Hi - We are hoping to get a puppy (GSD) in the next few months, in the meantime we are reading up on the breed and puppy/dog care, training, etc.

All of the books seem to offer great advice though differ on the subject of where the new puppy should sleep when it first arrives home. Some books say 'in the place you want the dog to sleep for ever' others say 'initially in your bedroom'.

1. Has anyone got some practical advice as to what worked for them?
2. Normally, what is the latest time you would feed a puppy in order to help prevent night time toilet trips?

Thanks in advance.

My pups have always gone in a pup cage where they are eventually going to sleep without the cage. chances are you aren't going to avoid a toilet run when the pup first comes home, but i just let the pup out to the toilet, when its been put it back in its cage go back to bed, without fussing the dog.

A pup is just as likely to wake in the night because its hungry, so i always feed the pup last thing in its cage.

Pups vary in how long they make a fuss when you go to bed, I've had from one who never made a murmur from day one to one that screamed for 3 weeks, but it does pass.

what ever you do DONT put it in your bedroom
it might cry or whine at first but as it settles will be ok, DONT keep going to it if it does.
a crate is good and a old towel with a hot water bottle wrapped up and if you have one a ticking clock under its bed as well.
as your pup will be used to sleeping with the other pups these may help.

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We had Daisy sleeping in a cage downstairs she loved it when she was little the cage was big enough for a bed one end and a puppy training pad the other she cried for about a week on and off at night , but it did stop and all was well , we stoped her sleeping in the cage when she was dry over night and could hold herself this was at about 5 months . she then slept in our room on a bed on the floor . We then got another dog this christmas who was already 12 months old and we kept them both downstairs at night , they do get a sofa each lol . A cage is a must have item get one big enough for a full grow GSD then you always have it to hand for any eventuallity , even if like me you dont use it after a while they come in handy as somewhere safe for them to be when you go out during the day keeping puppy and your possesions safe . Be carefull when you first get your pup not to over feed i would work on the basis that a dog will need to go to the loo about 20 mins after eating so if you dont want a mess in the middle of the night then dont feed too late . A water bowl should be enough to keep him or her going dont slip into feeding during the night to shut them up or you will be getting up for months, they soon learn sleep time is all night .

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