Do you have a new puppy in the family? Does he whine all the time, even when the household is trying to sleep? Do you find yourself at your wit’s end trying to figure out what might be wrong with him? There are several potential reasons why puppy keeps whining, and it’s important to be familiar with them as you get used to having a new furry friend in the house.
Is your puppy’s constant whining driving you up the wall? Trust me, I’ve been there! When I brought home my Beagle puppy last year, the whining seemed endless – especially at night when everyone was trying to sleep It’s completely normal to wonder why your furry little friend won’t stop making those high-pitched sounds
Puppies whine as a primary form of communication since they can’t talk. While some whining is natural, excessive whining can indicate deeper issues that need addressing. Let’s explore the main reasons behind your puppy’s vocal protests and what you can do to help them (and restore your sanity).
Why Puppies Whine: 8 Common Reasons
1. Normal Puppy Communication
Just like human babies cry to communicate, puppies whine to express their needs. This is a fundamental part of canine communication, especially in young puppies who recently left their mother and littermates.
Your puppy is trying to tell you something important when they whine. As you spend more time together, you’ll likely start to recognize different whining patterns that indicate specific needs:
- Short, excited whines when they’re happy to see you
- Persistent whines when they need to go potty
- Lower-pitched whines when they’re uncomfortable
What to do Pay attention to the context and your puppy’s body language when they whine. Over time you’ll better understand what each type of whine means.
2. Attention-Seeking Behavior
Puppies quickly learn that whining gets your attention. If you consistently respond to whining with attention, treats, or playtime, your puppy may develop a habit of whining whenever they want something from you.
What to do To prevent attention-seeking whining from becoming a permanent habit
- Wait for a quiet moment before giving attention or treats
- Reward calm behavior instead of responding to whines
- Don’t immediately rush to your puppy when they start whining (unless it’s an emergency)
3. Separation Anxiety
Puppies are incredibly social animals who naturally seek companionship. When separated from their littermates and mother, they often experience separation anxiety, which can lead to excessive whining when left alone.
My neighbor’s Golden Retriever puppy would whine for hours when left alone – it was heartbreaking to hear, and the poor pup was genuinely distressed.
What to do:
- Start by leaving your puppy alone for short periods, gradually increasing duration
- Provide a safe, comfortable space with toys and a cozy bed
- Avoid dramatic goodbyes or hellos when coming and going
- Consider using interactive toys or food puzzles to keep them engaged while you’re away
4. Pain or Discomfort
Sometimes puppies whine because they’re in physical pain or discomfort. If your puppy suddenly starts whining more than usual, it could indicate a health issue.
Common health concerns that might cause whining include:
- Digestive issues
- Teething pain
- Minor injuries from play
- Ear infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Gastrointestinal problems
What to do: If your puppy’s whining is accompanied by other symptoms like limping, excessive scratching, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite, consult your veterinarian right away. Even without obvious symptoms, a check-up can help rule out underlying medical conditions.
5. Fear or Stress
Puppies experience fear and stress in new or overwhelming situations, just like humans do. Common triggers include:
- Loud noises
- New environments
- Unfamiliar people or animals
- Car rides
- Thunderstorms
If your puppy is whining with ears back, tail tucked, head bowed, or body turned away, they’re likely feeling threatened or insecure.
What to do:
- Gradually expose your puppy to new experiences in a positive, controlled manner
- Reward calm behavior with treats and praise
- Avoid forcing your puppy into overwhelming situations
- Consider enrolling them in obedience classes that use positive reinforcement techniques
6. Hunger or Potty Needs
Young puppies have small bladders and fast metabolisms, so they need frequent potty breaks and meals. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the correct one – your puppy might just be hungry or need to relieve themselves!
What to do:
- Establish a consistent schedule for feeding and potty breaks
- Take your puppy out immediately after eating, drinking, playing, or waking up
- If your puppy whines by the door, acknowledge their request and take them out promptly
7. Overstimulation or Exhaustion
Puppies experience the world with boundless curiosity, but sometimes too much stimulation can be overwhelming. If your puppy has been playing for a long time or experiencing a particularly active day, they might whine because they’re overstimulated or simply tired.
Just like human toddlers who get cranky when they need a nap, puppies can get whiny when they’re exhausted.
What to do:
- Provide a quiet, comfortable space where your puppy can relax
- Ensure they get enough sleep (puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep daily!)
