- ⏱️ 6 min read
- 🐶 New puppies
- 🌙 Bedtime plan
- 🦃 Holiday weeks
It is your puppy's first week home, the house is getting busier with the holidays, and every night ends the same way: the crate door closes and the crying starts. You are exhausted, and you are not sure whether to go to your puppy or wait it out.
Crying in the first nights is normal for a puppy who has never slept alone. What helps most is a crate close to you, a steady bedtime routine, quiet potty breaks and something soft and familiar in the crate. This Petstone guide gives you a calm plan for the first week, including how to protect that routine when guests arrive.
Quick answer
- Put the crate next to your bed for the first nights, as AKC suggests.
- Keep the same bedtime and the same short routine every night.
- Take your puppy out for a quiet, boring potty break before bed and if they wake and whine.
- Add a blanket, a worn T-shirt or a soft toy if your puppy is not chewing it apart.
- Protect the routine during holiday visits, and see your vet if crying lasts for weeks or comes with signs of pain.
Why new puppies cry at night
Your puppy has gone from a warm pile of littermates to a crate in a strange room. The AKC first-day puppy guide notes that some puppies cry for a few nights. Most crying has a simple cause.
Missing the litter
Sleeping alone is brand new, and the crate feels empty.
Needs to go out
Young puppies often need a trip outside in the night.
New place, new sounds
Unfamiliar rooms and noises make settling harder.
No routine yet
Puppies relax faster when every evening goes the same way.
Where to put the crate the first week
Closeness matters more than anything else in the first nights. AKC suggests putting the crate in your bedroom, right next to your bed, so you can put your hand inside to reassure your puppy. The AKC guide to puppy separation anxiety adds that the crate should be somewhere your puppy will not feel isolated and alone.
Once your puppy sleeps through calmly, you can move the crate a little further away if you want, a few nights at a time.
A bedtime routine that helps puppies settle
Use the same few steps every night, in the same order. Repetition tells your puppy what comes next.
- Play and a short evening stroll, which gives exercise and a potty chance, then calm time before bed.
- A quiet potty break right before bed.
- Into the crate with a small treat when your puppy goes in willingly, as AKC suggests.
- Lights down, voices low, and your hand by the crate if your puppy needs it.
- If your puppy wakes and whines, carry them out for a quick, boring potty break, then straight back to the crate.
AKC notes that middle-of-the-night potty trips usually end by about 4 to 5 months of age.
What to put in the crate, and what to leave out
A soft, familiar item can make the crate feel less empty. AKC suggests a blanket or stuffed toy that smells like your puppy's mother.
✅ Good to add
- A blanket or towel from the breeder or litter
- An old T-shirt you have worn
- A soft toy sized so it cannot be swallowed
⚠️ Leave out
- Anything your puppy is chewing into pieces
- Small toys or loose stuffing
- Clothing with buttons, zips or strings
If you want a soft toy that can live in the crate, the Petstone Calming Duck Dog Toy is a plush quacking duck made for cuddling as well as play. It is machine washable, but it is not indestructible, so supervise and remove it if your puppy starts ripping it. For a side-by-side look at toys, blankets and scent items, read Do Comfort Toys Help Puppies Sleep?
A calm first-week plan
| Stage | What to do | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| First 2 nights | Crate beside your bed, hand nearby, quiet potty breaks | Some crying is normal |
| Nights 3 to 5 | Same routine, same time, fewer words at night | Look for shorter bouts of crying |
| Nights 6 to 7 | Keep the routine, reward calm settling with a small treat at bedtime | Note which steps help your puppy most |
| Busy holiday days | Keep bedtime the same, even if guests stay late | Expect a short setback |
Every puppy is different, so use this as a guide, not a deadline. If things are not improving, see the vet section below.
How to keep the routine when guests visit
Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings mean doorbells, late nights and lots of hands reaching for your puppy. The AVMA Thanksgiving safety page suggests putting a nervous pet in another room or a crate with a favorite toy, and warns that pets may slip out while you greet guests and collect coats.
- Poultry bones, which AVMA says can damage the digestive tract
- Fatty foods, gravy and turkey skin, which can cause problems, including pancreatitis
- Onions, raisins and grapes
- Anything with xylitol, which AVMA says can be deadly to dogs
Ask guests not to wake or pick up your puppy once bedtime starts. One person in charge of the puppy each evening keeps the routine from slipping.
When crying means it is time to call your vet
- Crying that lasts for weeks, or gets worse instead of better
- Drooling, heavy panting or frantic attempts to escape the crate
- Diarrhea, vomiting, straining to pee or any sign of pain
- Your puppy ate something from the holiday table
The ASPCA separation anxiety guide advises seeing your vet first to rule out medical problems, never punishing a distressed dog, and asking a qualified behaviorist for help in moderate to severe cases.
Shop this guide at Petstone
Gentle picks for a calmer crate and quieter evenings.
PetstoneCalming Duck Dog ToyA soft crate buddy for puppies who cuddle, not shred.View product
HuggleHoundsSquooshie Fox Plush Dog ToyAnother soft plush toy for puppies who like to carry and cuddle.View product
PetstoneDog Calming Diffuser KitA plug-in option for the room where your puppy sleeps.View product
🎁 Buy any 2 items and save 5%, applied automatically at checkout. Unused items can be returned within 30 days of delivery.
Related Petstone guides
FAQ
How long do puppies cry at night in the crate?
AKC notes that some puppies cry for a few nights. If crying lasts for weeks or gets worse, talk to your vet or a qualified trainer.
Should I ignore my puppy crying in the crate?
Not completely. Check whether your puppy needs a quiet potty break, reassure them with your hand near the crate, and keep night visits short and calm.
Should I let my puppy sleep in my bed instead?
AKC advises not to put your puppy in your bed unless that is where you want them to sleep. A crate beside your bed gives closeness without a habit you may not want.
Will holiday guests set back crate training?
A busy evening can cause a short setback. Keeping bedtime the same and giving your puppy a quiet room or crate during visits helps protect the routine.
Sources
- AKC: Your first day at home with a new puppy (crate beside your bed, set bedtime, quiet night potty breaks, mother's scent, crying for a few nights)
- AKC: Puppy separation anxiety (crate placement, routine, restlessness at night)
- AVMA: Thanksgiving pet safety (another room or crate during visits, escape risk, dangerous holiday foods)
- ASPCA: Separation anxiety (see your vet first, no punishment, behaviorist for moderate to severe cases)
Prepared by the Petstone team from product information, brand specifications and common owner questions, drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by a person before publishing.