.
Dim the lights, reduceexcitement, stop roughhousing or
tug games.
You can replace that with achew toy or snuggle time or
gentle petting.
Number three is bedtime cue.
Use a consistent cue like timefor bed when you guide them to
their crate.
Over time, that phrase willhelp them anticipate what's next
.
The key here is consistency.
(02:52):
The same steps in the sameorder help your puppy feel
secure.
Next up, setting up a comfycrate.
We believe in crate traininghere at Baxter and Bella, so
let's talk about crate setup.
Because if your puppy's cratefeels cold, lonely, bella, so
let's talk about crate setup,because if your puppy's crate
feels cold, lonely or scary,they're not going to want to
sleep there.
Here's how to make it a cozy,comforting space.
First of all is location.
(03:13):
Keep the crate in your bedroomfor the first few nights, or
even up to a week.
Just being near you can helpyour puppy feel more secure.
As for bedding, add a softblanket or towel, but only if
your puppy isn't chewing oringesting it.
You can also use a crate matinside the crate if your dog
wants a soft bed.
If you notice them scratchingand pushing it out of the way.
They're probably too warm andthey just want to sleep on the
(03:34):
cool plastic floor.
That's okay too.
Next up is a stuffed animal or aheartbeat toy.
I love the company SnugglePuppies.
Those puppies have a littleheart that goes inside that
beats, and the heating pack alittle Velcro pouch in the belly
of that puppy that you can puta heating pack in and seal it
off so your puppy can't accessit, but that can provide some
warmth and comfort.
(03:55):
Just hearing that littleheartbeat goes a long way those
first few nights because,remember, they're used to
sleeping next to theirlittermates and when they come
to your house the littermatesaren't there.
I also like to add a littlewhite noise.
A quiet fan or a white noisemachine can drown out sudden
noises that might startle yourpuppy awake.
I find that ocean sounds worksreally great.
(04:15):
And one more tip keep nighttimeboring.
If your puppy does wake upquietly, take them out to potty.
No, play boring.
If your puppy does wake upquietly, take them out to potty.
No play, no talk, really.
Then back to the crate for morebedtime.
All right, what do we do aboutwhining?
So that's kind of a bigquestion, right?
What do I do when my puppycries in the crate at night.
Now here's where it gets alittle tricky, because sometimes
they do need to go potty andother times they're just
(04:38):
protesting being alone.
So how do you tell thedifference?
If it's been more than two tothree hours and they're under 12
weeks, it's probably a pottyneed.
Quietly take them out, then putthem right back in.
If they just went potty andstart whining once back in the
crate, it's likely attentionseeking.
In this case you can do yourbest to simply ignore it.
Do keep that crate close to you.
You can put your hand on it ornear that front panel so that
(05:00):
they can lick your hand and getsome comfort from you.
But we don't really want totalk to them or do much more
than that.
This part is kind of hard, butgiving in to whining teaches
them that crying equalsattention or release.
That's the opposite of what wewant them to learn.
If you're consistent and calm,most puppies adjust within a few
nights.
I keep their crate close to mybed for the first two or three
(05:20):
nights.
Then I transition them to maybethe foot of my bed, then maybe
my master closet or masterbathroom, and then they can be
out of my room once they'resleeping through the night on
their own comfortably and theyfeel safe in their new space.
If your puppy isn't sleepingthrough the night yet, please
know this you are not alone.
It's a phase and it doesn'tlast forever.
By around 16 weeks, mostpuppies can go six to eight
(05:42):
hours without needing to potty.
Until then you may be up onceor twice a night, and that's
normal and okay.
If you're feeling discouraged,hang in there.
Your effort now pays off bigtime down the road.
A puppy who learns to settle atnight grows into a dog who
sleeps peacefully in your home.
And, of course, if you everneed step-by-step support, you
know where to find us inside theBaxter and Bella online puppy
school Simply go to Ask theTrainer.
(06:03):
All right, you guys.
That's it for today.
I hope this episode gives you agame plan and some peace of
mind for helping your puppysleep better at night.
