The first nights: a crying puppy in the crate

Many puppies cry in the crate for the first few nights, and some sleep through from the start. For those first nights, keep the crate next to your bed, take your puppy out to the toilet right before bedtime and when they wake needing to go, and never punish the crying. The real work happens in the daytime, when you teach your puppy that the crate is a good place to be.

Below: setting up the crate, a bedtime routine, what to do when your puppy cries, daytime crate practice, and why these first weeks matter for sounds and car rides too.

Why puppies cry at night

A new puppy has just left everything they know. The American Kennel Club (AKC) puts it plainly: some puppies sleep through the night from the start, others cry for a few nights, and some can't hold their bladder yet and need a trip outside in the night. The AKC says that usually ends by around four to five months of age.

So a crying puppy isn't a sign that something has gone wrong. But it can mean two different things: "I need the toilet" or "I don't want to be in here." Humane World for Animals notes that at night it can be hard to tell which. Rule out the toilet first.

Set up the crate before the first night

The PDSA, a UK veterinary charity, gives this checklist:

• Size. Tall enough to stand and sit without touching the top, and big enough to turn around, lie down and stretch out fully. For a puppy, choose by their adult size or size up as they grow. Too big is better than too small.
• Bedding. Soft bedding covering most of the floor, plus water.
• Cover. A blanket over the top and sides, with the front left open, helps block noise and draughts.
• Place. Quiet and draught-free, out of direct sun.¹

For the first nights, the crate goes next to you. The AKC says to put it in your bedroom, because a puppy feels more secure with you nearby. Humane World suggests the bedroom or the hallway just outside it, so you can hear when your puppy needs to go out. Once your puppy is sleeping comfortably through the night, you can move the crate gradually to where you want it long term.

The AKC also suggests bringing home a blanket or soft toy that smells of your puppy's mother and putting it in the crate.

A bedtime routine

1. Play in the evening. The AKC calls evening the "witching hour" for many puppies. Play first so your puppy uses up some energy.
2. A last toilet trip right before bed.
3. Same time every night. The AKC says a set bedtime makes settling in and house training easier. The exact time matters less than keeping it the same.
4. Into the crate calmly, with a small treat when your puppy goes in on their own.
5. Lights down, house quiet. If you use sound, keep it the same every night (more below).²

When your puppy cries

First, think toilet. If your puppy hasn't been out for a while, or has just woken, take them out. The AKC's advice: carry them out quietly for a quick, boring toilet break, then straight back into the crate. No play, no fuss.

Then, stay close and calm. Here the guidance differs a little:

• The AKC suggests putting the crate right next to your bed and resting your hand inside it so your puppy knows you're there. It advises against taking the puppy into your bed unless that's where you want them to sleep from now on.
• Humane World says that if your puppy has never been let out for whining and you're sure it isn't a toilet need, try ignoring it. Many puppies stop soon. If the whining keeps going for several minutes, use your "outside" word and take them out for a toilet trip with a purpose, not playtime.²

Both agree on the basics: rule out the toilet, keep the crate close, and never punish a puppy for crying. The PDSA adds that a crate should never be used as a punishment at all. It has to stay a safe place.

What about calming sprays and plug-ins? A systematic review of pheromone studies found insufficient evidence that dog-appeasing pheromone reduces vocalizing or house soiling in recently adopted puppies. It covered one puppy study, so the evidence is thin rather than disproved.³

The daytime work that makes nights easier

Nights are easier when the crate is already a familiar, happy place. The PDSA's step-by-step method, written by its vets, builds the crate up during the day:

1. Door open. Drop treats inside and let your puppy explore and come and go.
2. Reward calm. Treats while they're inside, and extra for sitting or lying down. Don't call or lure them in.
3. A chew inside. Once they're comfortable, give a long-lasting chew or toy in the crate.
4. Close the door for seconds. Build up over days while you stay in the room, then go about your normal day while the door is shut.
5. Leave the room briefly. Seconds at first, then longer.
6. Watch for worry. If your puppy whines or scratches, go back to the previous step. Never rush it.¹

There's a longer-term reason to do this. The Merck Veterinary Manual says the risk that a puppy will become fearful or anxious when left alone can be reduced by letting them spend time alone during the day, regularly and comfortably, ideally in a safe haven. For how that builds into longer absences later, see how long can a dog be left alone?

