Cavoodle Puppy Sleep Training: Complete Guide to Peaceful Nights

If you’ve just brought home a Cavoodle puppy, you’re probably wondering when you’ll sleep again. Those first few nights of whining, middle-of-the-night toilet breaks, and early morning wake-ups can be exhausting. The good news? Cavoodles are smart and adaptable — with the right approach, most puppies sleep through the night within 2-4 weeks.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Cavoodle sleep patterns, how to establish healthy sleep habits, and what to do when things don’t go to plan.

New to Cavoodle ownership? Start with our complete guide to preparing for a Cavoodle puppy — it covers everything from puppy-proofing to feeding schedules.

How Much Sleep Does a Cavoodle Puppy Need?

Puppies sleep far more than adult dogs — and that’s completely normal. Sleep is when their bodies grow, their brains develop, and they process everything they’ve learned.

Sleep Requirements by Age

Age	Hours of Sleep Per Day	Notes
8-10 weeks	18-20 hours	Frequent naps, wakes for food/toilet
10-12 weeks	18-20 hours	Starting to consolidate nighttime sleep
3-6 months	16-18 hours	Longer awake periods, may sleep through night
6-12 months	14-16 hours	More adult-like schedule emerging
12+ months (Adult)	12-14 hours	Stable routine, sleeps when you sleep

Key insight: An 8-week-old Cavoodle puppy is only awake for about 4-6 hours per day, spread across multiple short periods. If your puppy is awake for more than 1-2 hours at a time, they’re probably overtired.

The First Night: What to Expect

Your puppy’s first night in their new home is tough — for both of you. They’ve just left their mother, littermates, and everything familiar. It’s completely normal for them to cry, whine, or bark.

Preparing for Night One

• Tire them out gently — A bit of play before bed helps, but don’t overdo it. Overtired puppies are harder to settle.
• Last toilet break — Take them outside right before bed. Wait until they actually go.
• Comfort items — A blanket or toy that smells like their littermates helps enormously. Ask your breeder for one.
• Warm (not hot) water bottle — Wrapped in a towel, this mimics the warmth of sleeping with siblings.
• Heartbeat toy — Some owners swear by these. The rhythmic “heartbeat” can be soothing.

Should You Let Them Cry?

This is where opinions differ. Here’s what we recommend:

The first few nights: Comfort your puppy when they cry. They’re genuinely scared and need reassurance. You won’t “spoil” them — you’re building trust.

After the first week: Once they’ve settled in, it’s okay to let them fuss briefly before going to them. Wait 30 seconds to a minute. Often they’ll settle themselves. But if crying escalates or continues, they probably need a toilet break.

Where Should Your Cavoodle Sleep?

This decision sets the tone for your dog’s entire life, so think it through.

Option 1: Crate in Your Bedroom

Pros:

• Your presence is reassuring (they can hear and smell you)
• You’ll hear when they need a toilet break
• Builds security and attachment
• Can transition crate to another room later

Cons:

• Disrupted sleep for the first few weeks
• May be harder to transition them out of bedroom later (if that’s your goal)

Option 2: Crate in Another Room

Pros:

• Establishes independence from day one
• Less disruption to your sleep

Cons:

• More stressful for puppy initially
• You might not hear toilet cues
• First week will likely involve more crying

Option 3: Your Bed

Pros:

• Maximum comfort for puppy (and let’s be honest, you)
• Strong bonding

Cons:

• Hard to reverse if you change your mind later
• Toilet accidents in your bed
• Safety risk for very young puppies (falling, being rolled on)

Our recommendation: Start with a crate in or near your bedroom for the first few weeks. Once your puppy is sleeping through the night and toilet trained, you can move the crate or adjust the arrangement to suit your lifestyle.

Creating the Perfect Sleep Environment

Setting up the right sleep space makes training much easier.

The Crate Setup

• Size matters: Big enough to stand, turn, and lie down — but not so big they can toilet in one corner and sleep in another
• Comfortable bedding: A soft, washable bed or blankets. Avoid anything they might chew and swallow.
• Location: Away from drafts and direct heat. Quiet but not isolated.
• Cover it: Draping a blanket over the crate (leaving the front open) creates a cozy den feeling

Room Temperature

Cavoodles have moderate coats and do best at normal household temperatures (18-22°C). In summer, ensure good airflow. In winter, they may appreciate an extra blanket.

Sleep Training Schedule: Week by Week

Week 1: Survival Mode

Goal: Get through it. Build trust.

