Why does my dog cry when I kiss him

Dog Whining: 7 Reasons Your Dog is Crying

It can be difficult for pet owners to listen to their dog whine and cry persistently, and not know why they're doing so, or how to help them. There are many well-known reasons why dogs whine and cry. The less well-known reasons of dog whining behavior are discussed below in order to better understand your pooch.

1. Mental Health Conditions

There are a number of neurological problems and mental health conditions that can lead to a dog whining and crying. Some owners may not realize that dogs can, and do, experience many of the same mental health issues that humans experience, such as, but not limited to: depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, canine post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety (including separation anxiety), as well as confusion and dementia that is related to old age. In dogs, dementia is often called canine cognitive dysfunction.

2. Medical Conditions

There are also quite a few medical conditions that can cause a dog to whine and cry. Such as, but not limited to: dental issues, injury, orthopedic pain, digestive disorders, infectious diseases, parasites, urinary tract infection, ear infections, and noninfectious diseases.

Persistent or constant crying and whining in dogs can be indicative of an uncomfortable medical condition. However, most of these conditions are difficult, if not impossible to diagnose without taking your pup to see a licensed veterinarian. It's recommended that you take their dog to the vet, should he or she persistently whine for unidentified reasons. Physical distress could likely be the cause of your dogs whining if he's crying while laying down, and is being submissive without any other kind of engagement.

3. Too Hot or Too Cold

The bodies of dogs run at much different temperatures than human bodies do. Depending on what breed and size your dog is, they can be very sensitive to hot and/or cold temperatures. Monitor your dog for signs of being too hot or too cold, always bring them inside if they are outside in extreme temperatures. Adjust the indoor temperature accordingly in order to regulate the dogs body temperature. Also, make sure that your dog always has dry bedding to sleep on. Dog experts at Healthy Paws Pet Insurance explain what temperatures are too hot and too cold for dogs, in their article entitled, Safe Outdoor Temperature for Dogs.

4. To Show Submission and To Appease

If a dog believes that another animal or human is a threat, they will often display either aggression or submissive behavior which can include appeasement whining. This is a completely normal canine behavior that can be indicated by the dog also displaying other submissive behaviors such as: avoiding eye-contact, rolling onto their back, ears back, tucking their tail, or crouching.

It is important to always avoid physically or verbally punishing your dog, as doing so can lead to this kind of behavior, and reduce a dogs confidence, in general. If your dog is trying to apologize to you, it is imperative that you acknowledge the apology in order to reassure your pooch and prevent the development of further problems, such as insecurity, explains dog expert Katherine Ripley in the following article that she wrote for the American Kennel Club, 5 Reasons Your Dog is Whining.

5. Insecurity

Dogs who have suffered physical or psychological trauma due to being physically attacked by another animal or human, or verbally attacked by their owners, often develop a lack of confidence and insecurity, which can lead to consistent dog whining behavior.

It's been said already that you should never physically or verbally attack your pup as a way to train them or teach them a lesson, even for perceived bad behaviors. It's always better and more effective to positively reinforce your pet and reward them for good behavior, rather than punish them for bad behavior. Punishing dogs, even with positive punishment methods, leads to bad outcomes, as is explained by Certified Dog Behaviorist, Pat Miller, in her article entitled, Ways to Stop a Dog from Whining.

6. Afraid to Sleep Alone

Dogs are highly social, pack animals. In nature, they do everything together, including sleeping. Therefore, it is normal for your pooch to be afraid to sleep alone. Furthermore, this fear could be because the dog is a puppy, and is adjusting to life away from his canine mother and siblings, and expressing their frustration through dog whining.

It is recommended that dog owners let their new canine companions, even adult dogs that are new to the home, sleep in the same room as them for at least a few weeks. Then slowly train and condition them to sleep alone, if needed. This is explained further by American Kennel Club experts in the following article, How to Help an Adult Dog Adjust to a New Home.

