Crying or whining in dogs is a form of communication. It can indicate distress, anxiety, excitement, attention seeking or a need that isn’t being met. Punishing a dog for communicating in this way is generally not recommended. However, in certain circumstances, it may be appropriate to interrupt or deter excessive vocalization to prevent it from becoming a reinforced habit. This article will examine the reasons dogs cry, whether punishment is an effective training method, and better approaches to manage crying behavior.
Why Do Dogs Cry?
Dogs cry for many of the same reasons human infants and children vocalize – to express an emotional, physical or social need. Common causes of crying or whining in dogs include:
Anxiety
Dogs may whine when anxious about something such as separation from their owner, thunderstorms, travel or encounters with unfamiliar people or animals. Crying is a release of tension and an attempt to elicit comfort from their owner or others around them.
Excitement
Some dogs vocalize when excited, such as in anticipation of a walk, playtime or arrival of their owner. It’s an expression of enthusiasm.
Attention-Seeking
Dogs learn that crying gets them attention, so they may use it when they’re feeling ignored or want something from you, like food, play or access to furniture.
Boredom
A bored, under-stimulated dog may whine to let you know they need more activity or mental enrichment. Without adequate physical and mental exercise, dogs may vocalize from frustration.
Discomfort
Physical discomfort, pain or illness can cause vocalization. A hungry, thirsty, very hot or cold dog may whine to indicate their needs aren’t being met. Senior dogs may cry due to cognitive decline or dementia.
Learning
Puppies cry instinctively to alert their mother when they’re cold, hungry or in need of elimination. This communication continues as they get older. Dogs learn to modify their vocalizing based on the response it gets.
Is Punishment An Effective Training Method?
Punishment involves applying something unpleasant or removing something pleasant to decrease the frequency of a behavior. For crying, punishment may involve verbal reprimands, startling devices, physical correction like leash jerks, or isolation. While punishment may suppress the behavior temporarily, there are risks:
Increases Anxiety
Punishment can elevate a dog’s stress and anxiety. Since crying often stems from anxiety already, punishment is likely to exacerbate those feelings and increase vocalizing over the long-term.
Damages Bond
Using punishment linked to the owner’s presence can damage the human-animal bond and undermine trust. The dog may associate the owner with unpleasant experiences.
Doesn’t Address Cause
Punishment only suppresses the symptom of crying rather than addressing the root cause, whether that’s fear, inadequate exercise or another unmet need. The dog still requires appropriate solutions for the underlying reason.
Risk of Aggression
Punishment may cause the dog to become fearful and defensive. They may resort to growling or biting to protect themselves from frequent aversive correction.
Not Consistently Effective
Some dogs may habituate to punishment and learn to tolerate mild corrections without changing their behavior. Alternatively, dogs may only suppress the behavior in the owner’s presence without stopping the crying completely.
For these reasons, punishment-based training is not generally recommended by veterinary behaviorists or certified dog trainers for addressing vocalization issues. More effective approaches focus on reinforcing desired behaviors and meeting the dog’s needs.
Better Ways to Manage Crying
The following methods can help reduce crying by addressing the underlying motivation and training acceptable alternatives:
Desensitization
For dogs with separation anxiety, systematically get them used to being alone by starting with brief absences that are gradually increased over time. Provide enrichment activities like puzzle toys when departing.
Counterconditioning
Change an anxious dog’s negative association with a stimulus to a more positive one using high value rewards. For example, give treats when the dog is exposed to triggers like thunderstorms or strangers.
Exercise
Ensure the dog gets adequate physical and mental exercise daily to prevent boredom-related crying. Try providing food-dispensing toys, hiding treats around the home for them to find or enrolling in a dog sport class.
Enrichment
Rotate novel toys to keep dogs engaged and challenged when alone at home. Food puzzles, chew toys, snuffle mats and stuffed Kongs are options.
Remove Attention
If the dog cries for attention, avoid inadvertently reinforcing it by resisting comforting them and only giving attention when calm and quiet.
Teach Settling
Reward calm behavior like lying quietly on a bed. Gradually shape longer periods of relaxation by reinforcing gentle whining before it escalates to full crying.
Alternative Behaviors
Teach and reinforce an acceptable behavior like “go to mat” as an alternative to crying by doors, kitchens or at mealtimes. Always reward the desired behavior.
Management
Block access to stimuli that trigger crying by confining dogs away from windows or using white noise machines to mask triggers. Meet needs by providing food puzzles, access to outside or companionship.
Conclusion
Punishing dogs for communicating through crying is generally ineffective and risks worsening the behavior and damaging the human-animal bond. While crying can be irritating for owners, it’s important to address the root cause through training, enrichment and management. With time, patience and meeting their needs, most dogs can learn to settle calmly without excessive vocalization. Never punish crying that results from physical or emotional distress – this requires identification and treatment of the underlying problem. By understanding why dogs cry and reinforcing quiet behavior, owners can reduce undesirable vocalization.