I just got an 8 week old black lab male puppy. So far he has stayed with me 3 nights. 2 out of the three nights he has stayed up all night barking and whinning. I know he is just a puppy but i have to do something so the neighbors will not start complaining. I keep him in a 10x10 pen with a couple toys and a dog house in the back yard. i actually have several questions. I know this is probably normal for a puppy but is  there anything I can do to make it better? What do I when he starts barking in the middle of the night, do i just let him bark or do I go outside and get him? If I let him come inside onto the porch some throughout the day will it make it worse when I put him back in the pen? Also how long can I expect this type of behavior to last.

You might try a battery operated alarm clock. One that ticks, it sounds like a heartbeat and make make the pup more at ease. You could also try a large stuffed animal for him to sleep with. You can pretty much expect crying and barking for a good week or more.

Hi, I hope by now your puppy is doing better. Please be sure not to "discipline" him for this behavior, that is important. Also, he will need a stuffed animal to make him feel like he has litter mates with him. You may need to let him sleep where he can see you at night until he matures a little more. If you would like to visit my website at www.paxromanakennels.com and click on the "resources" link at the top of the page. There are alot of articles about puppies and their habits and raising puppies. Best of luck to you. I love the labrador, I have one that is 14 years old :) Dena