how to kennel train a puppy at night?

When it comes to going to bed, puppies aren't always the greatest at settling down. Just like babies, they often wake up in the middle of the night. They need to go potty. They're lonely. They miss their littermates. They want to play, snuggle, or have a snack. But don't worry, there are ways to get your pup to stay asleep. We 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.

Once your puppy gets used to being in his crate at night, you can slowly transition the crate away from you. Start by putting more distance between the bed and the crate. Then move the crate to the floor and finally, to whatever room your pup is going to sleep in permanently. At that point, your puppy has adjusted to family life, Gillihan says.

Having a bedtime routine is just as important for puppies as it is for people. It helps prevent potty accidents and endless wake-ups in the middle of the night. And it gets your puppy ready to sleep. Here are some things to consider doing before tucking in your pup.

Feed your puppy dinner at least a few hours before bedtime. That way your puppy has time to process it and do his business before turning in for the night. Also, keep the water in your pup's bowl to a minimum the last hour before his curfew.

There are differing opinions on what a puppy's bedtime routine should look like. Do you try to wear your puppy out with a play session or walk? Or do you try to calm your puppy down with snuggling and petting?

"What's most important is that you have a routine, not necessarily what's in it," Gillihan says. "It's just a way to signal to the dog that it's time to wind down. With my own dogs, I'll do a relaxing routine. I'll have them settle down with a chew toy and then brush their teeth afterward." Whatever you choose, be consistent. Your dog will come to recognize and expect the nightly routine.

The biggest problem pet parents have with nighttime crate training is when puppies put up a fuss. Does your puppy really need to go potty or does he just want attention? It can be hard to tell. If it's the middle of the night, assume your puppy has to go potty, Gillihan says. Give your puppy the chance to relieve himself and then put him back in the crate. Use this info as a guideline for how long your puppy can hold it in the crate:

"What's really important is making sure there's no communication. You take your puppy out, don't talk, maybe say go potty. Then as soon as your puppy is done, he goes back in the crate," she says. "That way you're not providing attention and stimulation. When you talk to your puppy, it's rewarding and encourages him to repeat the crying behavior."

If your puppy continues to bark or whine in the crate after having a potty break, you can give him a little while to see if he settles down. Don't immediately respond or talk or love on your puppy—it'll just reinforce the crying behavior.

To alleviate your puppy's stress at night, consider using a comfort item. Many pet parents swear by specially designed stuffed animals that have warm bodies and heartbeats. They simulate a littermate. You can also try a thunder shirt, which pet parents typically use to soothe canines afraid of thunder. But it also works for puppies, similar to how a swaddle comforts newborns.

Crate training can take days or weeks, depending on your dog's age, temperament and past experiences. It's important to keep two things in mind while crate training: The crate should always be associated with something pleasant and training should take place in a series of small steps. Don't go too fast.

Place the crate in an area of your house where the family spends a lot of time, such as the family room. Put a soft blanket or bed in the crate. Take the door off or keep it propped open and let the dog explore the crate at their leisure. Some dogs will be naturally curious and start sleeping in the crate right away. If yours isn't one of them:

After introducing your dog to the crate, begin feeding them their regular meals near the crate. This will create a pleasant association with the crate.

After your dog is eating their regular meals in the crate with no sign of fear or anxiety, you can confine them there for short periods of time while you're home.

After your dog can spend about 30 minutes in the crate without becoming anxious or afraid, you can begin leaving them crated for short periods when you leave the house.

When you return home, don't reward your dog for excited behavior by responding to them in an enthusiastic way. Keep arrivals low-key to avoid increasing their anxiety over when you will return. Continue to crate your dog for short periods from time to time when you're home so they don't associate crating with being left alone.

Put your dog in the crate using your regular command and a treat. Initially, it may be a good idea to put the crate in your bedroom or nearby in a hallway, especially if you have a puppy. Puppies often need to go outside to eliminate during the night and you'll want to be able to hear your puppy when they whine to be let outside. Older dogs should also initially be kept nearby so they don't associate the crate with social isolation.

Once your dog is sleeping comfortably through the night with the crate near you, you can begin to gradually move it to the location you prefer, although time spent with your dog—even sleep time—is a chance to strengthen the bond between you and your pet.