• Expect 2-3 toilet breaks per night
• Keep nighttime interactions boring — toilet break, back to bed, no play
• Comfort crying puppy (they’re adjusting)
• Don’t stress about “training” — just survive

Week 2: Establishing Routine

Goal: Introduce consistent bedtime routine.

• Same bedtime every night (e.g., 10pm)
• Pre-bed routine: toilet → calm time → crate
• Toilet breaks should reduce to 1-2 per night
• Start waiting 30 seconds before responding to whining

Week 3-4: Consolidating

Goal: Sleeping longer stretches.

• Many puppies can make it 5-6 hours by now
• One toilet break per night (or none!)
• Bedtime routine should feel familiar to puppy
• Can start moving crate if desired

Week 5+: The New Normal

Goal: Sleeping through the night.

• Most Cavoodles sleep 7-8 hours straight by this stage
• Consistent wake time in the morning
• Reliable routine established

The Bedtime Routine That Works

Dogs thrive on predictability. A consistent bedtime routine signals “sleep time is coming” and helps your puppy wind down.

Sample Bedtime Routine

1. 9:00 PM — Remove water bowl (reduces overnight toilet needs)
2. 9:30 PM — Calm time (no play, just quiet hanging out)
3. 9:45 PM — Final toilet break (wait until they go)
4. 10:00 PM — Crate time (treat, calm “goodnight,” lights out)

Do the exact same thing, in the exact same order, every single night. Your puppy will learn that this sequence means sleep.

Common Sleep Problems (And How to Fix Them)

Problem: Crying All Night

Causes: Fear, needing toilet, hunger, pain, too much daytime sleep

Solutions:

• Rule out physical needs first (toilet, hunger)
• Add comfort items (scent from littermates)
• Move crate closer to you temporarily
• Ensure enough daytime activity and enforced naps

Problem: Waking Too Early

Causes: Needs toilet, hungry, heard a noise, learned that waking up = attention

Solutions:

• Don’t respond immediately to early waking
• Use blackout blinds if light is the trigger
• Ensure last toilet break is late enough
• Feed dinner a bit later to extend overnight satiety

Problem: Won’t Settle in Crate

Causes: Negative association with crate, crate too big/small, overtired

Solutions:

• Feed meals in crate to build positive association
• Practice crate time during the day (not just bedtime)
• Ensure crate is the right size
• Enforce daytime naps so puppy isn’t wired at night

Problem: Toilet Accidents in Crate

Causes: Crate too big, left too long, medical issue, puppy was raised in unclean conditions

Solutions:

• Use a divider to make crate smaller
• Take more frequent toilet breaks
• See a vet to rule out UTI
• Be patient — some puppies take longer

Daytime Naps: The Secret to Good Night Sleep

Here’s something many new owners miss: a puppy who doesn’t nap enough during the day will sleep worse at night. Overtired puppies get hyperactive, nippy, and struggle to settle.

Enforced Naps

Yes, you sometimes need to make your puppy nap. They don’t always know when they’re tired.

Signs your puppy needs a nap:

• Getting nippy or bitey
• Hyperactive, can’t settle
• Ignoring commands they usually follow
• Excessive barking
• Been awake more than 1-2 hours

How to enforce naps:

1. Pop them in their crate with a chew or Kong
2. Cover the crate
3. Walk away
4. Let them fuss briefly — they’ll usually settle within 10 minutes

Aim for a 1-2 hours awake, 2-3 hours asleep pattern during the day for young puppies.

When to Worry

Some sleep issues need professional help:

• No improvement after 4 weeks — Sleep training should show progress by now
• Extreme distress — Screaming, self-harm, toileting immediately in crate
• Sudden change in sleeping patterns — Could indicate pain or illness
• Excessive sleeping during the day — More than 20 hours could indicate health issues

If you’re struggling, talk to your vet or a qualified dog behaviourist.

Final Thoughts

Sleep training a Cavoodle puppy takes patience, consistency, and a few sleepless nights. But it’s worth it. Within a few weeks, you’ll have a puppy who settles happily at bedtime and sleeps through the night — giving both of you the rest you need.

Remember: every puppy is different. Some sleep through the night at 10 weeks; others take until 4 months. Both are normal. Trust the process, stick to your routine, and it will click.

For the complete picture of raising a Cavoodle puppy — from feeding schedules to vet visits — see our complete guide to preparing for a Cavoodle puppy.