✅ Crying puppy: why and what to do to calm him down?

Crying puppy: why?

A crying puppy is never pleasant And just like for an infant, it is sometimes difficult to understand the reason for crying when you do not yet have the decoder.

A puppy can cry for many reasons, but we will retain here the 4 main ones, the most widespread and observed:

My puppy is crying because he misses his siblings

When your puppy arrives at your home, unless you have adopted several at the same time or if you already have dogs at home, he goes from a family social group, made up of several dogs, puppies , etc.to an unknown social group, sometimes composed of animals never encountered (cats, rabbits), children never met, etc.

This change is often quite substantial and requires a period of adaptation during which it is completely normal for your puppy to vocalize to express his discomfort and apprehension.

You will notice the crying more at night, when he was used to living surrounded by all his brothers and sisters. At home, he finds himself alone in an environment that he does not know and in which he is, in fact, not yet very comfortable.

My puppy is crying because he is alone

Your puppy may also cry when you are away. In fact, when you adopt a puppy, you become for him a real landmark, a being of attachment: it is therefore very difficult for him to see you leave and to remain alone (once again in an environment which is still foreign).

In this, learning to be alone is more than necessary to allow your puppy to experience your departures and his periods of solitude in general more and more serenely (whether you have completely left home or simply in another room).

Read also: My dog does not want to be left alone

My puppy is crying because he wants attention

The smartest ones quickly figure out how to get their master's attention. If, if only once, you gave your puppy all your attention as soon as he started crying / vocalizing: then you won the palm of the master who will quickly let himself be overtaken

Indeed, puppies learn very quickly, good or bad habits: one misstep on your part and presto, here's a bad habit!

Not that you have to be perfect, far from it, but it is true that consistency is the key word to obtain good results.It is very often that the problems encountered with puppies (and even with adult dogs) are explained by a lack of consistency in the attitude of the masters:

My puppy keeps jumping on me, but it's true that sometimes I find it so cute that I pet it.
My puppy can't stop barking, crying, vocalizing, but it's true that I always come running to make sure he's okay.
My puppy bites me, but it's true that I often play with him just with my hands.
My puppy still pees at home, but it's true that I don't have time to take him outside regularly.

I can still find you a good dozen examples such as those mentioned here. But in and of themselves, these are not serious inconsistencies if you become aware of them quickly and your attitude changes and evolves in the right direction.

My puppy is crying because he is in pain

Finally, it is also possible that your puppy cries because he has a physical problem. If you think you can rule out the above three causes for your pup's crying, then make an appointment with your vet to have your pup examined.

Crying puppy: how to calm him down?

I suggest you take up the main causes mentioned above and find concrete solutions for each of them in order to limit (or even completely eliminate) your puppy's crying.

But first of all, know that the crying of a puppy is not necessarily synonymous with great emotional suffering. It can be, and we have seen, simply to express frustration due to a lack of attention. It is important to be aware of this to sometimes relieve yourself of guilt and take a step back from the real well-being of your puppy.

Calm a crying puppy because he misses his siblings

Before even picking up your puppy from his breeder, don't hesitate to bring him clothes that have your scent so that your puppy already gets used to you in an olfactory way.
Similarly, when you pick him up from breeding, don't hesitate to ask if it's possible to take a cloth that was in the diaper of the siblings so that your puppy can make an olfactory transition smoothly.
Equip your puppy with an alaisine diffuser collar, soothing pheromones that will help calm him in his new environment.
The first night at home can be very traumatic for your puppy, you can exceptionally accept (even if you think about forbidding it afterwards) that your puppy sleeps in your room so that he does not find himself completely alone.
Of course, offer him a comfortable basket, if possible with edges and not too big so that he can snuggle up as he would among his brothers and sisters.

Calm a crying puppy because he is alone

Teach him as soon as possible to be alone so that he can live these periods more and more serenely.
Do not hesitate to deny your puppy access to a room in the house so that he gets used to being alone even when you are there.
Leave him an occupation toy so that he assimilates your departure to something positive.
Leave home like you're picking up the mail from the mailbox. Don't make your departures incredible events.
Reduce your pup's space when you leave.
Don't make him suffer too long absences, start with 5 or 10 minutes, then increase as you go.

Calming a crying puppy to claim your attention

Always initiate contact with your puppy. If he understands that by begging for an interaction through crying he gets it, then you enter an endless cycle.
When he cries, ignore him (don't talk to him, don't look at him, don't talk to him) and as soon as he calms down, call him for a handshake.
Make sure to give him occupations, stimulation games, etc. so that he evolves independently and does not feel obliged to be in constant contact with you to pass the time.
Meet his needs, walk him regularly, play with him, teach him little tricks, initiate the first basic learning: this will tire your puppy. And a tired puppy doesn't cry, he sleeps!