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Opinions vary over the best place for your dog to sleep. The best advice: start a puppy off in the room you eventually want him to sleep in. Want to let your new puppy sleep in your bed? Lots of people do, but be warned: This will very quickly become a habit! If Fido gets to sleep with you as a new puppy, plan on having Fido in your bed for life (unless, of course, you want to retrain a grown adult dog!).
Many experts recommend that your puppy sleep in a crate. To some, that may seem cruel, but a roomy crate that's the right size for your dog can end up being his favorite place. Janet Lalonde, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in Alexandria, Ontario, believes that for a puppy, a crate really is the best sleeping place. "It dramatically reduces house-training problems and destructive chewing until the pup has grown into a dependable adult."
Your little guy is going to be terrified the first few nights -- he's missing his mother and siblings, and he hasn't bonded yet with you. So, yes, he's going to cry and whine, and there's a good chance neither one of you will get much sleep for a few nights!
One solultion is to try putting his crate next to your bed so you can put your fingers into his crate to calm and soothe him.
Another good place for your dog's bed is the kitchen because it's quiet at night. A basement is also a good place, especially if your puppy is going to grow into a large dog!
Wherever you decide will be the sleeping place for your puppy, be sure it's safe, comfortable, and warm, and that it's not near any drafts.
For more information on taking care of your new puppy, take a look at our recommended reading list. There you'll find lots of resources to help you be a terrific dog owner -- with a terrific dog.
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