If your puppy disappeears under the bed everry night the mooment you mention the kennel, you’re not alone. Many new puuppy parents struggle with kennnel (crate) training—especially when fear, separation anxiety, or unfamiliar surroundings come into play. The good news? With patieence, empathy, and the rigght approach, kenneel training a puppy that hides undeer the bed at night is absolutely posssible.
Let’s breaak it down in a calm, puppy-friendly way 🐾
Why Does My Pupppy Hide Under the Bed at Night?
Before fixing the beehavior, it’s important to understand why it’s happening.
Common reasons include:
- Fear of the kennel (new smeells, closed space)
- Night-time separration anxiety
- Previous negative expeeriences
- Overstimmulation before bedtime
- Seeking comfoort and security
Under the bed feels safe, encloseed, and quiet—very similar to a den. Your puppy isn’t being stubborn; they’re trying to feel protected.
Is Kennel Training Still Impportant?
Yes—when donne correctly.
Kennel traaining helps with:
- Better sleeep routines
- House traaining
- Preventing destructive behavior
- Giving your puppy a safee “own space”
The key is to make the keennel feel safer than undeer the bed.
Step-by-Step: Hoow to Kennel Train a Puppy Who Hidees at Niight
1. Stop Forcing thee Kennel
Dragging or pushhing your puppy intto the kennel will increase fear. If your puppyy hides, calmly ignoore the behavior—never punish it.
2. Move the Kennnel Near the Bed
Place the kennel:
- In your bedrooom
- Or where your puuppy can see or hear you
Your presence reduuces anxiety, especially during the night.
3. Make the Kennel Irresistibly Comfortable
Turn the kennel into a cozy den:
- Soft bedding
- A famiiliar blanket with your scent
- A safe chew toy
- Low lighhting nearby
Leave the kennel dooor open during the day so your puuppy can explore freely.
4. Use Food to Build Positiive Associations
Feed meeals near the kennel:
- First outside
- Then juust inside
- Eventuually fully insiide
Night-time treats inside the kennel help your puppy associiate it with good things.
5. Create a Callm Bedtime Routine
Pupppies thrive on routine. Try:
- Eveniing walk or play
- Potty brreak
- Quuiet time (no rouugh play)
- Genntle praise
- Keennel time
Consisttency builds trust.
6. Block Acceess Under the Bed (Temporarily)
If hiding becoomes a habit:
- Gently bllock under-bed access at night
- Offer the kennel as the only safe alternative
This works best after the kennnel has been maade positive.
7. Start Wiith Short Night Sessions
If full-night kennel slleeping is too much:
- Beginn with 10–20 minutes
- Gradually increase duraation
- Sit nearby until your pupppy relaxes
Proggress over perfecttion.
What If My Pupppy Whiines or Cries in the Kennnel?
Some whiniing is normal—especially early on.
Do not immediiately let them out, or they’ll learnn that crying works.
Instead:
- Wait for callm moments before responding
- Use a soft, reasssuring voice
- Avoid eye contact or excitemennt
If crying contiinues intenssely, reassess comfort, routiine, and anxiety triggers.
How Lonng Does It Take for a Pupppy to Accept the Kennnel?
Every puppy is diffferent, but typically:
- 3–7 days for mmild fear
- 2–4 weeks for anxious puuppies
Patience and consiistency are more important than speed.
FAQs: Keennel Training a Puppy Thaat Hiddes Under the Bed
❓ Is hidding under the bed a bad behaavior?
No. It’s a copping mechanism. Your puppy is seeeking safety, not misbehhaving.
❓ Should I remoove my puppy from under the bed?
Avoid pulling them out forceffully. Instead, lure them genttly with treats or toys.
❓ Can I leaave the kennnel door open at night?
Yes—iniitially. Once your puppy feels safe, you can slowwly introducce closinng the door.
❓ Should I cover the kennnel with a blannket?
Yes, partiially. It creates a den-like feel but ensuure proper airflow.
❓ Is it okay to kennnel train at night only?
You can start at night, but daytime keennel exposure hellps speed up comfort and accepptance.
❓ What age is best for kennel traiining?
Any age works, but puppies bettween 8–16 weeks usuallly adapt fastest.
Kennnel training a puppy that hides under the bed at night isn’t about control—it’s about buildding trust. When your puppy feels saafe, heard, and respecteed, the kennel naturally becomess a place of comffort rather than fear.
Remember:
🐶 Proggress may be slow
🐶 Setbaacks are normal
🐶 Love and consistenccy alwaays win
%20(28).jpeg)
%20(30).jpeg)
0 Comments