Even if your puppy is doing well eating their meals or taking daytime naps in their crate, sometimes sleeping in their crate at nighttime seems like a whole new ballgame.

I personally recommend that puppies and dogs should be allowed access to water at all times, as water is what's considered a "primary resource" — meaning they need it to survive. However, if your puppy is having a tough time with nighttime potty training, removing water an hour or so before bedtime is something you can consider after consulting with your veterinarian.

There are certain medical conditions that require free access to fresh drinking water (such as diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, Addison’s disease, or if they’re on medications that make them more prone to dehydration). You'll also want to rule out medical reasons for frequent potty accidents, such as a urinary tract infection. Because water bowls will inevitably be flipped over or splashed in by a puppy in their crate, I recommend using a clip-on water bottle or bowl like the two featured below.

Finnegan's owners set up his puppy playpen to include his nighttime crate with Snuggle Puppy, safe chew toys, and even plugged in an Adaptil diffuser near (but outside) the pen to create a relaxing space:

When I brought home my puppy, I had a similar setup for his crate in my bedroom. As he matured and worked up to being confined in the crate for sleep, I was able to remove the potty pads and pen area. I had also learned that he wasn't a big "nibbler" of soft blankets so I added more of those for his comfort and preferences:

Crate training at night is incredibly helpful for your puppy's overall house training. However, it's crucial that your puppy is getting consistent opportunities during the night to go to the bathroom outside. A full night's sleep without a potty break is usually seen around 16–20 weeks of age, but some puppies might take longer due to their breed, size, or house training history.

The last thing you want is for your puppy to have an accident in their crate. Crate training helps with house training because dogs naturally do not want to soil where they sleep. Set your puppy up for success and take advantage of this instinct by planning for middle-of-the-night potty breaks so they aren't physically pushed past what their little bladders can handle. Try following the guidelines below:

The goal with nighttime potty breaks is to give your puppy the chance to go to the bathroom before they wake up from a deep sleep having to go right away. Setting an alarm for regular nighttime potty breaks is a great way to prevent crate accidents or being woken up by your puppy barking.

Each puppy is different, but a good rule of thumb for the amount of time they can "hold it" between bathroom breaks during the day is the number of months they are old plus one. For a two-month-old puppy, we can reasonably expect three hours between necessary potty breaks. For a three-month-old puppy, it would be four hours. For dogs around six months old, we can expect seven hours maximum.

For young puppies just getting started with house training, they should be given a potty break quite often throughout the day, even if they are able to physically hold it longer. Take them outside whenever there is a transition from one activity to another. For example, immediately after they wake up (whether from overnight sleep or just a nap), before and after a play session, before and after a short training session, after mealtime ... if you feel like you're always taking them outside, you're doing it right!

For nighttime potty breaks, fortunately, we can expect a little bit longer between breaks than during the day, thanks to the fact the puppy is asleep. Plan for at least two potty breaks during the night for very young puppies, and then adjust accordingly based on their house training progression.

Some puppies are able to sleep much longer at night without a potty break than others. It might take a bit of trial and error to find out what your puppy needs. If you find that your puppy regularly wakes up needing to go to the bathroom at 1:00 am, set an alarm for 12:45 am for a preemptive potty break. After a few days of this, set your alarm for thirty minutes to an hour later to see if they can hold it longer while asleep. As their bodies mature, you should see a natural increase in the length of time they go between nighttime bathroom breaks.

When you take your puppy out during the night to go potty, don't engage in any play or activity that will rile them up. If you can, pick them up to bring them outside, as this helps keep them from stretching their legs too much and feeling "awake." Potty breaks should always be business before pleasure! If you take them out and they don't go to the bathroom within five minutes or less, simply take them back to their crate to go back to sleep. If this happens often, it's time to extend the amount of time between potty breaks at night.

If they get distracted by all the things outside and forget about doing their business, try practicing their Go Potty Cue. Learn how in our article "4 Easy Steps to Teach Your Puppy to Go Potty on Cue."

• Find the Right Spot for the Crate.
• Avoid Food & Water Before Bedtime.
• Wear Your Puppy Out.
• Go Outside Immediately Before Bed.
• Don't Play with Your Puppy at Night.
• Wake Up Before Your Puppy.
• Be Consistent & Patient.