Why Do Dogs
When your dog gets bored and everyone else in the house has gone to sleep at night, this could cause her to start whining at night for what may seem like no reason. She is likely looking for attention or for someone to play with her, or she may want to be let out into the yard to run around—regardless of the time!
Asserting boundaries & defense. One of the major reasons why street dogs bark at night is also for dominance & defense. Loud barking, crying or howling are ways in which streeties mark and protect their boundaries against other dogs.
There are many reasons why your dog may be whining at night. Most commonly, it's because they're feeling anxious or stressed about something in their environment. It could also be that they're feeling lonely or bored and want some attention.
If your dog wakes you up in the night to go outside, they may have a medical problem such as a urinary tract infection or Cushing's disorder. A vet can diagnose your pet and prescribe medication to treat this problem. If your vet rules these out, your dog may have a weak bladder due to old age.
The “Witching Hour”
Many owners find that 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. bring out the worst in their puppies! If you know that a particular time of day prompts crazy biting, do your best to manage/prevent the behaviour and engage your puppy otherwise.
The puppy witching hour is a time of day when the dog has a short and sudden change in energy level or behavior. The witching hour can occur in any dog of any age. During the witching hour, your dog may run zoomies around the house, and show bad behavior such as stealing your shoes, jumping, or barking.
Ignoring them at night won't help them build confidence and may make them worse which isn't what anyone wants. They need to be taught how to be independent slowly. We would never recommend ignoring your puppy when they cry at night, especially in their first few nights.
Just like you or me, dogs dream. And during their most active phases of sleep, it's not uncommon for them to twitch, “walk” their legs, roll their eyes, and even howl. Unless your pet exhibits other symptoms of a sleep disorder, a nighttime howl here and there is nothing to be concerned about.
Dogs cry for several reasons. Dogs cry when they want to be loved or held or hungry even. If it is a dog you know that is crying in front of your house then maybe he wants something from you. If it's a random dog then it just happens to be your house he chose to cry in front of.
If your dog is restless, it might be that his bed is uncomfortable or that he may be in pain or physical discomfort. Maybe your dog has some pent-up energy and can't lie still. If your dog is panting and pacing, it might indicate that they are anxious or stressed about something.
Dogs mark their territories, and by howling or crying at night, they might be trying to inform their companions or other dogs about their whereabouts. A dog's cry can also be understood as a sign of alertness to its owners about outside threats or trespassers.
First of all, it's their body clock.
Dogs and even more notably cats, are crepuscular. Which means they nap during the day and the night and then are most active in the hour before sunrise and the hour after sunset.
So, if your dog whines in the morning, it's likely because they need something from you. Your dog might whine to ask for food, for a toilet break, or due to separation anxiety.
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. In addition to not reinforcing whining behavior, you need to reward your dog for being quiet.
The second night should already be better. Most pups will cry for around half the time. By the third night it should be just a few hours, and an average pup is quiet for the fourth. Once they are settled, you will actually need to go in at least once overnight to take them out to toilet!
It's tempting to rouse a pet showing signs of distress like whimpering, twitching, or shaking in their sleep. According to the American Kennel Club, owners should let sleeping dogs lie. "Disrupting a dog during REM sleep can result in serious consequences," says the AKC.
Arthritic or structural ailments can make dogs uncomfortable and therefore make it harder for them to settle, causing stress. Also failing senses of sight or hearing can put your dog on edge at night. Noise phobia can also be heightened during the night when it is dark and visibility is restricted.
Most of the time, dogs whine in the morning because they need to go to the restroom or are hungry. Another common reason dogs whine in the morning is due to separation anxiety or because the behavior is rewarded.
Undesirable behaviours such as barking, chewing, counter surfing, house-soiling and jumping up commonly begin to occur at around 3-6 months of age. Your puppy will not grow out of these behaviours. On the contrary, it is more likely that these behaviours will worsen if not addressed early on.
A 30-minute walk and some play time will make both of you feel better. Afterward your dog will be more than happy to cuddle up with you on the couch or settle on his own bed nearby. If you have a high-energy breed, or a young dog, he will need more play time and exercise.
Some puppies are as young as 6 months, when they grow out of the witching hour but that is very much dependent on the effort and training you put in now, while they are young.
For most babies, the witching hour starts to occur around 2-3 weeks and peaks at 6 weeks. It will typically completely resolve by 3-4 months.