- Offer a soft blanket or chew toy to help them settle down
8. Heat Cycles (Female Puppies)
If you have an unspayed female puppy that’s reached sexual maturity (around six months of age), her whining might be related to her heat cycle. Hormonal changes during heat can cause discomfort and behavioral changes, including increased vocalization.
What to do:
- Consider having your female puppy spayed if you don’t intend to breed her
- Provide extra love and attention during heat cycles
- Consult with your vet about managing heat-related discomfort
How to Reduce Excessive Whining
While some whining is normal and to be expected from puppies, excessive whining can become a challenge if not properly addressed. Here are some general tips to minimize unnecessary whining:
Establish a Consistent Routine
Puppies thrive on predictability. Establish regular times for:
- Feeding
- Potty breaks
- Play sessions
- Training
- Sleep
When puppies know what to expect, they feel more secure and tend to whine less.
Meet Your Puppy’s Basic Needs
Make sure your puppy has:
- Regular, nutritious meals appropriate for their age and size
- Constant access to fresh water
- Frequent potty breaks (at least every 2-4 hours for young puppies)
- Daily exercise and mental stimulation
- Comfortable resting areas
- Social interaction
Use Positive Reinforcement Training
- Ignore attention-seeking whining (as long as you’re sure it’s not for a legitimate need)
- Reward quiet, calm behavior with treats, praise, and attention
- Never punish whining with harsh words or actions, as this can increase anxiety
- Consider clicker training to mark and reward quiet moments
Nighttime Comfort for New Puppies
If your puppy whines at night, they might be missing their littermates or mother. Try these tips:
- Wrap a hot water bottle in a soft blanket and place it in their crate
- Put a ticking clock or white noise machine nearby to provide soothing sounds
- Place an item with their mother’s or littermates’ scent in their bed (if available)
- Consider letting them sleep in your room initially, then gradually moving them to their permanent sleeping location
Build Confidence Through Socialization
A confident puppy is generally a quieter puppy:
- Expose them to different people, animals, environments, and situations in a positive way
- Enroll in puppy socialization classes
- Practice basic obedience training to build their confidence
- Create opportunities for successful social interactions
When to Consult a Professional
If you’ve tried the above strategies and your puppy continues to whine excessively, it might be time to seek professional help:
- Veterinarian: To rule out any medical causes for the whining
- Professional Dog Trainer: To address behavioral issues
- Animal Behaviorist: For more complex behavioral problems
Final Thoughts
Remember that raising a puppy takes time, patience, and consistency. No one gets it completely perfect! Your puppy is learning how to communicate with you, and occasional whining is part of that process.
By identifying why your puppy is whining and addressing the underlying cause, you can help them feel more secure and reduce excessive vocalization over time. Soon enough, you’ll understand your puppy’s different “languages” and be able to meet their needs before the whining even starts.
Have you found any particularly effective ways to deal with puppy whining? What worked for your furry friend might help someone else! I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments.
And remember – this challenging phase doesn’t last forever. Before you know it, your whiny puppy will grow into a well-adjusted adult dog who communicates in more subtle ways.
Needing to Go to the Bathroom
If you’re potty training your dog, he may learn pretty quickly that whining when he needs to go to the bathroom will get him a chance to go outside. This is often one of the first things dog owners try when they notice their puppies whining frequently, so dogs quickly learn to associate the two behaviors.
If you’re worried about your dog continuing to whine forever when he needs to go outside, you can start training him to sit quietly next to the door or ring a bell when he needs to go out instead.
It’s true that puppies miss their littermates as well as their mothers when they’re first taken away to live elsewhere. They don’t realize that the humans surrounding them are their new family, and they may whine often, especially at night, because they miss the comfort and protection of their canine family members.
If your puppy keeps whining a lot at night, wrap a hot water bottle in a soft blanket and put it in the crate with him to comfort him. Place a ticking clock or a white noise machine nearby as well to give him some comforting, soothing sounds and make it easier for him to relax in his new home.
This behavior of whining when missing their canine family should abate within a few days or weeks, or the whining may have another cause.
Causes of Why Your Puppy Keeps Whining
In this article, we’ll walk you through seven of the most common reasons puppies whine. We’ll help you understand your puppy’s whining so you can narrow down the potential causes and figure out whether or not he/she needs veterinary attention—or just regular attention! Take your time looking through this information to find out more.