How long in the crate? Not long. The PDSA says never more than three hours, and less for a dog that isn't used to it. Humane World says puppies under six months shouldn't be crated for more than three or four hours at a time, because they can't hold their bladder that long. That's also why a young puppy may need a toilet trip in the night, and why the crate stays close enough for you to hear them.

Why the first weeks matter beyond the crate

The Merck Veterinary Manual describes the socialization period, from about 3 to 12 weeks of age, and says that too few chances to get used to a varied environment during it raises the risk of fear, anxiety and phobias later. Many puppies come home toward the end of that window, so the first weeks count.

Two owner surveys point the same way:

• Noise. In a survey of 1,225 owners, most dogs with a fear of fireworks had developed it in their first year. Owners who had trained puppies to link the noise with good things, like treats or play, reported that it was highly effective at preventing the fear.
• The car. In a survey of 907 owners, dogs that had got used to car travel as puppies were far less likely to have problems in the car (6.3% against 24.1%).⁴⁵

Surveys show links, not proof. But the message is practical: short, happy introductions now to household sounds, visitors and car rides are easier than fixing a fear later. Keep them gentle. The aim is a puppy who stays relaxed, not one who is overwhelmed. For the car, our holiday travel guide has a step-by-step practice plan.

Sound at bedtime

Some owners like to add calm, familiar sound at bedtime. The research on calming music is modest and wasn't done on puppies in crates. In shelters, dogs rested more and barked less with classical music. Pet dogs separated from their owners settled sooner with classical music, though the researchers called the effect only moderate.⁶⁷

If you want to try it, play the calming playlist from a speaker near the crate, starting in the daytime crate sessions so it becomes part of "this is a calm place". Keep the music the same each night. For the full set of studies and their limits, see the evidence on calming music.

When to get help

A few nights of crying is common. Talk to your vet if your puppy seems distressed every time they're alone, if the crying isn't easing, or if you see signs of illness like diarrhea, vomiting or not eating. The PDSA says crates shouldn't be used to manage separation anxiety without professional guidance, and recommends your vet or a certified behaviourist if your dog is struggling to be alone.

When your puppy is ready for longer stretches alone, the home-alone playlist is there too.

Quick answers

How long will my puppy cry in the crate at night? It varies. The AKC says some puppies cry for a few nights and some sleep through from the start. Daytime crate practice and a steady bedtime routine help.

Should I let my puppy cry it out? Rule out a toilet need first. The AKC suggests reassuring your puppy with the crate right next to your bed. Humane World suggests ignoring whining that isn't a toilet need, and taking them out if it continues. Both say never punish it.

Where should the crate go on the first night? In your bedroom or just outside it, so your puppy feels you're near and you can hear when they need the toilet. Move it gradually later if you want.

Should I cover my puppy's crate? The PDSA suggests a blanket over the top and sides, with the front open, to block noise and draughts.

How long can a puppy stay in a crate? The PDSA says never more than three hours. Humane World says three to four hours at most for puppies under six months.

References

1. PDSA. Crate training your dog. pdsa.org.uk ↩︎
2. American Kennel Club (Meyers, H., 2026). Your first day at home with a new puppy: tips for day one. akc.org ↩︎
3. Frank, D., Beauchamp, G. & Palestrini, C. (2010). Systematic review of the use of pheromones for treatment of undesirable behavior in cats and dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 236(12), 1308–1316. doi:10.2460/javma.236.12.1308 ↩︎
4. Riemer, S. (2019). Not a one-way road: severity, progression and prevention of firework fears in dogs. PLOS ONE, 14(9), e0218150. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218150 ↩︎
5. Mariti, C., Ricci, E., Mengoli, M., Zilocchi, M., Sighieri, C. & Gazzano, A. (2012). Survey of travel-related problems in dogs. Veterinary Record, 170(21), 542. doi:10.1136/vr.100199 ↩︎
6. Wells, D.L., Graham, L. & Hepper, P.G. (2002). The influence of auditory stimulation on the behaviour of dogs housed in a rescue shelter. Animal Welfare, 11, 385–393. doi:10.1017/S0962728600025112 ↩︎
7. Kinnaird, R.F. & Wells, D.L. (2022). The effect of auditory stimulation on pet dogs' reactions to owner separation. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 254, 105688. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105688 ↩︎
8. Borns-Weil, S. (2025). Behavior problems of dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual. merckvetmanual.com
9. Humane World for Animals. How to crate train your dog or puppy. humaneworld.org