Why Puppies Whine & Cry: 20 Situations Explained (+Help Tips)
Your puppy has about ten to fifteen vocal noises, including variations on barking, yipping, yapping, yelping, howling, baying, snarling, growling, whining, whimpering, and crying.
Some noises are exclusive to specific breeds, but most puppies will sometimes whine, yelp or cry.
What do these noises mean?
And what can you do about them?
Why Do Puppies Whine, Yelp, or Cry?
Puppies whine more than adult dogs because they are younger and need to try and get their message across.
Whining can be:
- Please pay attention to me.
- Something hurts or is uncomfortable.
- Boredom.
- Stress noises.
- Excitement.
Yelping is often an expression of pain or surprise – like you say, “ow”; your puppy yelps.
Your puppy’s crying noises are lower-pitched whimpers.
Whimpers are like yelps (but quieter) and tend to express unhappiness. Whimpering or crying is often quieter than whining.
Whining is louder, and your puppy is vocalizing, hoping that you will hear and do something about the puppy’s needs for attention or action.
1. Whining at Night
Your puppy is more likely to whine overnight in the first few days when it comes home with you, and nighttime yelping and crying are probably an expression of loneliness and unhappiness.
Puppies can and do miss their mothers, and it takes time to learn to sleep on your own when you’ve spent your entire life surrounded by your littermates.
You can train your puppy to sleep through the night, but it is probably better to let your puppy sleep close to you in the first few days so you can reassure it overnight and give appropriate bathroom breaks.
2. Whining in the Crate
If your puppy hasn’t been crate-trained, then being in the crate is a new and potentially unsettling experience.
After your puppy becomes accustomed to the crate, it may choose to sleep in the crate voluntarily during the day, but at first, they may find it strange.
Ideally, your puppy spends time getting used to the crate, but if you want your puppy to sleep in the crate overnight from day one, you may get some initial yelping and whining.
Your puppy is experiencing lots of distressing new experiences – being confined and separate from its mother.
You can help your puppy to relax during crate time by:
- Ensuring your puppy has a bathroom break before going into the crate.
- A tired puppy is a quieter puppy, so exercising before crate time is ideal.
- Ensure the chosen crate lets the puppy move around and stretch.
- Provide special chew toys or treat puzzles that are exclusive for crate-time.
- Provide comfortable bedding and cover three-quarters of the crate with a blanket to provide a quiet, draft-free sleeping area.
- Keep the sessions short initially and let the puppy wander in and out of the crate at will at other times.
- Don’t rush to the crate when your puppy whines or yelps – wait a few moments (out of sight) to see if your puppy is simply protesting and will settle down.
- Overnight attend to your puppy – a no-fuss bathroom break but no playing or messing about.
- Ensure your puppy gets plenty of active time outside the crate, so time in the crate is quiet time.
3. Whining at Bedtime
Your puppy may whine at bedtime because:
- It is anticipating a bathroom break.
- It still has energy and wants to play.
- It does not want to be alone.
Whining at bedtime is a habit your puppy will outgrow.
You may intend to give your puppy a potty break in half an hour, but your puppy has a small bladder and needs to go now.
If your puppy is at the door and whining, it probably needs to go outside.
A play session in preparation for bedtime may be enough to ensure that your puppy is happy to settle down for a long nap.
Loneliness whining is part of your puppy learning to cope with nighttime separation. It may help to start your puppy sleeping close by for reassurance and then move your puppy to a different room as it becomes more mature.
Some people prefer to share their bedroom with their dog for life.
4. Whining in Its Sleep
Why does your puppy whine in its sleep?
Whining or yelping while sleeping tells you that your puppy is dreaming.
You may think that your puppy is having a nightmare, but don’t worry; puppy dreams don’t last long, and whatever your puppy dreams will not upset your puppy in the morning.
You don’t need to respond to your puppy whining while sleeping because these vocalizations aren’t seeking attention or action from you.
5. Crying or Yelping While Eating or Nursing
If your puppy cries during or shortly after nursing with its mother, there is probably an issue:
- Your puppy may not be getting enough milk – either because it is getting pushed out or the mother is not producing enough milk.
- The mother’s milk has become infected – through mastitis, for example.
A nursing puppy is vulnerable, so consult a vet straight away, and you may need to add supplemental feeding to your routine.
Crying when eating may indicate a physical problem – a tooth infection or muscle pain in the neck.
Whining before you put the food down may be excitement or a mixture of excitement and hunger.
Hard food or the wrong sized kibble may be painful for your puppy to chew, and even though your puppy is hungry, it cries because it hurts to eat the food.
If your puppy cries while eating, first get your vet to check that your puppy is physically well and ensure that you feed appropriate puppy foods for your pup’s age and mouth size.
Feed regular small meals so your puppy doesn’t cry because it is hungry between meals.
6. Puppy Cries After Eating
Suppose your puppy cries after eating.
It could be uncomfortable because it is still hungry, too full, or bloat.
