If you’ve ever raised a puppy, you know it’s not just a daytime job. Young dogs require round-the-clock care, which often means late-night potty trips, crate checks, and the occasional early-morning cuddle session. While the routine can be exhausting, it’s also an opportunity to bond and establish good habits that will make life easier for both you and your pup. One Golden Retriever mom’s recent video captures this experience perfectly, showing that with patience and planning, even the night shift can become a calm and rewarding part of puppy life.
Owner shares what her night shift with Golden Retriever puppy looks like in video
Lindsey Eaton recently posted a video detailing her late-night care routine for her 9-week-old Golden Retriever puppy, Harvey. Speaking through a voiceover, she walks viewers through the schedule she developed to help Harvey adjust to sleeping through the night.
The routine begins with one final potty break before Harvey heads into his crate. Addressing a question she’s received before, Lindsey explains why there is no blanket or bed inside the crate. According to their breeder, adding something soft could encourage Harvey to use it as a bathroom spot, a habit they want to avoid. It also presents a safety concern because young puppies may chew or tear bedding, creating a choking hazard. Lindsey adds that Harvey has spent nearly his entire life sleeping on hard surfaces. He often chooses them naturally when resting.
The video then shows Harvey waking at midnight for another quick bathroom break. Lindsey puts him back in his crate. To her surprise and delight, he stayed quiet until 5 a.m. This met their training goal of just one nighttime potty break. “I honestly couldn’t believe it,” she says, adding that when she checked the crate, it was completely clean.
From there, the day starts early with gentle playtime and cuddles. Soon after, Lindsey’s fiancé comes downstairs to greet Harvey, feed him breakfast, and take over puppy duty for about an hour before heading to work. That short break gives Lindsey time to rest before she resumes her caregiving shift for the next eight hours. By the end of the clip, Lindsey sums up the night with pride, saying, “It was a very successful night, so proud of Harvey.”
