What to expect on your puppy's first night home (and what helps)

On your puppy's first night, expect some whining, and plan on a trip outside in the middle of the night. What helps most is a calm first day, a cozy crate or small pen close to your bed, and night potty trips that are quick and boring. Night one won't be perfect, and it doesn't need to be. It's the first step in a routine you'll build over the next few weeks.

Why is the first night hard for a puppy?

Your puppy has just left everything familiar. The ASPCA notes that the first few days with a new dog can sometimes be overwhelming. For a dog that barks and has a hard time settling, its advice is to cut down on whatever is causing stress, then wait it out, since time is sometimes the best remedy. The ASPCA says these behaviors should fade after several days of routine.

There's also a practical reason your night will be broken. A UC Davis housetraining handout, written by veterinary students for the school's animal behavior service, explains that a puppy's bladder muscles aren't developed enough to hold urine as long as an adult dog can. A companion crate training handout says puppies can't be expected to "hold it" for extended periods, such as overnight.

How can you make the first day calmer?

The night starts in the afternoon. Keep the first day quiet and close to home:

• Hold off on visitors. The ASPCA suggests waiting to have family and friends meet your new dog until you've built a bond, because unfamiliar people wanting to say hello is often overwhelming for a newly adopted dog.
• Stay home if you can. The same ASPCA page suggests trying not to leave a new dog home alone for the first 48 hours.
• Show your puppy the potty spot right away. UC Davis's housetraining handout advises taking your puppy to the same spot every time, with potty breaks after eating and drinking, after naps, and after play.
• Keep the house small. Let your puppy explore one or two rooms rather than the whole house on day one.

In the evening, a short play session followed by a last trip outside right before bed gives your puppy a good chance to settle with an empty bladder.

Where should your puppy sleep the first night?

Close to you. The City of Austin's animal services crate training handout says it may be a good idea to put the crate in your bedroom or nearby in a hallway at first, especially with a puppy. Puppies often need to go outside during the night, and you'll want to hear your puppy when they whine to be let out.

This doesn't have to be permanent. Once your puppy sleeps comfortably through the night with the crate near you, the Austin handout says you can begin to move it gradually to where you'd like it to be.

Should your puppy sleep in a crate or a pen?

Either can work, as long as the space is small. UC Davis's housetraining handout suggests keeping your puppy in a small, confined area, such as a crate, a bathroom, or a puppy pen, made appealing with toys, food, and bedding. Your puppy comes to see it as a den, which they'll prefer not to soil.

Size matters more than type. Your puppy should be able to stand up and turn around freely in a crate. If you've bought a crate your puppy will grow into, UC Davis suggests blocking off the back so there isn't room for a separate toilet area. If you use a pen, keep it small for the same reason.

Whatever you choose, make it a good place to be. UC Davis says never to force a puppy into the crate and never to use it as punishment.

How do you set up the sleeping spot?

Before bedtime, put together:

• Soft bedding. A towel or a bed inside the crate makes it comfortable, per UC Davis, and a few toys help make the space appealing.
• A cover, if it helps. The ASPCA suggests a covered crate with comfortable bedding as a safe space for a new dog.
• Something for noise. If sounds in the house or outside seem to bother your puppy, the ASPCA suggests relaxing music, the TV, or a white noise app.
• Your night kit by the door. Leash, shoes, a flashlight, a few small treats, and paper towels, so a 2 a.m. trip takes seconds to start.

What should you do when your puppy cries at night?

The sources we read agree on two points that can feel like they pull in different directions. UC Davis's crate training handout advises ignoring whining or barking in the crate, with no positive or negative attention, and opening the door only when your puppy is quiet, never while they're whining or scratching. The Austin handout gives the same advice for crate practice. But both also say young puppies need to go out at night: UC Davis says puppies can't be expected to "hold it" overnight, and the Austin handout keeps the crate close so you can hear your puppy whine to be let outside.

Neither handout spells out how to tell the two kinds of crying apart at night. One approach: if your puppy wakes and whines and could need the bathroom, treat it as a potty call. Wait for a brief pause in the noise if you can, then take them straight out, calmly, and straight back afterward. If they've just been out, stay quiet in bed and give them a chance to settle. If you're unsure, ask your vet.

How do night potty trips work?

Keep them short and dull. UC Davis's housetraining handout says to take your puppy to the same spot every time and not to play with or excite them until they've gone. A night trip might look like this:

1. Lights low, leash on, out the door.
2. Stand at the potty spot and wait quietly.
3. Praise softly while your puppy is going. UC Davis says you can also give a small treat at that moment, and the ASPCA suggests rewarding with a tasty treat when your puppy gets it right.
4. Back inside and back into the crate, with as little fuss as possible.

How often you'll be up depends on your puppy. The same UC Davis handout notes that the number of hours a puppy can wait is strongly linked to their age. In the morning, go out first thing, since potty breaks should follow sleep.

If there's an accident, try not to be discouraged. UC Davis says accidents will happen and should be expected. Clean the spot thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner to remove the smell that could draw your puppy back, and don't punish your puppy, which the handout calls ineffective and says may lead to more serious behavior problems. If accidents keep happening in the crate, UC Davis says your puppy most likely just needs to go out more often.

What comes after the first night?

Night one is the start of a few busy weeks. Here's what they usually involve.

A daily routine. The ASPCA suggests offering meals, walks, and play at similar times each day.

Potty training. UC Davis's handout lists 8 to 10 potty breaks a day for puppies 6 to 14 weeks old, and 6 to 8 a day from 14 to 20 weeks.

Crate training in the daytime. UC Davis describes a gradual process: treats in the crate first, then meals, then closing the door for longer stretches, building slowly. It also notes that if your puppy whines consistently during these practice sessions, they're being closed in for too long, so go back to a length of time they handle well. How long it takes to learn varies from dog to dog.

Socialization. This is the process of getting your puppy comfortable with the people, animals, places, and activities that will be part of their life. The AVMA says socialization should begin during the puppy's sensitive period, between 3 and 14 weeks of age, using praise, play, and treats, at a pace that suits your puppy. AVSAB's position is that puppies should get socialization before they're fully vaccinated, exposed to new things as safely as possible. The AVMA adds that puppies who aren't fully vaccinated shouldn't be around animals of unknown vaccination status or in places that may be contaminated, such as outdoor parks. Ask your vet how to plan this for your puppy.

If you'd like more help with the weeks after night one, The First 90 Days is our 38-page handbook on routines, potty and crate training, socialization, feeding, health basics, and foundation training, with 7 printable worksheets. It uses reward-based methods only.