I'm having trouble figuring out how to manage two dogs and our common space and sleeping set up. Things were easy with Quinn - her crate was in our bedroom and we had gates up in the kitchen/living space, and everything was on one floor. In this house, we want the crate in our main living area - esp for when I'm working and to give Quinn space, but all of us (including Quinn) sleep upstairs. Would you have a crate upstairs in the bedroom for sleeping and one on the main floor for daytime? Leave puppy to sleep downstairs alone in the crate? I think a lot will depend on the puppy's temperament, but I need to buy at least one crate in advance since we got rid of them all a few years ago and we are closing in on the two week mark and all our stores are still closed!
Prepping our space for puppy
- Thread starter Ashley
- Start date
2weeks 
haha well 2.5 weeks ish, depending on when we schedule our pickup time!2weeks
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
I started out with Squidge in her pen/crate combo overnight but it all became MUCH easier once I bought another crate for the bedroom for her. That was more a toileting thing that any anxiety at being left, because she would go in her pen then roll in it then shout! The upside-down house I was in had access to the garden from the bedroom, so it was perfect for nighttime loo breaks.
I remember that!!
- Location
- Canberra, Australia
Exciting!!
I’d have a crate in the bedroom for nighttime, at the least. I wouldn’t let the pup sleep in a room alone.
If you can’t get a crate in time then a very large plastic tub would do for the bedroom, while the pup is small.
I’d have a crate in the bedroom for nighttime, at the least. I wouldn’t let the pup sleep in a room alone.
If you can’t get a crate in time then a very large plastic tub would do for the bedroom, while the pup is small.
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Me too, Ashley. Me too.
It's a choccie thing though, right? RIGHT.Me too, Ashley. Me too.
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Well, it’s a Squidge thing, that’s for sure! 
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
I have a small puppy crate for next to my bed. Night time widdles are on a puppy pad in the bathroom.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
With my last two puppies, I had a cardboard box beside my bed with puppy in and dangled my hand in it so he didn't feel alone. I don't think I would leave the puppy downstairs in a crate alone. Ideally a crate upstairs as well.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Though this has been applied to foster dogs more than actual puppies, I like a crate next to the bed, then a crate or x-pen downstairs too. For dogs/puppies not big enough to jump out of it, I like an x-pen better for living spaces as it's more adaptable and easier to move around. For really small puppies/dogs, I like the x-pen/small crate combo the best for living spaces. In California, I had hardwood floors, so I'd tape down wee pads and set the x-pen on top. Easy clean up and protected the floors. With carpets, I'd give rubber mats a try - those you can cut to order from big rolls at the home improvement stores.
Nothing to do with crates, but I'd also suggest picking up some child-proof plugs for electrical sockets and any power strips you may have within puppy reach. It could just be me: I seem to have had dogs who like sticking their noses in electrical sockets.
Nothing to do with crates, but I'd also suggest picking up some child-proof plugs for electrical sockets and any power strips you may have within puppy reach. It could just be me: I seem to have had dogs who like sticking their noses in electrical sockets.
- Location
- SW London UK
I did this with my Airedale pup I got when I was thirteen. She slept by by bed and gently chewed on my hand each night. When she was older my Dad would let the dogs out at about 5am then open my door to let her spend the morning with me next to my bed holding my hand, or she'd sit by my bedroom door crying the house down. As I grew up and left for university she'd always wait by my door in the morning if I was home.
Poor Homer was banished to his crate in the kitchen from the start but he was as good as gold and never made a fuss. I did get up two or three times during the night to let him out.
I think it's great to plan, but also be prepared to adapt at the last minute! I'd planned that Bear would be upstairs with us for a week or so but he was too big and far too adventurous for that in the end. So we used the same crate and pen set up for Monty, see picture below. I slept the first night next to him, and the next three nights spent a long time by the side of the crate before went to bed. I'd also have been up every hour or two for the amount that he wee'd through the night on the puppy pads. He seemed to sleep in the pen on the harder floor much more than he slept in the soft crate!
Monty still comes upstairs with us to bed, and Bear stays downstairs - now de-crated, but behind a high stairgate with the run of the kitchen and dining room. We've tried on two separate nights to have him upstairs, but he just bounces on our heads many times through the night, annoys Monty and is so, so restless, moving around every 20 to 30 minutes. It's better for all of us right now to have our separate spaces
Monty still comes upstairs with us to bed, and Bear stays downstairs - now de-crated, but behind a high stairgate with the run of the kitchen and dining room. We've tried on two separate nights to have him upstairs, but he just bounces on our heads many times through the night, annoys Monty and is so, so restless, moving around every 20 to 30 minutes. It's better for all of us right now to have our separate spaces
Attachments
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
I had Reuben at the side of our bed , supposedly in his bed but he seemed to prefer the undies drawer under the bed where he slept ( or caused havoc ) for a few months until one evening when he decided himself that he was happy to sleep on the sofa . They are all so different that its hard to plan in advance, play it by ear I`d say but probably keeping pup close to you is a good thing x
Yeah, the best laid plans and all that... Most puppies are not happy being left on their own to sleep, but will drop off happily if a human or dog is in the room with them. Mostly they will settle down and sleep through the night after a few nights - some (like Poppy) sleep through from the first night onwards, others (like Merlin) decide they HATE the crate and will not sleep in it. So make plans, but be prepared to be adaptable, depending on what your puppy is like.
But - PUPPY!!!!!!! So exciting!!!
But - PUPPY!!!!!!! So exciting!!!
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Do you know which one you’re getting yet?? (Not sure if I’ve missed anything)