Unless your puppy is whining with excitement (body language will be happy with tail wags), you need to find out why your puppy cries while eating, as it may be a medical issue.
7. Puppy Whines When Chewing a Bone
Puppies have brittle teeth, and you need to ensure that your puppy doesn’t get access to a bone that is harder than its teeth or can break into sharp splinters.
Plus, your puppy’s jaw may not be the right size for chewing on a bone.
Check with your vet for a range of approved chews for your puppy that are age and breed-appropriate and won’t hurt your puppy.
If your puppy whines while chewing a bone, it may have broken a tooth, hurt its jaw or be generally uncomfortable.
8. Puppy Whines for No Reason
Whining and crying are part of your puppy’s communication, and although it may seem as if your puppy cries for no apparent reason, you will find a cause for the whining.
You may need to play detective:
- Your puppy may smell or hear something outside the range of your senses – or perhaps a cat has peed in the room, and the puppy whines in reaction to that scent.
- Your puppy may be trying to tell you it needs a walk, some attention, or wants to pee outside.
- Your puppy is uncomfortable – a thorn in its paw, gas in its stomach, teething pains, or overtired legs from walking too far.
If your puppy is crying, it will have a reason, even if that reason is simply a demand for some cuddle time and the puppy is physically well.
9. Puppy Whines in the Car
Your puppy can whine in the car because it is excited at the potential adventure, overwhelmed by the new smells and sensations, or afraid of the noise and gets travel sick.
Many dogs suffer from travel sickness, and you can help your puppy by providing plenty of ventilation and possibly asking your vet for appropriate medication.
If your think your puppy is crying because of fear, you can help your puppy to enjoy the car more:
- Sit with your puppy in the car for a short play session every day – use treats and toys until the puppy gets used to being in the car while it is not moving.
- After the puppy is happy to be in the car, run the engine while sitting on the drive – to get used to the noise and vibration.
- Start to take short trips in the car to get your puppy used to the experience and reward it for being quiet and well behaved.
When you are getting your puppy comfortable with the car, introduce the puppy to the appropriate safety equipment – you may confine your puppy in a crate, behind a dog bar, or in a harness attached to the seat belt.
10. Puppy Cries When Left Alone
Your puppy is a pack animal, and being alone is not a happy experience. Whining when left alone is how your puppy tells you that it wants company.
You can train your puppy to be relatively content by itself, but it takes time and patience.
You can help your puppy feel less anxious when by itself by:
- Leaving the puppy in a safe place – a clear room, puppy playpen, or crate.
- Providing special toys for alone-time.
- Playing music or the radio to give the comfort of noise.
- Use soothing scents.
- Use technology, so you can observe your puppy, talk to it, and dispense treats while absent.
- Provide access to water and a small amount of dry food.
- Arrange for someone to provide a comfort break if you are going to be gone for a couple of hours.
It is best to start your puppy with short periods (five minutes) of alone time to accustom it to being alone.
As your puppy matures, it will be more accepting of being left alone while you are at work or out shopping.
A three-month puppy can only hold its pee for a maximum of three hours, and after six months, it can hold its pee for about six hours.
You need to be sensitive to your puppy’s physical needs and ensure these are met during your absence.
11. Puppy Whines or Yelps While Playing
You can’t take the whining or yelping during play in isolation.
How does the puppy seem to feel?
Some whining and yelping may be from excitement because your puppy is enjoying the game, but the other reason may be that your puppy is in pain or afraid.
If your puppy seems unhappy (tail down, ears down, and crouched low to the ground), it may feel anxious or afraid. A small puppy may not enjoy rough games and can easily hurt itself if it knocks into furniture.
If your puppy seems happy, the noises may be vocalizations as your puppy tries to communicate that it wants you to throw the toy or play tug of war.
Whatever noises your puppy makes during play, watch its boy language to work out its feelings.
12. Puppy Whines While Chewing a Toy
Not every chew toy is suitable for every puppy – e.g., A Chihuahua puppy has a smaller jaw than a Great Dane puppy.
Whining while chewing a toy generally indicates discomfort.
The reasons your puppy may be uncomfortable are:
- Teething.
- The toy is too hard and hurts its mouth.
- Toy breaks into sharp pieces that cut your puppy’s mouth.
- Your puppy may have a sore mouth for other reasons.
If your puppy whines when chewing any object, not just this toy, check your puppy’s mouth for sore spots or ask a vet to see if there is an infection like an abscess or other reason for the painful mouth.
If your puppy only whines when chewing this toy, throw it out and replace it with something that doesn’t give your puppy issues.
13. Puppy Whines on Walks
Anxious puppies will whine during walks because the outside world is scary and full of potential dangers.
Sometimes a puppy will whine and pull while walking because it finds the lead uncomfortable and unfamiliar.
Also, a puppy that is excited to get out and play may whine while walking through impatience and frustration.
