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Why Do Dogs Cry?

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David Adams

February 12, 2023

Dog Training

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* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Have you ever heard your dog crying, and wondered why? Or maybe you have more than one dog, and one of them cries more than the others. Why do dogs cry, and what can be done about it?

Why do dogs cry?

Crying, also known as whining or whimpering (they all mean the same thing), is a somewhat common behavior in dogs. Dogs don’t cry tears like humans do, but they make a whining or whimpering sound. Some people have also wondered whether dogs cry for similar reasons to humans. The answer, in some ways, is yes.

What are dogs trying to tell us when they cry? Dog crying happens for a number of reasons. Some dogs may whine as a greeting behavior when you come in the door because they are very excited to see you. 

Some dogs may also whine as an appeasement behavior when they interact with people or other dogs. (This is usually accompanied by a submissive posture, with head down and tail tucked.) Other dogs may whine as an attention-seeking behavior, or to tell you something, like “my toy is stuck in the couch cushions!”

Another common cause of dog whining is separation distress. Some dogs express this distress through whining or whimpering, and may do this especially when left alone. If you’ve ever heard a dog crying in their crate, separation distress might be to blame.

An important consideration if you hear your dog cry: Dogs may cry if they are sick or injured. Make sure to eliminate this as a possibility, especially if this is a new behavior for your dog. Sometimes, dog whimpering is an attempt to tell us “I don’t feel good.”

Do certain breeds cry more than others?

There is no research indicating that any breeds specifically cry more than others, but there are some breeds that have a wider range of vocalization, and there are also some breeds that tend to be more “talkative.” For instance, Basset Hounds and Bloodhounds are more likely to howl than other breeds, and Basenjis have a distinctive “yodel.” So if you have a more “talkative” breed, that may translate to more whining, but it may not: your dog may simply be talkative in other ways.

Do puppies cry more than adult dogs?

Puppies, like human children, tend to cry more than their adult counterparts. Younger puppies especially may need some time to adjust from being away from their mother and their littermates, and may cry a lot during this adjustment period. Puppies generally cry for similar reasons to adult dogs, but it may be more excessive: they are probably experiencing more loneliness and fear than an adult dog usually does.

Why do dogs cry in their crates?

If your dog cries in their crate, the culprit is probably separation distress If your dog is in their crate, they are not with you, and they may feel distressed about this. However, a dog who is properly crate trained should not cry in their crate. If your dog is crying in their crate, they are not truly crate trained. The Humane Society of the United States has a handy guide to crate training.

Similarly, if your dog cries at night (and you are not sleeping with them), separation distress is probably to blame. This is especially true if the dog is new to your household, or if they have a new sleeping arrangement. We’ll get into what to do about separation anxiety-based whining below.

crying dog

In addition, if none of your training for your anxious dog has worked and your dog still seems overly anxious, you might want to consider looking into anti-anxiety medication for your dog.

As a reminder, never punish your dog for whining. Remember that they are trying to tell you something, and try to work together (possibly with the help of a trainer) to find a solution.

Trainer Review of this Article

There is so much misinformation out there, we want to make sure we only provide the highest quality information to our community. We have all of our articles reviewed by qualified, positive-only trainers.  

This is the trainer that reviewed this article:

Shannon Finch
AnimalKind Training
M.Ed. Humane Education
Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner
Certified Tellington TTouch and TTEAM Practitioner

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David Adams photo

David Adams

February 12, 2023

Dog Training

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