Hello everyone, I just brought my 9 week old Gracie home 5 days ago. I've never owned a puppy, as my other dog was 7 months and already trained when we brought her home. I knew it would be difficult, but let's just say it's so much harder than I thought!
I set up a little gated off area in my room, with a bed, food & water, toys, blanket, and pee pads. So I've opted for a pen instead of crate, but now I'm starting to wonder if crate training would be better? Or do you think I should keep the pen as her safe space? The problem is she is constantly barking and crying in the pen and I haven't slept much since I got her. I can't leave her alone for more than a minute or she'll start crying again. A friend recommended that I move my mattress on the floor next to her pen so she can see me, and I've done that for 2 nights. She usually sleeps about an hour and then she'll wake up crying. I'll stick my finger in the gate and let her lick me and talk to her and she'll usually get back in her bed. Right now with my mattress on the floor, I'll let her sleep with me if I take a nap in the afternoon and she is fine. But I don't want to do that at night because I want the pen to become her safe space for when classes start back up in the fall and I'm not home as much. When I leave the house right now and put her in the pen she's barking and crying, and when I come home she's still crying. I make her calm down and stop for a few minutes before I take her out. Should I continue what I'm doing, and she'll eventually sleep through the night and get use to the pen? Are there any other tips you have to help her stop crying at night and when left alone? I heard a ticking clock wrapped in a blanket helps so I may try that.
I appreciate any advice you all have for me! Thank you
