Hi, I got a Lab puppy 8 weeks and really would like some advice on what to do.

First two nights I let him sleep on bed with it all being new to him and last night tried him in his crate. He has gone in a few times on his own to sleep during day to point I can shut him in. suggested by a neighbour I put a cover over front to make it dark for him at 11pm last night and he slept soundly until 2.15am so I got up took him outside and then put him back in. he howled the place down until 5.15. I've tried the clock and water bottle plus toys but nothing seems to be working. Should I give up and go back to allowing him to sleep on my bed? thanks in advance.

No, don't give up. Puppies are much safer in a crate than on a bed. A fall from the height of a bed, when there little bones are still forming can cause fractures so please persevere with the crate. Crate training as well as other training can take weeks or months. It may feel like one step forward and two steps back for a while but they get there in the end. Good luck.

Well this won't help I know but Betty went in her crate first night - no sleep for any of us. Crate second night she slept for an hour then no sleep for any of us. Third night crate for 10 minutes then I got up and put her in my bed. Slept like a dream, she asks when she needs to get off the bed and wee and we all sleep very well now.

That's the thing. he does sleep well on my bed but I'm afraid for when hes fully grown and with being a Labrador I'm gonna have one big dog on my bed lol

Bigger bed solved that one when we had 3 dogs sleeping with us, less crowded now with two and Mollie tends to like a cooler space so often drifts off after a few minutes onto her own bed.

If you're happy with a full grown lab in your bed then carry on. Personal choice, some folk are very anti, others don't mind. I have a 13wk old whippet puppy. I don't mind him cuddling up on the couch with me, the throw is easy washed. I have chosen to crate train though, I need to know he's safe and secure and not chewing cables etc when I'm out.

I set up the crate with a warm puppy pad, DAP spray, a fleece I'd been wearing and a ticking clock. First night was awful, second night pretty much the same. Third and fourth night he settled much more quickly and woke me up at 1:30 and 4 to go out to the toilet. I put him back in with a few treats and no fuss.

Each night got easier, 1 week on he settles in about 10 - 15 mins. Last night he went in at 1 and didn't wake me till 8:30. Remember though, your pup is younger and will have less bladder control. You could try stuffing a puppy Kong and giving it only when he's in the crate. That way he learns the crate is where you get nice noms. Initially he may be too distracted to bother with it though.

If you choose to crate train you must have a will of steel to get through the first week. Make it as comfy and safe a den as you can and be consistent. If you give in, you're just teaching him that persists long enough he 'll get what he wants.

Good luck, whatever you choose!

Wow! Our dogs are shut up in the utility room at night and we don't hear a peep. This might sound cruel, however they don't mind being in there as they get undisturbed sleep. In fact one of our dogs doesn't like sleeping on my bed as I like a cold bedroom and she gets too cold. Mind you, they are good dogs.

Our 9 week old is now (mostly) sleeping through in his crate. Tire him out as much as possible, pop him outside for a last wee and then he cuddles into his crate with bear and blankets

He is then up about 6:30 am full of beans and ready for an early morning play

First few nights we slept in the kitchen on the sofa next to his crate. next few nights we stayed downstairs until he was asleep. After that we had a few nights being woken up 2 or 3 times but that seems to have stopped now

This is always going to be one of those never ending stories about what works for some but not for others.

When I agreed to rehouse an adult lab for a few weeks - some years ago....I tried to keep him on the floor along side the springer I had at the time. All my dogs up to then had slept in my room - but on the floor on their own beds.

And for weeks he woke me up at 5am wanting to go out, drink, whatever. Until the fatal morning when in total exhaustion I clicked my fingers - and he immediately curled up on my feet and we both slept until 9am.

What can I say. Since then I have said farewell to two long lived and long loved dogs. And all that time - he has curled up with me -and welcomed each day with a lick and a tail.

Yes - I could well have relegated him to a bed in the kitchen. And yet what company and love I would have missed.

Dont get me wrong once Wilbur can be trusted to spend the whole night without gnawing through power cables he will come and sleep in our room

Lost our long lived and loved one in November and he had his own beds in kitchen, living room and bedroom

We did draw the line at on our bed though as I like my sleeping space too much

Likewise.