Keep in mind that if you just got a new puppy and it won’t stop crying unless you pick it up, don’t make it a habit. When you do this, you are reinforcing to your dog that whenever he is unhappy, you will give in to what he wants so that he feels better. You may not see the problem with this until it becomes a habit and soon your dog is behaving in other ways that are not acceptable but have only been reinforced since he was a puppy. You don’t want your dog to think that crying to get what he wants is acceptable behavior.
With that said, remember that your puppy is a very young animal. Never scold or yell at your puppy when he is sad. The last thing you want to breed is an aggressive or insecure dog. It will take a lot of time and practice to create a schedule for your pup to get used to.
Once you’re on a schedule, you’ll feel less anxious. He is new to his environment and with strangers. He will cry for quite some time until he feels more secure. Along with proper training, it can help allay his whining for your peace of mind and your new pup too!
The best way to help your dog feel safe is to crate train him. Dogs have natural den instincts and will feel safe and secure if you have a special confined space just for him. This is great if you are not home because he will be very anxious to be alone. Don’t forget to get a suitable dog crate that will fit your dog when he is an adult.
Make sure he has a comfortable dog bed in his crate, as well as some chew toys. Make his cage as comfortable as possible. Do not put water or food in his cage. It is not a mini apartment for your dog, but a place to feel safe and comfortable. Be sure to feed your dog in the morning and create a feeding schedule for him.
At night when he is sleeping, cover his cage with a blanket. By covering his box with a blanket, he won’t see you or anyone else until the morning of the hit. This will help prevent him from whining for attention.
Before bed, take your pup for a long walk and make sure he goes potty as often as he needs to. Play with your puppy and do your best to get him out. This will help you sleep through the night. Just like children, a puppy cannot hold his bladder for long and the more tired he is, the longer he will sleep.
At night, your dog will most likely whine and cry. If this happens, place his box in a different room where he can’t be heard. I know it will be very heartbreaking and you will be very tempted to let it out, but refrain from doing so. You have to stick to the plan if you ever want this to work. Also, avoid any scolding, punishment, or negative attention while in the cage. The last thing you want is for your pup to associate bad experiences while he’s in his crate.
You are going to have to take your pup outside at least a few times during the night. A puppy can only hold his bladder for how many months he has plus one in hours. For example, if he has 4 months of retention, he can hold his bladder for only 5 hours. If he is 2 months old, he can only hold his bladder for 3 hours.
Get up earlier than usual to take your pup out. Once your dog knows that he is coming in the morning, he will not be forgotten and will feel more secure that you will not abandon him. This will be tedious, but that’s what owning a puppy is all about.
No matter how much your puppy cries all night, do not get close to him, it may seem cruel but you will only reinforce that every time he cries, you are at his disposal. Remember, a puppy is different from a baby, his dog will have to learn to cope when he feels anxious. You’ll only make it that much harder for him in the long run if you don’t let his yelling go ignored. If you can hear it, move your dog to another room or place a blanket on top of his crate. If he can’t see you, he’ll be less likely to cry.