Why Is My Dog Whining At Night? Reasons Explained

Now that you have a new dog, you are wondering why is my dog whining at night. Or perhaps you’ve

owned your dog for a long and this is a brand-new issue.

There are many different reasons why dogs whine at night, and luckily, most of them are not too

important. Even if the issue is probably not life-threatening, it’s still critical to identify what is

causing this alteration in your dog’s behavior so you can assist in resolving it.

Why Is My Dog Whining At Night Possible Reasons

There are many reasons why your dog can be whining at night. If your dog has a potential issue, use

this list to help identify it so you can determine the next step.

Young Age

Young puppies frequently whine, even in the middle of the night. If you just adopted your dog, he

probably still struggles with separation anxiety from its previous home.

Puppies, like infants, are frequently heard wailing in the middle of the night. This is very normal, and you shouldn’t panic, since they just want your attention.

Make sure your new dog feels safe, secure, and loved more often if he starts whining at night.

Create a bed for your dog in your bedroom so that he is not separated from you while you are trying

to go asleep. Puppies, like people, may experience increased anxiety when it is dark.

It’s also possible that your puppy’s nighttime whining is related to a health issue. He might be in pain

and is trying to tell you. Bring your puppy in to the veterinarian for a checkup if you believe this is a

possibility.

Give Your Dog a Secure Feeling

A sad English golden cocker spaniel puppy

The whining at night can be reduced by making your puppy feel safe and secure during the day. As

soon as you bring home a new puppy, you should get started with this process.

Give your puppy some chew toys so he has something to do at night. Your dog undoubtedly whines

at night for this reason if you haven’t done it yet.

Anxiety and Stress

A dog may experience anxiety from stress in other areas of his life even if he doesn’t suffer

separation anxiety. If you’ve tried to figure out why your dog is anxious but can’t solve the problem,

talk to your vet.

Dog separation anxiety is a widespread problem. Dogs of any age can have separation anxiety. That

could be the cause of your dog whining at night and not sleeping in your room. He is worried since

he is not with his human buddy in the same space.

Bring your dog’s bed into your room so he can keep you company at night if you don’t want him to

sleep on your bed. Your dog’s whining issue should resolve itself if separation anxiety was the root

cause.

Being Bored

For highly intelligent breeds like the Border Collie or German Shepherd, boredom is a particularly

prevalent issue. These dogs require a lot of cerebral activity, and if they become bored, they may

become destructive. Even if they don’t destroy anything or cause a mess, whining could develop

into a significant problem.

Give your dog all the activity he requires during the day to keep him from staying awake and bored

at night. The saying “a worn-out dog is a good dog” may sound familiar to you. This is definitely true.

Check to see if your dog lacks the stamina to be awake and whimper when you are sleeping.

Different breeds have different needs for mental and physical activity. Learn about your breed and

the needs that will keep them content.

Lack of Training

Each dog must be trained. If you haven’t trained your dog, he may try whining at night to wake you

up if he believes that whining would get you to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. For

instance, a poorly taught dog may attempt to wake you up by whining if he decides to play fetch in

the middle of the night.

Medical Problems

Naturally, if your dog isn’t feeling well, he may be whining to let you know. Bring your dog to the vet if

he is whining at night and there isn’t a clear cause for it. He might have a medical condition that

requires attention.

Some medical conditions might cause your dog discomfort and pain, which can manifest as

whining. Here are a few illustrations of these medical conditions.

Abdominal Distress

This is a typical reason people complain. Your dog will probably whine if he is sick or is experiencing 

stomach pain at night. Of course, there are a wide range of potential underlying factors that could

induce digestive trouble.

Look at the food you are feeding your dog if you believe he has a stomach ache. Has your pet

recently had nausea or diarrhea? Consult your veterinarian for suggestions. He might have a food

allergy or be experiencing illness as a result of something in his diet.

Injury

A dog that starts to whine in the middle of the night may have suffered an injury. Changes in

behavior have been identified by the American Animal Hospital Association as possible indicators of

injury in dogs. If you think your pet might have been hurt, take them to the vet.

There are also other usual signs that a dog has been hurt. Observing any of these increases the

likelihood that your dog friend has been hurt.

Lack of Playfulness

An injured dog is likely to be unwilling to play or interact with other dogs or even people. It’s possible

he’ll have unusual symptoms, such as sluggishness, anxiety, and an altered demeanor.

Doesn’t Like Being Petted

Have you observed that your dog doesn’t appear to love being petted as much as he once did?

Maybe this is just in one part of his body. When you pet a certain part of a dog’s body, he may

shudder a little because he may have been hurt there.

Loss of appetite

Loss of appetite can result from an injury, just like it might from illness. If you find that your pet is

not as excited about his meal as he once was, you should always be concerned. For advice, consult

your veterinarian.

A lack of sleep

If your dog used to sleep peacefully through the night but is now awake at night whining, there is

obviously, a problem. The possibility of injury exists.

Dog under the bed

Under a bed can feel like a den to certain dogs, so that’s why they like to sleep there.

How To Train A Dog To Stop Whining

A tired Labrador dog looing side eyes are closed.

Training a dog to stop whining can be challenging, especially if the dog comes from a shelter with

abusive or traumatic backgrounds. Lack of training can lead to behavioral problems, but general

education can provide a way to engage cognitively, reinforce bond, and feel confident in the home.

Most dogs will obey and feel rewarded by engaging in activities with us. Some dogs need more

training than others, such as Border Collies, which require more stimulation. Training basic

commands like sit, stay, heel, and roll over can help dogs stop whining and feel more secure.

However, this is not the same as scolding the dog. While sympathy is appreciated for the dog’s

whining, it is essential to train them to recognize that it is not healthy. This is especially important

for dogs that become clingy, especially those prone to separation anxiety. When the dog is whining

for attention, it is important to turn our back and ignore their whining. Engaging only when they stop

whining will help them understand that whining will not get our attention.

Final Thoughts On Why Is My Dog Whining At Night

Your dog may be whining at night for a number of possible reasons. Be patient and work to identify

the issue that is causing this behavior in your dog.