Responding to a dog's crying involves first figuring out why they're crying (pain, potty, anxiety, boredom) and then calmly addressing the need, but for attention-seeking whining, you must ignore the noise and reward the subsequent quiet, teaching them that silence gets attention, not crying. Never punish, but provide plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, and a secure routine to prevent attention-seeking cries, while using positive reinforcement for calm behavior.
Realize that any eye contact, touching or talking to your dog—even if you're scolding her—all constitute attention. Use dramatic body language such as turning away from your dog or folding your arms across your chest and completely ignore her to indicate to your dog that her attention-seeking whining won't work.
Do not ignore your puppy's whines or cries, and try to know the cause of their distress. It is important to provide puppies with the comfort they need in the first few days you bring them home, and to later give them the proper training to address any specific behavior issues or to add to their communication skills.
Emotional Causes of Crying
Fear and Stress: Loud noises, unfamiliar environments, or changes in the household can also cause stress and fear, leading to crying. Seeking Attention: Sometimes, dogs learn that crying gets them attention from their humans, whether it's cuddles, treats, or playtime.
Dogs cry for a variety of reasons, using vocalizations, behavior, and body language to communicate physical discomfort, sadness, stress, a desire for attention, and other emotions. But these feelings do not prompt flowing tears like they sometimes do for humans.
A whimper means your dog is in distress. It's often a yelping sound. Whining could mean your dog's having pain because another dog bit them or someone stepped on their paw, and they let out a loud yelp. Some dogs whimper when they're excited, for instance, when you come home after work.
The 3-3-3 rule for dogs is a guideline for the adjustment period after adoption, representing 3 days (overwhelmed/hiding), 3 weeks (settling in/testing boundaries), and 3 months (feeling at home/bonding) to help owners manage expectations and provide patience, routine, and a calm environment, understanding that anxiety is normal as they decompress from a stressful past. It's a framework for recognizing stress and fostering trust, not a rigid timeline, but it helps owners understand why a new dog might seem timid or act out initially.
Ignore the Puppy Crying
If you don't respond right away and the puppy settles within a few minutes, you don't need to go back into the room. But if the puppy's crying continues longer for more than about two minutes, you can make a brief verbal response to the puppy's cry. This step can be repeated two or three times.
If you think a dog is sick, injured or in need of veterinary care, try to notify the owner. Most care deeply for their pets and will make arrangements to have them looked at by their vet. Here are some ways to find a dog's owner: check for a collar and contact details.
The 10-10-10 rule for puppy potty training is a specific routine: 10 minutes outside in the designated potty spot, staying 10 feet away from the house/play area, followed by 10 minutes of focused supervision indoors to prevent accidents before the next potty break, creating a consistent cycle for success. This method ensures the puppy has ample time to eliminate and minimizes mistakes by closely monitoring them afterward, reinforcing good habits consistently.
Saying "No!" may not give your dog clear instructions about what you want them to do. Dogs like clarity, consistency, and positive reinforcement. There are some simple ways to establish a dog's mindset so they choose to do what you want them to do.
They'll probably eventually stop crying. But that's only because they've learnt that no-one is coming to comfort them. Puppies who stop crying to ask for reassurance aren't coping better, they're more scared and anxious but they've just learnt crying is a waste of energy.
Comfort them calmly
If your puppy is crying, wait a little while to see if they stop. Don't leave them long though, as it can cause stress. It's important to comfort your puppy when they cry at night, to help reassure them. So if you do't think they will settle, or they might get worked up, go to them.
The 3-second rule for puppies (and dogs) is a guideline for positive greetings and interactions, suggesting initial meetings or petting sessions last no more than three seconds before pausing, allowing the dog to choose to re-engage, which helps build confidence, reduce overstimulation, and prevent negative reactions like fear or aggression. It teaches dogs that social contact is on their terms, using short, controlled sniff-and-greet intervals (3 seconds), then disengaging, and repeating as needed, while also being used for petting to let dogs signal they want more.
Instead of yelling when your dog misbehaves, redirect their focus to something positive. Examples: If your dog chews on furniture, give them a chew toy instead. If they bark excessively, redirect their attention with a command like “sit” or “quiet” and reward them when they listen.
Your dog could have an injury or medical condition that will worsen over time. Other causes of excessive whining, including separation anxiety and attention-seeking behavior may benefit from the help of an animal behaviorist or professional trainer. We're happy to help you uncover the cause of your dog's whining.
The 777 Puppy Rule (or Rule of 7s) is a guideline for puppy socialization, suggesting that by seven weeks old, a puppy should experience seven different Surfaces, seven different Sounds, seven different Objects, seven different People, seven different Locations, seven different Containers, and seven different Challenges, all in positive, short, and safe ways to build confidence and resilience. It helps prevent fear and reactivity by creating positive associations with novel experiences during the critical socialization window (around 4-16 weeks).
Leaving your dog to 'cry it out'
Dogs and puppies left to cry it out will only learn that being alone is terrifying. Every time your dog becomes highly distressed, stress hormones occur in the body which can take days to reduce. This can cause negative, long-term effects on your dog's body and mental state.
The most commonly surrendered dog type is the "pit bull type" (including mixes), often due to negative stereotypes, breed-specific legislation, and high energy levels, followed by other popular breeds like German Shepherds, Huskies, and Labrador Retrievers that may not fit owner lifestyles. Breeds like Staffordshire Bull Terriers (especially mixes) also top surrender lists in some regions like Australia.
Tips for Calming Your Dog Naturally
It takes 3 days for the dog to relax, 3 weeks for them to understand a a routine and pattern in the way things work in your home, and 3 months for them to be fully acclimated and comfortable around you.
To say "I love you" in dog language, use soft eye contact, raise your eyebrows, give gentle massages (especially ears), lean into them, and engage in play or shared activities like walks, which build trust and affection through shared experiences and physical connection, releasing oxytocin for both of you.
A red flag dog behavior signals deep fear, stress, or potential aggression, going beyond normal misbehavior, and includes intense growling/snapping without cause, sudden aggression in a calm dog, persistent hiding, resource guarding (food aggression), freezing, destructive behavior linked to separation anxiety, or signs of extreme anxiety like trembling, lip-licking, and tail-tucking, indicating underlying problems needing professional intervention.
The 3-Bark Rule is a dog training technique that lets a dog bark up to three times to alert to a perceived threat (like someone at the door) and then teaches them to stop with a "quiet" or "done" cue, respecting their natural watchdog instinct while preventing excessive barking. It involves acknowledging their alert (sometimes with a "thank you"), letting them bark a few times, and then calmly asking them to stop, rewarding them when they do.