Young puppies need to sleep a lot when they are little. In fact, just like babies they can spend more time asleep than awake, needing up to 18-20 hours of sleep a day. The amount they need to sleep decreases with age. However, it will be a while before they settle into a regular pattern of sleep.

By the time your puppy is three or four months old, they should be able to sleep through the night but it can take some puppies longer. This does mean that you need to prepare for a few weeks of disrupted sleep and midnight toilet breaks. This often comes as a big shock to first time puppy parents!

For the first first couple of weeks, it may be helpful to have your puppy in your bedroom. Alternatively, you can set up a temporary bed for yourself next to where your puppy sleeps. This is so they don’t wake up and feel anxious about being on their own. You may choose to use a crate as an aid to sleep training.

The aim should be to get into a good bedtime routine from the first night with your new puppy. Make sure your puppy has had their last meal at least an hour before you want to go to bed and spend time with them to tire them out so they are ready to sleep when you want them to. Avoid high energy games at bedtime as this will likely excite your puppy rather than make them sleepy. 

Getting puppies to sleep through the night needs to be balanced with toilet training your puppy. They won’t be able to hold a wee or poo through the night. Be prepared to factor in some midnight toilet trips.

All puppies cry and it is their way of telling you something. It may be that your puppy is feeling anxious. After all your puppy has been used to sleeping with his or her mum and siblings and they are now having to get used to sleeping on their own. To help relieve the anxiety you can use comforting pheromone prodcuts such as Adpatil. 

Your puppy may be crying because they need to go to the toilet or they may be whining for your attention. You should soon learn which sounds you need to respond to. Be patient – which of course can be hard when you’re feeling exhausted.

• Read more about why your puppy might crying at night and what you can do to settle them.

Research shows that leaving a puppy to cry will make them more distressed. You’re also likely to find them covered in their own wee and poo if they have been left to cry. By establishing a good bedtime routine and continuing your puppy’s house training during the night, you will soon return to those pre-puppy eight-hours-a-night sleeps.

Many first time puppy parents struggle with sleep deprivation in the early weeks. It’s quite common, when you feel so exhausted, to experience the puppy blues and even a sense of regret at getting a puppy. The good news is that the sleepless nights will pass. Until then, you may need to find ways to catch up on your own sleep during the day, such as taking a nap when your puppy is napping.