Walking on a lead is not natural behavior for a puppy, and you need to train it to accept the leash and walk calmly beside you.
You can get your puppy to practice with the lead inside the safe home environment before you try and walk with it outside. You can swap a collar for a harness as this is more comfortable for your puppy and may cause less distress.
Puppy classes help you train your puppy to accept the led even with distractions, but you need persistence, patience, and a pocket full of training treats.
14. First Night in Your Home
Your puppy will miss its mom, and it is natural for it to whine on the first and several more nights in your house.
Your puppy needs to learn that it is safe and secure in your home, and it will take time to get the message.
You can help your puppy sleep through the night without whining by providing reassurance, a comfort toy, or soothing music.
15. Whining During a Bathroom Break
The most likely causes of whining during peeing or pooping are a urinary tract infection or constipation.
If your puppy is whining while going to the bathroom, you should get your vet to check the cause, your puppy may need medication, and you may need to feed wetter food to allow more effortless bowel movements.
Pureed pumpkin and other soft vegetables added to your puppy meal can add fiber and bulk that help your puppy’s digestion and elimination.
If you choose to feed dry puppy food, you must provide plenty of water, and in the early stages of feeding your puppy, rehydrating the dry food is preferable.
16. Whining in the Morning
Imagine the frustration of being awake but unable to get up and do anything like go to the bathroom or have breakfast until someone comes to enable those needs?
When your puppy is ready to start the day and frustrated at a lack of action, it may whine out of frustration.
When you establish a dependable morning routine, your puppy won’t whine because it will know that its needs will be met when it wakes in the morning.
While your puppy is learning, set your alarm so you can get up to give it an early morning bathroom break and show your puppy that you are pleased to see it with an enthusiastic greeting.
Try to get up to see your puppy before it starts whining in the morning, so your puppy doesn’t think it has to whine to get up.
17. Whining When Teething
Growing new teeth hurts – the adult teeth erupt from the gum and push out the milk or baby teeth. That term – erupt, describes the feeling of hot, painful gums like a volcano erupting burning lava.
You can provide cooling teething toys and treats, and you can use a soothing teething gel for puppies to reduce some of the discomfort.
It’s natural for a puppy to whine while teething because its mouth hurts, but it will stop teething, and then the puppy will forget about the pain.
18. Whining When Scratching
It is normal for a puppy to scratch its ears occasionally.
If your puppy whines when scratching its ears and seems to be scratching and shaking its ears frequently, it may have mites or an ear infection.
Mites are common in puppies and easily treated. Your vet will examine your puppy’s ears, check for infection or foreign objects, and recommend the appropriate treatment.
If you spot your puppy whining while scratching or biting at any part of its body, it may have an injury like a scratch or a bite. The whine indicates that it is uncomfortable, so check the spot causing the problems and make sure it is clean and infection-free.
Most scratches will heal quickly, but occasionally they may become infected and require medical help to clear it.
Other reasons your puppy may scratch and whine include allergic reactions and fleas.
19. Puppy Whines When You Pick It Up
You need to pick your puppy up correctly to ensure that it feels safe and secure.
If your puppy is not used to being handled, it may be frightened and whine when it finds it lifted and dangled in the air.
When you scoop your puppy, ensure you support its chest and bottom and tuck it into your body. Most puppies don’t enjoy dangling in the air.
If your puppy usually doesn’t mind being picked up but is whining unexpectedly, it may have an uncomfortable stomach or another sore spot.
Unexpected whining when you pick up your puppy may indicate a necessary trip to the vet.
20. Overtired and Whining
An overtired puppy is likely to whine through frustration, and you see the same behavior in human toddlers.
Your puppy needs regular naps throughout the day, and the simple cure for this type of whining is to ensure that your puppy has a comfortable and quiet place to sleep when it is tired.
If your puppy is unwilling to volunteer for a nap, then give it quiet time during the day when it is not distracted by potential playmates.
Once your puppy gets some rest, the whining will stop.
Will Your Puppy Outgrow Whining?
Whining is part of the vocalizations your puppy uses to communicate.
Some causes of whining will diminish with age, but your dog will continue to whine if it is hurt or distressed as an adult.
As you and your puppy grow together and your puppy matures, you will learn what the various whines mean, and there will be less confusion over what your puppy is trying to tell you.
Conclusion
You can expect your puppy to whine when it is in pain, uncomfortable, and frustrated.
Generally, whining tells you that your puppy wants something from you.
But not all whining is an issue; you need to watch your puppy’s body language to decide if you need to react to your puppy’s whining.
Remember, your puppy is equivalent to a human toddler, and you don’t need to respond to all whining for attention. But you need to assess why your puppy is whining because whining is always telling you something about your puppy’s health and happiness.
If your puppy is injured or ill, you want to respond quickly to give it the best treatment.
If your puppy is bored and wants to get up earlier than you in the morning, you need to set a routine you can both enjoy.
You will soon learn what your puppy is trying to say when it whines or yelps.