7. Excitement

It might be counter-intuitive to think that a dog would whine because they are excited, but this sometimes happens, especially with high-energy and hyperactive dogs. They simply have too much energy and excitement built up that they find it hard to restrain themselves, and whine as a way of expressing their excitement if no other outlets are available.

This usually occurs when the dog is greeting a person or animal that they love. It is fairly normal behavior, even if less commonly seen. You can reduce, and possibly even eliminate excitement induced dog whining by redirecting your pet with toys or treats. Dog behavior expert Jennifer S. explains why dog owners should not reinforce this kind of behavior, in the following article, Why is My Dog Whining?.

READ NEXT:How to Stop a Puppy from Whining Video Guide

7 Signs of Affection From Your Dog

We can all name the cartoonishly obvious signs of doggy affection: slobbery kisses from forehead to chin, or exuberant tail wags that involve the entire back half of the dog. Even a mouthing dog might be showing his eager affectionsome retrievers seem to feel that all of lifes most wonderful moments are more meaningful with something, anything, in their mouths.

But dog affection isnt always as obvious as youd think! Learn some ways dogs show their affection, how you can show it back in dog language, some of the most affectionate dog breeds, and what to do if your dog is not affectionate.

7 Ways Dogs Show Love

Even if your dog isnt an exuberantly waggy licker, youre treated to signs of affection from your dog every day. Some signs are subtler, and theyre easy to miss unless you know what to look for. Here are seven ways dogs say they love you.

1. They Make Eye Contact

In general, dogs dont like eye contact. Prolonged eye contact is a sign of aggression in dogs that can spell trouble. So when your dog meets your eyes for a few seconds with a soft, relaxed expression on his face, its a clear sign hes comfortable with you and confident youd never do him harm. (Keep in mind, few dogs will sustain eye contact beyond a few seconds, even with those they love.)

2. They Lean on You

When youre sitting on the couch and your dog leans his body weight against your legs, hes showing his affection. Of all the cozy spots for your dog in the house, theres no place more comforting than right next to you. Pressing his weight against you reassures him as he rests or takes a nap. This is more common in large dog breeds than in toy breeds, who are routinely held safely in your arms or sitting cozy in your lap.

3. They Snuggle With Your Dirty Laundry

If you have to check your dogs bed or crate for missing dirty socks and T-shirts every laundry day, take it for the compliment it is. Your dog knows your smell and finds comfort in it when youre out of sight. For a dog with separation anxiety, it may be helpful to consciously place a few items of unwashed clothes near him when you leave him home alone.

4. They Lick Your Face

Dog kisses usually mean exactly what you guess they doyour dog thinks youre the cats meow. Licking is an instinctual canine behavior that soothes and deepens social bonds between mother dogs and their pups, and among littermates. When you become a member of your dogs pack, hell lick your face to strengthen your relationship, whether youre a fan of dog kisses, or you duck to avoid the slobber.

5. They Wag Their Tails.

A fast, full-circle wag that gets your dogs entire backside involved is a clear sign hes overjoyed to see you. But other tail wags can indicate hesitation, agitation, or even dog hostility. Depending on the circumstances, slow wags and stiff wags may indicate your dog is feeling anxious or hes on the offensive.

6. They Know When Youre Sad.

Does your dog snuggle close when you are crying or sad and seem to understand theres something wrong? As pack animals, dogs look out for each other in good times and bad. When youre having a bad day, your dog instinctively wants to help you feel better.

7. They Share Their Toys With You

If your dog drops his favorite toys at your feet, bounds around, and looks at you expectantly, hes telling you he wants to play. But when he drops his toys near you and walks off for a rest in his bed, let it warm your heart. Your dog is sharing his treasures with youhis favorite person.

How to Show Your Dog Affection

You love your dogso much that you want to make sure your affection makes him feel warm and fuzzy, not just you. Fantastic! Now that weve done some dog-to-human translation, lets take it in the opposite direction. Here are some ways you can say I love you back, speaking in your dogs own language.

Pet Your Dog Pleasantly

Rib-thumping pats that a dog turns to nose at claps on the top of his head that make him blink and back away bear hugs that make him feel trapped not everything we mean as physical affection comes across that way to every dog.