If you love this episode,please leave a review or share
it with a friend who'sstruggling with the nighttime
crazies.
And don't forget to check outour online puppy school.
We've got tools, videos, liveclasses, community support to
(06:23):
help you every step of the way.
Have a great weekend, happytraining.
Thanks for tuning in to thePuppy Training Podcast.
I hope today's tips help youfeel more confident and excited
about raising your dog.
Remember, with a littlepatience and consistency, you
can create a loving bond and awell-behaved pup who's a joy to
have in your family.
Create a loving bond and awell-behaved pup who's a joy to
(06:44):
have in your family.
If you found this episodehelpful, be sure to subscribe,
leave a review and share it withfellow puppy parents.
For more resources, visitBaxter and Bella online.
Until next time, happy training.
If you just brought home a new puppy recently, today
we are talking about how to getthat puppy to sleep through the
night.
I promise you're going to wantto hear this one.
Welcome to the Puppy TrainingPodcast.
I'm Amy Jensen, founder ofBaxter Bella, the online puppy
school.
Here we are all about helpingyou create the best possible
(00:21):
experience raising a puppy, fromtraining tips to practical
tricks, all aimed at fostering ahappy, well-behaved dog who
truly feels like part of thefamily.
So if you are ready to enjoythe journey and strengthen the
bond with your dog, let's getstarted.
Hey everyone, and welcome backto the Puppy Training Podcast.
(00:42):
I'm Amy from Baxter Bella, theonline puppy school, and today
we are talking about something.
Every new puppy parent goesthrough sleepless nights.
You know the drill You'vebrought home your adorable new
puppy.
You're so excited, but when thesun goes down and it's time for
bed, they start to cry, maybewhine or bark a little bit, and
(01:03):
suddenly you're not so sure thiswas the best idea.
I promise this is so normal.
Puppies aren't born knowing howto sleep through the night and
with a little structure,patience and some comfort, we
can help them learn thatnighttime is a time to rest, not
panic, let's get into it.
So first of all, why puppiesstruggle with sleep?
First things first, let's talkabout why this happens.
(01:25):
Puppies are babies.
They have spent their wholelives, up to this point,
snuggled up with theirlittermates and mom, likely in a
warm pile of bodies.
Then one day they're placed ina totally new environment that's
your home, with new people,that's you, new smells, and
suddenly they're expected tosleep all alone, comfortably.
It's a big adjustment and,honestly, it's scary for them.
(01:46):
Add to that their smallbladders and the fact that they
don't yet know what's expectedof them at night and you've got
a recipe for whining, crying andwake-ups every couple of hours.
But don't worry, we can fixthis with some structure and a
little planning.
So next, creating a bedtimeroutine.
Just like with with kids,puppies thrive on routine.
A consistent bedtime routinehelps signal to your puppy that
(02:09):
it's time to wind down and relax, and the more predictable
bedtime becomes, the more easilythey'll settle.
Here's what I recommend.
Number one last potty breakright before bed.
Take your puppy outside for onefinal potty opportunity.
Don't really play, just calmlygo out potty come.
Don't really play, just calmlygo out potty, come back inside.
Second quiet time, about 30 to60 minutes before bed, start
(02:31):
winding things down.
Dim the lights, reduceexcitement, stop roughhousing or
tug games.
You can replace that with achew toy or snuggle time or
gentle petting.
Number three is bedtime cue.
Use a consistent cue like timefor bed when you guide them to
their crate.
Over time, that phrase willhelp them anticipate what's next
.
The key here is consistency.
(02:52):
The same steps in the sameorder help your puppy feel
secure.
Next up, setting up a comfycrate.
We believe in crate traininghere at Baxter and Bella, so
let's talk about crate setup.
Because if your puppy's cratefeels cold, lonely, bella, so
let's talk about crate setup,because if your puppy's crate
feels cold, lonely or scary,they're not going to want to
sleep there.
Here's how to make it a cozy,comforting space.
First of all is location.
