It’s not unusual for puppies to whine excessively. Some cry because they need food, while others do so because they are scared.
But will your puppy ever outgrow this behavior?
Your puppy will eventually grow out of whining. But how long it takes will depend on your ability to train and socialize them.
Discover why puppies whine and the usual age for them to grow out of whining. You’ll also discover what you should do to prevent the situation from going out of hand.
Do Puppies Grow Out of Whining?
Yes. Puppies eventually grow out of whining once they become familiar with their environment.
Puppies can grow out of whining faster when you provide proper training and socialization.
For example, if your puppy only whines when left alone, focusing on training for separation anxiety can help.
The key to successful training and socialization is positive reinforcement. Whether your puppy whines when hungry, alone, or needs playtime, you can effectively train them to stop using this technique.
Whining When Left Alone
Does your pooch cry the whole day when they are alone? It’s typically normal for them to do this, especially if you’ve just adopted them.
Rescued puppies take up to six weeks to adjust to a new environment. Aside from whining when they are alone, dogs may also feel too shy to move around the house to explore.
Puppies may also whine when you leave them alone because they are afraid of being abandoned again. Train them as early as possible to eliminate any signs of separation anxiety.
Transitioning your puppy from inside to outside can also take time. Ensure your dog has fully outgrown their whining behavior before letting them sleep outside.
To train your dog to stop whining when they are left alone, try keeping them in a small space alone with their favorite toy.
Walk out of the room quietly, then reward them with their favorite treat.
Keep repeating this process, then gradually increase the time intervals you’re away.
Do this every day until you can leave your dog alone for several hours.
Crate-training is another solution to your puppy’s mild case of separation anxiety. Make it comfortable and fun with all their favorite toys and pillows.
Another way to stop your dog from whining when they are alone is by giving them enough attention and playtime.
Some puppies cry when they’re not in the same room because you miss your daily fur parent duties.
Give your puppy enough playtime every day so they won’t miss you. Find out how long you should play with your puppy every day so that they get enough attention.
Whining When Thirsty or Hungry
Puppies who whine when thirsty or hungry do not always require training. What they need is adequate amounts of food and drink to stay satiated.
Ensure your puppy eats enough food on time, so they don’t get hungry. Aim for two nutritious meals daily. Feed them a variety of meat and vegetables to stop them from crying out of hunger.
You should also keep their water bowl full of fresh water to prevent dehydration.
This is especially important during nighttime. Make sure to leave your puppy some water at night, as you don’t want your pup to be dehydrated in the morning.
If your puppy continues whining after you give them enough food, take them to the vet so they can run tests for worm infestation. Worms inside their tummy could be stealing their nutrition.
Resist the urge to feed your puppy too often during the day. We also don’t recommend giving them human food regularly as they can quickly get used to it.
Try the 90-10 rule. Give your pup 90% quality food, then 10% treats or healthy human food.
Why Do Puppies Whine?
Aside from being hungry or left alone, puppies whine for other reasons. Take a look at some of them.
Fear
Puppies can be scared of many different things. Whether it’s the loud storms or fireworks, pitch-black rooms at night, or other dogs or people, they might be crying out of fear.
This behavior is expected since they are not yet used to their surroundings. Puppies may take time to grow out of this fear.
But as long as you give them the correct training, there is nothing to worry about.
Find out what is causing your puppy’s fear, then desensitize them to the object of their fear. Reward them every time they do not cry when the trigger is around.
Boredom
Bored puppies cry when they have nothing to do because they have no way to spend their energy. That’s because they need cognitive exercises as their minds develop.
Give your puppy enough quality playtime to avoid destructive behavior like whining, chewing, and digging.
Puppies require more regular exercise than adult dogs because of their short bursts of energy.
Multiple short walks and playtime sessions are better than two hours of exercise. It’s much safer for their bodies and satisfying for their minds.
It’s also good to start training your puppy early on. Teach them essential command words like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” so they will apply them as they grow older.
Perhaps you could build obstacle courses in your yard so they can expend their energy better, play fetch, or go swimming.
Separation Anxiety
Some breeds are more prone to separation anxiety than others. That means their clingy personality, fearful behavior, and insecurity when left alone are stronger than other dog breeds.
