Aren’t puppies so cute? They are cuddly and happy, energized and just plain bundles of fun. That is until you turn off the lights and go to bed! Then it all begins, and let’s just say, it’s far from the fun stuff. The crying, the whining, it can last for hours, or almost all night long. All you want to do is sleep, which is when you begin to wonder, does the pound offer a refund?

Photo: labrador.retriever-gifts.com

Seriously though, it can be difficult for a new puppy to sleep through the night when you first bring her into her new home. And many owners begin to wonder "why do puppies cry at night?" Well, there can be many reasons. The first step you should take in figuring out this mystery is looking at things from the pup’s perspective. When you turn the lights out, or when it is night time, what is different for the puppy?

The first that comes to mind is the attention. Chances are when you go to sleep someone else isn’t sitting up in your home playing with the puppy in the dark, and for good reason, that could be a little creepy. So, your puppy is probably lonely without the company she has gotten used to through the day. Remember that just because you are tired, does not necessarily mean the puppy is. In fact with all the naps the puppy takes all day, chances are she is ready to run a few more laps around the yard before taking another short nap. Being lonely is something she will have to face, especially if she isn’t sleeping in the same room as you.

The best idea is to get the dog a few toys (two or three at most) to play with for inside her crate if you have one. A large stuffed animal (no buttons for safety sakes) would be a good option for the puppy to cuddle with, but do expect some mess if she ends up chewing it. You can get cuddly toys made specially for dogs, so these would be the best option. Some soft, quiet toys for her to play with at night time would be good to keep her occupied until she is ready to go to sleep.

Other reasons your new puppy might cry could be, she has to go potty (yet again). During the first few weeks, you might want to take her outside a couple of times during the night, so that she can go potty. Do not make any fuss of her at these times, just have her do her business then back to bed. She may also be hungry or thirsty (put some ice cubes in her crate - this will quench the thirst without filling her bladder), or perhaps she doesn’t get enough people time during the day (spend more time with her). Also, she might not be tired enough because she didn’t get enough exercise or mental stimulation during the day. This means you need to walk her more, and spend more time letting her burn off some energy. Teaching her a few tricks and practising them will help stimulate her. If you aren’t going to be home, hire a dog walker or consider doggy daycare.

What it all boils down to is you know your puppy more than anyone else, the best thing to do is try to figure it out and help them adjust to their new situation. Remember, it is not long since she will have been separated from her mother and siblings and brought into a strange environment. With a little thought and some effort, you can all sleep better, without her whining all night long.

Darren has owned, bred and trained dogs for over 20 years. For advice on all aspects of dog ownership, feel free to drop by his Dog Training Advice blog or check out the free resources for dog owners he publishes on Squidoo HERE