At bed time, with a new puppy, I have found lying down in front of the crate like you were going to sleep and speaking softly to it, or singing, until it settles down and goes to sleep works very well. Follow the pattern, a period of active play, outside to eliminate, and then into the crate.

It will be more difficult and may require more trips outside at night because it is so young. It really needed another week or 2 with its mother and litter. You will need to be sure and give it time with other carefully selected dogs.

The period between 6-12 weeks is a dangerous time. One sniff where a sick dog relieved itself in the last 6 months can bring on parvo or another life threatening disease. Fail to expose it to strangers, including men, women, children, noise, etc. and you could end up with a misfit you can't take out in public. They also need continuing contact with other dogs, but it must be limited to ones you know are getting good care.

Aster answered on 12/31/10. Helpful? / 2

To the previous posters, it is understandable that this puppy is only 5 weeks old and is too young to leave his mother. But, its already too late, seeing that she already has this puppy. There has to be methods to help this puppy grow up well.

Make sure Riley is comfortable with some kind of bed/blanket/towel, a softly ticking clock and a warm toy. They sell toys like the Cuddle Pal (www.petstages.com that we have had great sucsess with. PetStages also makes other soothing toys for puppies. I suggest you consider getting one. They work like wonders.

You have to understand how young he is. I think every puppy owner goes through this period of time where the puppy won't sleep, but its just part of owning them. Please relax and try what me and the other posters have suggested!

Brutus answered on 12/31/10. Helpful? / 1

This puppy is too young to stay away from her mother, and litter mates. Puppies should be adopted at 8 weeks. It is really normal that he acts the way he do. Take him out to pee every hour praise, and treat when poops/pees outside. Ignore while he does it in the house, and clean. Stay calm, puppies can feel your fustration. Give him a nice warm water bottle to put under his blanket, and look up on buying a D.A.P. (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) collar for puppies to calm him down. Please make shure to socialise him as much as possible, to let him have a happy life in his future (5wk old puppy should be learning socialization skills from litter mates, and mother). Don't loose it he does not mean wrong.

Joker answered on 9/25/11. Helpful? / 0