It’s normal for puppies to cry when you leave the room. But they should be able to outgrow this scenario after a few weeks.
Train your puppy to be more self-sufficient to avoid them developing severe separation anxiety.
Other ways to relieve this behavioral issue include giving your dog access to the outdoors and leaving the television and radio on for them.
You can also leave your dog’s favorite chew toys to keep them at ease.
Lacking Potty-Training
Some puppies cry because they want to pee but don’t have access to the outdoors. They resort to making noises because they don’t know how to communicate their needs.
Potty training is the best solution to this behavioral issue. Your puppy should learn to pee at the right time and place.
You must also give them access to their “spot.” For example, if you want to train your puppy to pee outside the house, make sure you have a small dog door where they can enter and exit.
Your Dog is Sick
Puppies and even adult dogs cry when they are not feeling well. This is usually the reason if they don’t typically whine but suddenly cry for no apparent reason one day.
Other signs that your dog is sick include lethargy, limping, or licking themselves. Check for injuries on your puppy’s body to see if they have wounds, bruises, or rashes.
If there’s none, take them to the vet immediately. Your dog might be suffering from an internal organ issue. Let your vet perform the necessary tests for a proper diagnosis.
Do not scold or try to train your puppy to stop whining when they are sick because it could make their discomfort worse. Instead, give them the proper medications for their illness or injury.
Excitement
It might seem weird for puppies to whine when they’re excited, but it’s a typical behavior that you should be aware of.
Like babies, puppies do not know how to communicate their emotions yet. They need a way to tell you when they need something, when they’re happy, or when they are bored.
Puppies cry or whine to show such excitement. For example, if they sense lunchtime, they will whine out of enthusiasm because of the tasty food they smell.
You can avoid this situation by placing your dog in a different room so they won’t smell the food you’re preparing.
Your Puppy Needs Attention
Puppies inherit their pack instinct from their ancestors. Being near you, their pack leader, is one of their personal needs.
It doesn’t matter if it includes playtime, cuddling, training, or feeding. Your puppy wants to spend time with you.
Give your puppy the attention they deserve. Try calling their name every few hours and have short playtime sessions between your daily activities.
Doing so can prevent whiny behavior. But do not spoil them with your attention because they will feel rewarded for it and keep crying until they get what they want.
Find out more on how much attention puppies need.
At What Age Do Puppies Grow Out of Whining
There is no specific age for puppies to grow out of whining. It all depends on the training, socialization, and personal needs they get as they grow.
What we know is that puppies usually cry and whine at a young age because they cannot adequately communicate their needs and emotions yet.
Puppies also cry and whine because they are not familiar with their environment, therefore needing constant attention from you.
Training your puppy, giving them enough food and water, playing with them, and letting them meet new friends will eventually help them outgrow this crying behavior.
If your puppy reaches adulthood carrying their crying behavior, this may start being a concern.
Your dog might be experiencing severe behavioral issues that require professional training.
At What Age Can a Puppy Live Outside?
Puppies can live outside once they have received enough socialization and when they’ve reached their full development.
This age depends on breed and the individual dog. For example, guard dog breeds are more likely to live outside earlier than others.
Ensure you’ve vaccinated your dog and that they are fit enough before letting them become an outside dog.
Check out how old your puppy has to be before they live outside.
At What Age Do Puppies Stop Drinking Milk?
Puppies stop nursing from their mothers at around eight weeks old. The same is true for puppies who drink commercial puppy formula.
Eight weeks is also the proper age for puppies to start eating solid dog foods. Make sure to pick one that is marketed toward your puppy’s nutrition.
Never feed your puppy cow’s milk because it can cause stomach issues like diarrhea and tummy ache.
Learn more information about when puppies should stop drinking milk.
A Whiny Puppy is a Healthy Puppy
A whiny puppy signals a normal puppy who gets excited, scared, and needy for your love. They will naturally outgrow this phase as you train and socialize them.
If your puppy brings this behavior to adulthood, they might need professional intervention.
Talk to a dog behaviorist so they can help your whiny dog, or consider taking them to the vet if they are showing other signs of pain.
Fur parents want their puppies to grow into healthy and happy dogs. Find out the right age for your puppy to be independent.
