Golden Retriever puppy - first week at home

Welcome to the community, Megan! The night crying phase is real but short-lived. If you're looking for a local dog trainer or puppy vet near you, check our services section — listings specifically for new puppy owners across all states: allinpets.com/services

We went through this with Sage! One thing that helped (I know it sounds a bit out there) is a lavender-scented cloth near the crate — totally natural, no synthetic sprays. Also, heartbeat toys that mimic the mother’s rhythm work really well. Just make sure whatever you use is non-toxic and organic if possible.

Normal. Give it 5-7 days. Crate near your bed, not in it.

This is a standard separation response. Puppies vocalize at night because they’re hardwired to seek proximity to their pack. I’d strongly recommend crate training from day one — letting her into the bed this early will create a dependency that’s very difficult to walk back. Zeus was crate trained by week two and has slept soundly ever since.

Oh Megan, Honey did the exact same thing her first week home! The crying at night is completely normal — she’s used to sleeping with her littermates. A warm blanket and a ticking clock near her crate helped us a lot. Hang in there, it gets so much better by week two!