Dog that always cries: why and what to do

Dogs are animals that accompany us in our life and offer us friendship and affection thanks to the easy communication we have with them. One of these expressions of their state of mind that we can clearly realize is crying. We notice when the dog is crying but often we cannot understand why.

It is essential to understand why the dog is crying. If you know the reason for crying, you can remedy it as far as possible, while if you cannot understand the causes, especially if the crying is continuous, you find yourself displaced and helpless.

How dogs cry

A dog's cry is different from a human cry, as they don't secrete tears as we do. Rather, it is characterized by long moans and barks repeated over and over again.

The function that crying plays in dogs is the same as in humans, considering that dogs are also social animals that live in groups and help each other. So crying is a request for help when there is some problem: it needs a precious good (food, attention, cuddles ...), a request for protection when they feel threatened, expressing physical or emotional discomfort, etc.

My puppy cries

It is normal for a puppy to cry a lot, since if he has just joined his human family, he is in a process of adapting to the new environment, which will take more or less time because depending on the case. It should be borne in mind that the puppy has always lived surrounded by his brothers and with the warmth and protection of his mother, who took care of his needs: safety, food, protection, warmth.

So you will have to be understanding, taking into account that the animal is going through a process of detachment from affections and is learning to trust the people and the environment in which it has found itself, which is still unknown to it and causes it insecurities.

Dog crying when I go away

One of the most common problems that develop in dogs is separation anxiety. This usually happens when the dog is overly attached to the brace, constantly feeling sad, threatened and stressed. Many times this problem starts as a puppy when the animal has not been properly educated to remain calm and quiet when it is alone or when the separation from the mother has occurred too prematurely.

This anxiety triggers a series of inappropriate and destructive reactions and behaviors with damage to the house or excessive crying and barking (which can cause problems and quarrels with neighbors), through which the dog tries to propitiate the return of the guardian. Furthermore, it is a serious problem also because the dog suffers emotionally and therefore it is necessary to contact a behaviorist veterinarian or a canine educator so that they modify his behavior and restore balance through targeted exercises.

Dog crying when he wants something

As mentioned earlier, crying is also a means for the dog to request something practical that it needs and does not have available. An example may be the request for food or the desire to go out for a walk.

This conduct is neither strange nor dangerous if it is kept within the limits of the norm and does not become excessive or accompanied by unwanted and destructive behavior. Sometimes crying is a sign that you are not giving your dog proper care or that he is suffering from a disease or ailment that is making him suffer. In the first case, it is possible that the cause of crying is stress and frustration (he does not get enough exercise, his favorite ball has fallen off the balcony, he feels bored ...) and this negatively affects the quality of his and also of your life.

Other causes of the dog crying

In addition, the dog may also cry for other causes including:

He wants to attract attention

It is possible that the dog feels that you do not give him enough attention and that he is therefore bored, and that he has learned from previous situations that when he cries you look after him. For this reason, the dog, an intelligent animal, associates crying with the effect of receiving attention and pampering and therefore repeats this behavior.

He is nervous or scared for some specific reason

Crying is a natural response to situations that cause fear or stress to the animal. Your dog may be fearful, may have had a negative or traumatic experience, or may not have been properly socialized as a puppy and therefore fear other dogs, cars, etc. So in the presence of these stimuli its natural reaction will be crying, which implies a request for protection.

He is in a new situation

It may happen that when the dog is faced with new and unknown situations his reaction is crying, such as being at the vet or finding himself entering the water for the first time.

What to do when the dog cries

Once you understand what is the cause of the dog's continuous crying, it will be necessary to take action to remedy, since often the malaise is caused by practical or emotional things that make him suffer. Let's see how you can act in these cases:

Improve the dog's well-being

First, make sure you have met the dog's physical and emotional needs, which involve:

Sufficient fresh water and food

A safe, clean and quiet space to take refuge and rest.

Frequent walks, three times a day or one long and one shorter.

Games and exercises that stimulate his mental interest and his cognitive development.

Environmental enrichment

Environmental enrichment is also very important for the dog because it allows him to entertain himself when he is alone and feeling bored. For this reason, it is good to leave games in the house that entertain and stimulate him, such as food containers such as kong that require the animal to strive for food, thus avoiding eating shoes or destroying the sofa.

Help him overcome his fears

If the dog has fears about something concrete, you will have to slowly try to remedy them and give him the security he needs.

Avoid what causes him fear : change your habits so that the dog does not face the situation or the cause that generates fear in him. For example, if you are afraid of some noise, avoid the places where it occurs. This will prevent them from feeling exposed to threatening situations.

Let the dog gradually face his fears: in this case, it is a question of exposing the dog gradually to the source of his phobia, so that a little at a time he can overcome it, without suffering or traumatizing himself. You will, therefore, have to gradually increase exposure to the stimulus that generates fear. until his reaction disappears.

Use positive reinforcement: whenever you notice that the dog shows a positive attitude in front of a stimulus that causes him fear, reward him with something pleasant, with strokes and compliments that he will associate with the situation.

Basic education

If the dog is still a puppy you will have to get him used to communicating positively with you and above all to teach him to remain alone, repeating the operation several times for short periods and offering him a welcoming and peaceful environment that promotes relaxation, also providing him with games and distractions in your absence.

Consult a specialist

If you think that the dog is crying because of a more complex problem than those seen so far, the best thing is to contact a specialist, a behaviorist, or canine educator who can understand the root of the problem and solve it thanks to adequate techniques.