Potential reasons why your puppy keeps whining include, but aren’t limited to:
Puppies whine, cry, bark, and howl to communicate. This is just part of how they behave, and for the first couple months to a year of your dog’s life, he/she may do a lot of all of this! Puppies are noisy by nature so they can get the attention of their mothers when they need assistance with something, so it’s important to remember that your dog may spend a lot of time whining simply because he’s trying to tell you something.
The longer you have your dog, the more likely you’ll be able to tell just what it is he/she needs or wants when they whine. Just like human babies, puppies develop different types and patterns of whining depending on what they need. They also sometimes whine along with other habits to help express what they want to their human families.
Your puppy keeps whining because they’re excited. If your puppy is happy to see you when you get home, they may start whining and wiggling to show their excitement. He/she may do the same thing when you or someone else in the family plays with him/her, or when he/she gets attention.
It’s okay for your puppy to whine a little in excitement. However, if you’re trying to teach him to calm down, reward him for being quiet or sitting still by giving him treats at the right time. This will reinforce calm behaviors over active ones.
If your dog is bored, he/she may start whining because he/she wants something to do. Your puppy may want attention, playtime, pets, or something to chew on. If you don’t give him/her something, he/she may find something to do on his own—whether you like the results or not!
Make sure your puppy has frequent access to puppy-safe toys. Observe your puppy while they’re chewing on toys to make sure he/she doesn’t accidentally ingest anything they shouldn’t. Additionally, take your puppy out for frequent walks and give them plenty of playtime both indoors and outside. Just make sure you only take him outside after he’s had the appropriate vaccines to keep him healthy as well.
Dogs and puppies who are whining because they’re in pain or are sick usually have other symptoms going on aside from just the whining. If your puppy keeps whining along with other problems such as lethargy, lack of appetite, limping, pacing, vomiting, or other symptoms of illness or injury, get him to a vet right away.
Puppies whine often, and it’s not usually because they’re in pain. Even so, it’s very important to rule out this possibility and to make sure your dog is healthy and well if you notice him whining excessively.
Puppies are like babies and toddlers; they are afraid of many things they don’t realize won’t hurt them. Loud noises, sudden movements, and confusing environments are all scary to puppies, and they are likely to whine about it to let you know they need some comforting.
It’s okay to comfort your puppy a little bit when he’s scared. However, as long as he’s safe, it’s best to avoid rewarding his whining with attention or petting. Instead, reward him when he’s quiet and still, and he’ll quickly learn how he’s meant to behave.
How to Get Your Dog To Stop Crying and Whining!
FAQ
Why does my dog whine so much?
It’s important to pay attention to your pet’s behavior and try to determine the cause of their distress. Here are some common reasons why dogs may whine excessively: 1. Pain or Discomfort: Dogs may whine when they are in pain or discomfort. This could be due to an injury, illness, or other medical issue.
Why is my dog whining through the night?
Lastly, if your dog is whining, particularly through the night for no reason, it could simply be because your puppy is still a puppy! Pups need a lot more attention than adult dogs, which is completely normal. They usually whine because they miss their mothers, their litter, or because they want attention from you.
Why does my puppy make a whining noise?
Puppies seem to cry a lot more than adult dogs and make whining noises for various reasons. This is normal as they are still learning the different sounds they can use to communicate.
Why do newborn puppies whine?
Newborn puppies use whining to communicate with their mother from the day they are born. A simple whimper lets her know that they are cold, hungry, or have another need. The mother understands and quickly meets her pup’s needs.
Why does my dog Whin a lot?
For dogs, whining can be a form of communication. Dogs often use whining as a salutation and reception. These sounds are particularly common when they are overcome with excitement at their favorite humans returning after a day of work. Make eye contact with your favourite doggy so they know you are home and happy to see them. 4.
Is it normal for puppies to whine a lot?
How do you get a puppy to stop whining?
At what age do puppies stop whining?
Puppies stop whining significantly within a few days to a few weeks after settling into their new home as they adapt to their routine and environment. While there’s no set age, puppies gradually decrease whining as they learn to communicate with you and feel more secure. You can help by responding to actual needs, ignoring attention-seeking cries, and establishing a consistent routine.
Should I ignore puppy whining?
No, you should not ignore a crying puppy, especially a young one, as it can increase anxiety and distress, damage your bond, and prevent them from learning to trust you for their needs. However, you can temporarily ignore a brief whimper or cry to teach a puppy to settle, especially during crate training, but always check for a genuine need such as hunger, thirst, or a need to go to the toilet. Comfort them calmly, address their needs, and ensure their sleeping environment is comfortable and secure.