One of the most common questions new puppy parents ask is what to do when their puppy whines all night. Puppies are notorious for crying and whining, especially at night, and it can be very frustrating and exhausting for their owners.
There are a few things you can do to help ease your puppy’s nighttime whining.
Make sure that your pup has plenty of exercise during the day. A tired puppy is usually a quiet puppy, so a good game of fetch or a long walk will help burn off some of that excess energy. Create a cozy and comfortable space for your puppy to sleep in. His crate or dog bed should be in a quiet location away from any commotion or activity that can keep him awake.
Why Do Puppies Cry, Especially At Night?
Separation Anxiety
Some puppies may suffer from separation anxiety when left alone at night. This can cause them to whine or howl excessively. Separation anxiety is usually caused by a lack of socialization and interaction with their owner during the day.
It is important to get your puppy used to being left alone for short periods of time from an early age. This can be done by gradually increasing the amount of time you leave them alone, starting with just a few minutes at a time.
Phobias
It could also be a result of different phobias. Young dogs are particularly scared of loud noises. This could be traffic, fireworks, car honks, and so much more. In this case, it is outside noise that makes your dog noisy by constantly startling them.
Personalities
In addition to the psychological issues, your puppy may be crying a lot at night because of their personality. This happens a lot with dog breeds that are known for being needy and for loving attention.
As with separation anxiety, the whining is triggered by you being away from them. However, unlike anxiety, it is more of an emotion than a mental need that they want to be met and it is often a lot easier to deal with.
Illnesses
Finally, your pooch could be barking for other issues unrelated to time or your presence including illness and overall discomfort.
Should I Leave My Puppy To Cry At Night?
There is no easy answer when it comes to whether you should leave your puppy alone to cry at night or not. Some people believe that it is cruel to let a young dog cry on its own, while others think they are better off when left to their own devices because they won’t learn bad habits in your absence.
If you have the time and resources, consider leaving a radio on at nighttime for the company as well as making sure that your pup has plenty of toys and chews so he doesn’t get bored with his kennel. You could also try slowly acclimating your puppy to being alone by spending more and more time out of the house until he is comfortable on his own.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to leave your puppy alone to cry at night is up to you. If you think it would be too cruel to let your pup cry himself to sleep, then don’t do it. However, if you believe that your puppy will be better off in the long run if he is left to fend for himself, then go ahead and give it a try.
Puppy Won’t Stop Crying In Crate – Is It Cruel To Crate A Dog At Night?
Crates are growing more and more in popularity when it comes to not only training puppies but also sleeping spaces for them. However, this is not any dog’s favorite place to be. Remember that most breeds love activity and freedom and they, therefore, may not take as well to the confinement of crates. However, it does a lot for the pooch and so, take it easy on yourself if you are worried about leaving them in there overnight makes you a cruel person. It really does not.
First off, leaving a puppy in a crate helps them develop a sense of discipline.
It has a literal and psychological grounding effect. That way, even when they are throwing tantrums in the middle of the night they are restricted in terms of how much damage they can cause physically. With time, the restriction frustrates any attempts at unwanted behavior and actually has a surprising effect in helping calm the dog down.
In addition to teaching them independence, letting your dog sleep in a crate could also offer them a sense of security. This comes in super handy when dealing with nighttime noisiness as a result of anxiety or phobias. The small spaces, if comfortable, offer a safe haven vibe that does wonders to calm your dog.
With all this in mind, you can let your puppy cry in its crate all night. It might hurt you at first but you can rest assured that it will all work out with time. Just make sure that the crate is comfortable enough to offer the pooch some freedom and not a constricting prison that worsens anxiety.
For new puppies, we recommend the MidWest iCrate Starter Kit. The spacious piece contains a polyester bed for comfort as well as a crate cover to make it more peaceful for the dog to fall asleep at night.
How Do You Get A Puppy To Stop Whining At Night?
As earlier stated, there are several reasons why dogs whine at night. Fortunately, there are equally as many ways to make the puppy stop crying at night, which is not only super easy to implement but also highly effective. Here are four of the best strategies.
Consider Calming Supplements
These are extracts from natural compounds that help combat anxiety and mellow out temper tantrums at a neurochemical level. Some of the most effective and popular supplements in this case contain different levels and combinations of natural compounds like melatonin, hemp, chamomile, lavender, and many others. Just consult your vet before starting your pooch on anything.
Eliminate Any Anxiety Triggers
The strategy in this case will be determined by the actual trigger. If it is something like noise then try and set up your pooch’s sleeping space in the quietest parts of the house. If it is visual triggers like flashing lights or shadows then something as simple as putting a blanket over the dog crate will definitely help a lot.
Make Their Sleeping Spaces Comfortable
Puppies love a good night of sleep more than they show it, so if you want to fight the whining, then make sleep time more appealing to them. This is a fantastic strategy, especially if you are trying to stop your puppy from crying in its crate. Get them a comfortable bed with a cozy dog blanket and a toy or two in there.
Wear Them Out Before Bed
If your puppy is tired before bedtime, they are most likely to be too tuckered out to whine, cry and bark all night. So include some form of workout whether it is a walk around the block or a quick game of fetch to get them tired so they can sleep through the night.
How Do I Get My Puppy Used To Be Alone?
One of the biggest hurdles you will have to overcome as a dog owner with a puppy is their innate over-dependence. They love attention, affection, and time and when they do not get this then things are never pretty, or quiet for that matter. It, therefore, goes without saying that independence training is something that you cannot afford to ignore when dealing with such dogs. Here are three key strategies you could try out.
Have The Dog Sleep Alone At Night
Sorting out sleeping arrangements will do wonders when dealing with independence training for new dogs. Ideally, a puppy should sleep in its own separate space at night. If you do not have enough space in your house to get them a designated room, simply invest in enclosures like crates and set them up somewhere like the living room or a corner in your room. Just do not let them get used to sleeping on your bed or too close to you in general if you want them to get used to being alone.
Do Not Be Too Present
As a dog owner, this is absolutely counterintuitive. However, it does a lot of good for the pooch when it comes to training them on how to be self-sufficient. So take a walk around the house without them or go outside for a few minutes. This will teach them not only to be independent but that you will always return so they are not so anxious all the time.
Use Essential Oils
One of the best calming agents is lavender. It has been shown to help reduce temper tantrums and generally calm down dogs during panic attacks and episodes of separation anxiety. In this case, we recommend the Cliganic USDA Organic Lavender Essential Oil. You could apply it as a coat rub, in their bathwater, or through a diffuser.
With the latter, Smart Wi-Fi Wireless Ultrasonic Diffuser from Sierra Modern Home stands out as a market favorite with cool features, such as compatibility with smart home devices, like Alexa or Google Home, and a wide base for stability.
Related Questions
Can A Puppy Cry Itself To Death?
It may sound a little bit outrageous, but a puppy can actually cry itself to death. Prolonged periods of crying and whining use up a lot of the little pooch’s energy as well as water and can leave them prone to issues, such as hypoglycemia, dehydration, and general exhaustion with potentially fatal consequences.
Can A Puppy Die From Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety itself is a psychological issue. It can, therefore, not directly lead to the death of a puppy. However, consequences like destructive behavior and odd eating habits could put them at risk of life-threatening conditions. Prolonged periods of crying as a result of the anxiety could also lead to their death.
What Is The First Thing You Should Train Your Puppy?
The excitement of getting a new puppy and a blank training canvas is overwhelming for most new dog parents. With so many tricks and habits to teach your pooch, it is always best to start with the basics. This means things like potty training, how to calm down, and independence training.
