Puppy sleep problems are almost universal in the first weeks. The good news is they're temporary — and a few simple steps make a significant difference from night one.
"Three nights of difficult sleep leads to years of a dog that settles beautifully. It is absolutely worth the short-term effort."Get Harold's Free Guide Practical help — straight to your inbox.
Harold's approach: "Don't reward the crying. Consistency through the hard nights creates the calm sleeping dog you're hoping for."
Your puppy has just left a warm pile of siblings and a mother they've slept with every night of their life. Crying on the first night or two is completely normal and not a sign that something is wrong. What matters is how you respond to that crying.
Going to a crying puppy every time they cry teaches them that crying reliably brings you back. This creates a dog that cries whenever they want company — for years. The short-term discomfort of not responding immediately creates long-term calm.
A puppy that learns to self-settle becomes a dog that settles on command.
Harold will email it to you right now — practical help for exactly this problem.
🔒 No spam, ever. Unsubscribe any time.
A crate or pen in a warm, quiet spot gives your puppy a safe den to sleep in. Cover three sides to make it feel enclosed. Add a worn item of your clothing — the scent is comforting. A ticking clock or low white noise can help in the first nights.
Tire your puppy out with a good play session in the early evening, but stop the excitement 20-30 minutes before bedtime and start winding down. Take them outside immediately before bed. The emptier the bladder, the longer the sleep.
The setup matters. A comfortable, enclosed sleeping spot reduces anxiety significantly.
Young puppies genuinely cannot hold their bladder all night. For the first few weeks, one night-time trip outside is often necessary — particularly for puppies under 12 weeks. Keep it brief, calm, and boring. No play, no fuss. Just outside, toilet, back to bed. The goal is to make night-time as unremarkable as possible.