LOS ANGELES, CA, Oct. 4, 2022 – It’s no secret that puppies require a lot of care and attention. They need to be fed several times a day, taken out for potty breaks, and given plenty of playtime and love. So when it’s time to turn in for the night, the last thing you want is for your puppy to cry and whine all night long.
The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to crate train your puppy at night with minimal fuss. Daily Paws tapped Heather Gillihan, a certified dog trainer with Zoom Room, for secrets on helping your little furball sleep through the night.
“Put yourself in your puppy’s shoes,” Gillihan says. “It’s scary to go to a new home where you don’t have your littermates or mom. So for the first couple of nights, it’s your job to help your tiny canine get comfortable in his new surroundings.”
Initially, place the puppy-sized crate right next to your bed at the same level as you. Use a sturdy chair, table, or nightstand. If your puppy starts fussing, rest your fingers in the crate through the cage door to reassure him.
“Most puppies will cry the first few nights,” Gillihan says. “But if you stay consistent with the crate training process, they’ll quickly learn that nighttime is for sleeping.”
To help your puppy feel more comfortable in his crate, Gillihan recommends adding a few cozy bedding items, such as a soft blanket or towel. You can also place a toy or chew bone in the crate for your puppy to enjoy. Just be sure to remove any items that could pose a choking hazard.
Once your puppy is comfortable sleeping in his crate at night, you can gradually start moving it to another location in your home, such as the kitchen or living room. Just be sure to keep it close to where you’ll be spending most of your time so you can keep an eye on your pup.
If you’re still having trouble getting your puppy to sleep through the night, Gillihan recommends trying a dog-specific white noise machine or app to help drown out any outside noise that may be disturbing him. You can also try placing a ticking clock near his crate to mimic the sound of a heartbeat, which can be calming for dogs.
With a little patience and consistency, you can successfully crate train your puppy at night with minimal fuss. Soon enough, you’ll both be getting a good night’s sleep!
“It’s scary to go to a new home where you don’t have your littermates or mom. So for the first couple of nights, it’s your job to help your tiny canine get comfortable in his new surroundings,” Gillihan says.
Zoom Room CEO, Mark Van Wye, adds, “Our number one priority is to make sure every pup feels comfortable and happy in their new home.”
At Zoom Room, we believe that dog training should be fun, interactive, and positive for both dogs and their owners. Our unique approach to dog training emphasizes socialization, human education, and the value of interactive learning. We offer a variety of dog training classes, socialization events, and retail products to help strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners. We also believe in giving back to the community and work closely with local and national animal rescue and welfare organizations.
For more information about Zoom Room, visit https://zoomroom.com/. For those interested in learning about franchise opportunities: https://zoomroom.com/franchise/.
###################
ABOUT ZOOM ROOM
Founded in 2007, Zoom Room® is a venture-backed and revolutionary indoor dog training gym with locations across the U.S. With an emphasis on socialization, positive reinforcement, human education and the value of interactive learning, the company aims to strengthen the bond and communication between dogs and their owners. Zoom Room’s key revenue streams include dog training classes, socialization events and retail products. Zoom Room celebrates responsible pet owners who love to socialize with their dogs and embrace positive dog training methods in a fun, friendly environment for working out with your dog. They are the authors of Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps, the best-selling dog training book of 2020, and Ultimate Puppy Training for Kids. Rooted in the belief that it’s important to give back to the community, Zoom Room works closely with animal rescue and welfare organizations both locally and nationwide. Learn more at https://zoomroom.com/.