(03:13):
Keep the crate in your bedroomfor the first few nights, or
even up to a week.
Just being near you can helpyour puppy feel more secure.
As for bedding, add a softblanket or towel, but only if
your puppy isn't chewing oringesting it.
You can also use a crate matinside the crate if your dog
wants a soft bed.
If you notice them scratchingand pushing it out of the way.
They're probably too warm andthey just want to sleep on the
(03:34):
cool plastic floor.
That's okay too.
Next up is a stuffed animal or aheartbeat toy.
I love the company SnugglePuppies.
Those puppies have a littleheart that goes inside that
beats, and the heating pack alittle Velcro pouch in the belly
of that puppy that you can puta heating pack in and seal it
off so your puppy can't accessit, but that can provide some
warmth and comfort.
(03:55):
Just hearing that littleheartbeat goes a long way those
first few nights because,remember, they're used to
sleeping next to theirlittermates and when they come
to your house the littermatesaren't there.
I also like to add a littlewhite noise.
A quiet fan or a white noisemachine can drown out sudden
noises that might startle yourpuppy awake.
I find that ocean sounds worksreally great.
(04:15):
And one more tip keep nighttimeboring.
If your puppy does wake upquietly, take them out to potty.
No, play boring.
If your puppy does wake upquietly, take them out to potty.
No play, no talk, really.
Then back to the crate for morebedtime.
All right, what do we do aboutwhining?
So that's kind of a bigquestion, right?
What do I do when my puppycries in the crate at night.
Now here's where it gets alittle tricky, because sometimes
they do need to go potty andother times they're just
(04:38):
protesting being alone.
So how do you tell thedifference?
If it's been more than two tothree hours and they're under 12
weeks, it's probably a pottyneed.
Quietly take them out, then putthem right back in.
If they just went potty andstart whining once back in the
crate, it's likely attentionseeking.
In this case you can do yourbest to simply ignore it.
Do keep that crate close to you.
You can put your hand on it ornear that front panel so that
(05:00):
they can lick your hand and getsome comfort from you.
But we don't really want totalk to them or do much more
than that.
This part is kind of hard, butgiving in to whining teaches
them that crying equalsattention or release.
That's the opposite of what wewant them to learn.
If you're consistent and calm,most puppies adjust within a few
nights.
I keep their crate close to mybed for the first two or three
(05:20):
nights.
Then I transition them to maybethe foot of my bed, then maybe
my master closet or masterbathroom, and then they can be
out of my room once they'resleeping through the night on
their own comfortably and theyfeel safe in their new space.
If your puppy isn't sleepingthrough the night yet, please
know this you are not alone.
It's a phase and it doesn'tlast forever.
By around 16 weeks, mostpuppies can go six to eight
(05:42):
hours without needing to potty.
Until then you may be up onceor twice a night, and that's
normal and okay.
If you're feeling discouraged,hang in there.
Your effort now pays off bigtime down the road.
A puppy who learns to settle atnight grows into a dog who
sleeps peacefully in your home.
And, of course, if you everneed step-by-step support, you
know where to find us inside theBaxter and Bella online puppy
school Simply go to Ask theTrainer.
(06:03):
All right, you guys.
That's it for today.
I hope this episode gives you agame plan and some peace of
mind for helping your puppysleep better at night.
If you love this episode,please leave a review or share
it with a friend who'sstruggling with the nighttime
crazies.
And don't forget to check outour online puppy school.
We've got tools, videos, liveclasses, community support to
(06:23):
help you every step of the way.
Have a great weekend, happytraining.
Thanks for tuning in to thePuppy Training Podcast.
I hope today's tips help youfeel more confident and excited
about raising your dog.
Remember, with a littlepatience and consistency, you
can create a loving bond and awell-behaved pup who's a joy to
have in your family.
Create a loving bond and awell-behaved pup who's a joy to
(06:44):
have in your family.
If you found this episodehelpful, be sure to subscribe,
leave a review and share it withfellow puppy parents.
For more resources, visitBaxter and Bella online.
Until next time, happy training.
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