Two or three seconds, then five, then ten, and so on.Working your way up to a minute or so. Puppies learn really fast (within a day or two) that 'quiet' is rewarding. If you get this right, by the time you get up to waiting one minute, most crying will have stopped and the puppy will be silent most of the time.
How long should you leave a puppy to cry?
Most of the time we recommend that your pup be settled for 5 or more minutes before being let out of their crate. The most ideal scenario is that your pup cries for a bit, but settles in under 30 minutes and falls asleep.
Is it OK to let a puppy cry it out?
You should never leave a puppy to cry when they are in need of the basics, or this can cause difficulties with training later. Your puppy may cry when they are left alone, perhaps if you're elsewhere in the home or asleep.
Should you ignore a crying puppy?
Ignoring them at night won't help them build confidence and may make them worse which isn't what anyone wants. They need to be taught how to be independent slowly. We would never recommend ignoring your puppy when they cry at night, especially in their first few nights.
Do puppies eventually cry themselves to sleep?
It's not unheard of for puppies that are left to “cry it out” to cry for hours on end, even through the night. This is yet another reason why it's important to intervene and give your puppy the skills they need, until they can self soothe and be comfortable alone at night.
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