Okay, so some hardy sporting breeds dont seem to mind those genial rib-thumping pats, and might even stick around for the well-meant thwacks on the noggin. But here are some types of physical affection that are almost always popular. See what your four-legged friend thinks of these:

• Scratches at the front of the chest
• Belly rubs
• Ear massages
• Long pets down the side of the body

Speak Warmly to Your Dog

Have you ever tried to cheerfully praise a dog with the wrong words, saying e.g., what a bad, baaaad dog hes so bad? It works! He doesnt care what you say, as long as you say it with warmth and good cheer.

Your dog pays a lot more attention to the tone of your voice than to the words themselves. After all, dogs vocalizations to each other rely on tone, not specific words. So if youre happy and loving, let him hear it in your voice.

Keep Your Eyes Open

Just like your dog might be tuned in to your moodyour good and bad days, your cheerful and troubled momentslet him feel that youre tuned in to his, too.

I once overheard a trainer explain that whenever hes out and about with his dog, he is consistently aware of his companionin the same way, he realized, as he had been when he took his grandmother to a busy carnival that weekend. He didnt keep an eagle eye on grandma every second, but maintained open awareness of the situation around them, and took the time to check in every so often to see how she was doing with the crowds and all the walking. Your own mileage may vary (like your own dog and your own grandmother), but your role is to be tuned in to how he is doing. Your dog will notice when you are tuned in with him.

When to Give Your Dog Affection

Theres no need to worry about when to give your dog affection if your relationship is humming along just fine: Be affectionate whenever it suits both of you. The free flow of loving feelings is so rewarding. But if youre working on trouble spots to make your relationship with your dog stronger, or if your dog is pushier than you like in demanding affection, you might have him politely follow a simple command first. Check with a trainer to see if this would be a good idea for you.

Some Breeds Tend to Be More Affectionate Than Others

The most affectionate dog breeds are known for demonstrating their love unreservedly at every opportunity. Snuggles and cuddles, licks and wags: If you thrive on displays of affection, one of these breeds known for wearing their big hearts on their sleeves might be a good fit for you:

• Beauty and charm? Thats a Golden Retriever for you. These guys love showing their loveand they seem to have a bottomless supply.
• The Labrador Retriever has been Americas sweetheart for decades, and his natural affection has a lot to do with that record.
• Sporting dogs with a lap-dog stature and outsized charm, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels seem made to express loving delight, and they do so at every opportunity.
• When your Pug is happy to see you, he doesnt keep it a secret. These small clowns are known for their outgoing, affectionate natures.
• Less clown-like and gregarious than the other breeds on this list, American Staffordshire Terriers are meltingly sweet and affectionate.

If you are looking for the perfect breed for you, take a look at our dog breed selector for more ideas. These are definitely not the only breeds who can claim a lot of affectionate members. And every dog is his own individual, regardless of breed: Some individuals of the above breeds are more affectionate than average, and some less. But on the whole, these breeds have certainly wagged their way to well-deserved affectionate reputations.

My Dog Is Not Affectionate

Maybe your dog is more the strong, silent type. Perhaps he needs his personal space and cuddling simply makes him tense.

If you have a dog who is not demonstrative with his affection, remember that still waters run deep. Even if your dog isnt one to cover you in slobber or sprain his tail from over-wag, that doesnt mean you dont hold the top spot in his heart.

Look out for the particular ways your dog naturally shows you he cares: Does he prefer to lie in the same room with you? Occasionally offer a single lick or proffer a paw that he doesnt offer to people outside his pack? Does he sometimes lean on your knees, or bring you his toys, or does he keep an eye on your feelings? Deepen your bond with him by meeting him where he is. If his love language is going for a run or chasing a ball that you throw, doing those activities with him is a way to show him you care.

Whether your dog makes a cozy nest in your lap or prefers the glow he gets from watching you from across the room, he shows you how much you mean to him in his own special ways. Keep your eyes open and youll come to appreciateand reciprocatehis natural approach to affection.