How to Stop My Puppy from Crying

They say dogs are a human’s best friend, but they’re our children too. If you have a new puppy, you’ll know this firsthand. Especially when you’re wondering ‘how to stop my puppy crying?’ in the middle of the night when you badly want to get some shut-eye…

Ironically, this period of the night when you should be getting your best sleep is sometimes called the hour of the wolf. Coincidence? Perhaps. Then again our cute puppy and the modern wolf do share a common ancestor (find out why were dogs domesticated). And incidentally, this wolf-dog connection may just be the first clue to stop a puppy crying…(more on this below)!

But that’s not all. Check out these five tips on how to stop a puppy from crying.

5 ways to stop a puppy from crying

If you’re feeling a bit hard done by in this early furkid parenting stage, know that you’re not alone. The dog is the first animal humans ever domesticated. This means we’ve seen a fair number of crying puppies on our evolutionary journey and you know what…? The human-canine bond always wins in the end because it’s totally worth it.

Here are our five top tips to stop a puppy from crying:

1. Crate training
2. Time training
3. Exercise
4. Routine
5. Health

Find out how to get these five methods started so you and pup can get a good night’s sleep.

1. Crate training your puppy

What is crate training? A crate is a small confined space that your puppy learns to regard as their very own. It’s a domain they can retreat to in times of stress, relaxation or sleep. Many dog owners use the crate to help implement additional elements of training, for example, toilet training your puppy.

Many pet owners don’t like crate training and see it as cruel because your puppy or dog is confined (often with the gate door closed) in a small space. However, crate training should never be used as a punishment. How successful it is comes down to your dog positively associating with their crate.

Read about crate training benefits and drawbacks here:

• Should you crate train a puppy (benefits)
• Crate training a puppy (drawbacks)

Now crate training is exactly why we mentioned the dog-wolf common ancestor. Because if, like so many puppy parents, you discover your dog actually benefits from having a crate, think about how wolves love cosying up in their dens. And hey presto, you see the safety net your crate provides your pup.

In addition, crate training your puppy will also come in handy for travelling in cars, on planes and simply for visits to the vet. Keen to do some pet holidays this summer? Read about how to pet proof your car for pet travel road trips. to find out more.

2. Time training

Being apart is stressful for your puppy. Since they’ve left the comfort of their dog mum and her warm fur, you’ve become the signifier of safety and security. When you’re away they might feel lost, cold, sad and alone.

Think of time training as a process rather than a step. It’s a process of building up how long – or how much time – your puppy can bear being without you. You want to stop puppy crying by gradually getting them used to time apart.

The best way to do this is to start small with short spurts of time away and slowly increase the duration. For example, when you pop next door then come back. Or when you go to the shop at the end of the street and come back.

What’s important for puppy to learn is that you will come back – every time. As you get your furkid used to time apart little by little, take the following measures to put them at ease:

• Leave a t-shirt or other item with your scent in their crate or bed. Your puppy has a powerful sense of smell, which is why having your scent with them will make them feel braver and less alone.
• Place dog pheromone diffusers around the house and keep them on before you leave the house to help keep puppy calm. Pet pheromones mimic their dog mum’s pheromones and make them feel secure.

Read about separation anxiety in pets for more tips to stop puppy crying.

3. Exercise, exercise, exercise!

Dogs have lots of energy and when they don’t get to use it up they can get nervous, upset and more. If your puppy isn’t getting enough physical and mental activity she or he will be more likely to cry. Crying uses up energy so it could just be your puppy’s available outlet for getting rid of those zoomies!

It’s important to keep in mind your little puppy is still growing fast. This means their muscles and bones must be kept active without being put under undue stress. A puppy’s muscular-skeletal system needs a good balance of activity and rest.

Here are some resources to keep puppy active, learning and happy:

• Teach your puppy to walk on a lead
• Puppy games
• Puppy training tips
• Active Dog Month (all about dog exercise)
• Positive reinforcement dog training

If you don’t have enough time each day to play with and train your pooch, consider taking them to puppy school. Not only will the training and playtime help stop your puppy from crying, it will also teach them lifelong skills and help them socialise.

4. Keep a routine

We can’t talk to our dogs, but that doesn’t mean we can’t communicate with them. (If any pet parents reading this feel they can actually speak to their dogs, we won’t disagree. And for those who want to – read how to speak dog). The main thing is that one of the best ways to communicate with your puppy is through a solid routine they can learn to depend on.

From mealtimes and playtime to sleeping and training, get your puppy into a groove. When you both know what to expect there’s less room for worry.

Getting into a routine with your puppy has enormous benefits for your health as well. Read about the physical benefits of owning a pet to find out how your dog could be lowering your cholesterol and much much more!

Try to keep changes to a minimum while your puppy is getting settled in. Avoid having dinner parties and lots of houseguests so that your puppy doesn’t get startled or confused while they adjust. Even redesigning your home can be stressful to pets; read all about home renovations and pet safety.

5. Make sure your puppy is healthy

Dog injuries can easily go unnoticed. Firstly they’re fairly tough and can often go for quite some time before they react to pain, but secondly they also can’t tell you they have a thorn in their paw. Also their fur can hide a cut, bite or scrape, making it hard to see.

If your puppy is in pain, chances are they will cry to let you know. And that crying may get worse or better at certain times of the day according to their feelings and their pain threshold. For example, when you’re sick, you’ve probably noticed it feels worse at night. If your puppy’s not feeling well this could lead to lots of anguished crying, lack of sleep and more.

This is why it’s important to get a pet plan early on. This way your pet insurance plan can help cover costs for hospitalisation, non-routine vet visits, accidents, illness and more. Besides, if you sign up with PD Insurance online you’ll score one or more months of pet insurance for FREE.

Why wait a moment longer – click below for a quote today!