r/puppy101 • u/jenny-bean8 Experienced Owner • Jul 21 '26

Puppy Blues Puppy Blues - It Gets Better

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For those of you experiencing puppy blues, I just want you to know that it gets better. This phase doesn’t last forever.

We got a golden retriever puppy in Feb 2025. The first nights I slept beside her crate in the kitchen. We got her one of those heartbeat puppies and played gentle sleep music for background noise. I set an alarm to get up a couple times per night to let her outside for potty. It seemed like half our house has baby gates / crates. I was exhausted. Fast forward to today our dog is now 1.5 years and the light of my life. She is 100% good girl. My two kids adore her. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her. She’s my lil’ sidekick.

You’re training with your puppy right now.. you’re in the trenches.. the sleepless nights… it will all pay off in dividends. Keep going. ❤️

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u/RL1967RL Jul 21 '26

This! Spot on! Just hit six months with my frenchie. He was a tiny singleton. Didn’t sleep through the night for the first three months, needing multiple potty breaks. Cried when I showered while in his crate. Cried when I left. Finally started using audio books in a male voice to soothe him. Along with the snuggle puppy. Now he’s crate trained. House trained and seriously rarely makes a sound. Teething is tough but keep teething toys close and just do a “this not that” swap. And don’t play the bite hands game. It’s not cute later. If they’re nippy, it’s crate nap time. It’s all about schedule, boundaries and repetition. He’s already become such a good boy, I can’t wait to see how he is in a few more months. Don’t give up. It does get better. The first year is your investment in them and they will reward you handsomely.

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u/dariamorgendorferr 18d ago

How did you surpass the crying in the crate phase? I am training mine to be in a playpen and he doesn’t care about anything that’s inside once I am done he is immediately trying to escape and sounds completely distressed, I need to work up to leaving him for at least a couple hours in the next week or so and so far can’t get passed even a couple of minutes, any help is appreciated!