Why is my dog crying in his sleep
Dog Crying in Sleep: 5 Reasons Why & How to Stop It
A dog crying in its sleep is not uncommon. It usually indicates that a dog is dreaming. Its worth monitoring, as a dog whining in its sleep can be due to pain, seizures, or anxiety.
When your dog whines during the day, chances are you can help, whether its with a tummy tickle or finding your dogs favorite ball.
Its another story if your dog whines in its sleep.
In this article, we explore five reasons dogs cry in their sleep and what you could do to help your dog sleep soundly.
5 Reasons Why Dogs Cry in Their Sleep
Its understandable that you may feel helpless and concerned if your dog starts crying in its sleep. While pain is the first concern, its not the only reason for a dog to whine at night.
These are the 5 most common reasons why dogs cry in their sleep:
- Dreaming
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Normal puppy behavior
- Seizures
1. Your Dog Could Be Dreaming
Much like sleep-talking humans, dogs may whine, growl and bark in their sleep.
Research has found that humans and dogs experience the same brain wave patterns during sleep, including the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycle.[1]
Rapid fluttering eye movement happens in response to seeing a dream.
What does your dog dream about?
This is unknown, but its assumed dogs replay daily events, like chasing a squirrel or barking at the delivery person.
2. Your Dog Could Be Crying in Pain While Sleeping
One worrying reason for a dog crying in sleep is pain, so make sure its not the cause of your dogs nocturnal whining. Monitor your dog during the day, or take it to the vet for a check-up.
According to Dr. Marsha R. Reich, common causes of pain in dogs include musculoskeletal, neurologic, and gastrointestinal diseases, particularly in older dogs.[2]
When it comes to musculoskeletal diseases, a dog can feel less pain during the day than at night. According to Dr. Pettys Pain Relief for Dogs: The Complete Guide[3], during the day a dog shifts its weight almost continuously, helping maintain joint mobility, but laying down may put painful pressure on the affected joints.
Related: Why Do Dogs Pant at Night?
3. Your Dog Could Be Suffering from Anxiety
Anxious dogs are prone to whining, even in their sleep.
An anxious dog who relives daily stressors in dreams may whine in response. Its also possible for a usually calm dog to become suddenly anxious.
A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior reported that dogs eight years or older can experience a rapid increase in fears and phobias within a mere six-month period. [4]
4. Your Puppy Crying While Sleeping Maybe Expected
We tend to think of puppies as playfully cute, making a puppy crying while sleeping come as shock.
Puppies may be more vocal in their sleep than older dogs because they are dreaming more. According to dog expert Stanley Coren Ph.D., puppies have more dreams because they are taking in lots of new information and have much to process at night [5]
Another reason puppies cry in their sleep is separation anxiety caused by leaving their mother and siblings.
5. Your Dog May Be Having a Seizure
A seizure, which indicates abnormal motor activity in the brain, doesnt only affect epileptic dogs.
Seizures can be linked to epilepsy but can also occur in dogs suffering from electrolyte imbalances, low blood sugar, cancer, brain tumors, or poisoning.
Seizures can cause a dogs whole body to convulse. It can also cause localized reactions, like a facial tremor or spell of unusual barking or whining.[6]
What Is Your Dog Trying to Communicate When Crying in Its Sleep?
Your dog is not communicating with you when crying in its sleep. Sleep-related behavior changes can indicate physical or mental health issues.
According to famous dog behaviorist Cesar Millan, a dog whines to communicate its physical, mental, and emotional state. The first one to rule out is a physical state of pain.
The next thing to consider is anxiety.
If your dog often whines during the day because it wants something like a treat it may relive these events in dreams and cry in its sleep.
What to Do if Your Dog Cries While Sleeping
If your dog cries while sleeping, dont wake them up but document it. Stay calm if the crying is caused by a seizure. An occasional whine during sleep is unlikely to be a concern, but if it happens regularly you need to know when to take your dog to the vet.
Let Your Dog Sleep
As tempting as it is to wake a dog that is whining in its sleep, dont. Theres a reason for the old saying, let sleeping dogs lie.
Waking a dog in a REM state of sleep can give them such a fright that they instinctively defend themselves. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, about 60% of dog bites in children occur when the child wakes a sleeping dog. [7]
Document Your Dog Crying While Sleeping
Record your dog crying in its sleep and discuss it with the vet.
Make a video of your dog crying in its sleep. A video may help the local vet or a behavioral therapist diagnose the problem.
Stay Calm Amid a Seizure
Stay calm and protect your dog from injury if you think your dog is having a seizure.
If your dog is sleeping on your bed or the couch, gently move it to the center and use cushions or your body to prevent falling.
Time the length of the seizure. Use your mobile phone to do this by making a video. This helps the vet when diagnosing and treating your dog.
When your dog comes to itself, it will be confused and scared. Your dog may also be thirsty, hungry, and tired. Comfort and reassure your dog, allow them to eat and drink and let them go back to sleep.
How to Stop Dogs from Whining While Sleeping
To stop incessant whining while sleeping, you need to find out why your dog is crying. Analyze whether its caused by pain, anxiety, poor training, or something else.
Treat Your Dogs Pain
According to Millan, a dog whines to communicate a physical, mental, or emotional state. The first one to rule out is a physical state of pain.
If you suspect your dog is crying at night due to pain, take them to the vet so you can get them on the best treatment plan.
Related: How to get a puppy to stop whining
Help Your Dog Cope with Anxiety
If your dog seems fearful during waking hours and cries in its sleep, it may be struggling with anxiety. The loss of another pet or family member or moving home can make your dog anxious.
Wait for your dog to settle into a new routine, seek the advice of a behavioral therapist or ask your vet about treatment options for anxiety.
Train Your Dog to Not Whine During the Day
If your dog often whines for something a tummy rub or a treat during the day, it may relive these whiny events in its dreams and cry while sleeping.
To stop your dog from crying while sleeping, start by addressing daytime whining. Dont give your dog your immediate attention and affection when it whines. Millan claims this teaches a dog to whine.
When your dog whines for something, tell it to be quiet before giving it what it wants.
Help Your Puppy Sleep
Here are ideas to help them sleep better if your puppy is whining in its sleep:
- Play to make sure your puppy is tired out before bed
- Add a blanket or toy that smells like the puppys mother
- Ensure your puppy is warm enough at night
- Simulate the sound of the mother dogs beating heart by adding a small clock or a beating heart toy to the puppys bed
Contact A Vet
Contact your vet for a medical check-up if all else fails.
If there is nothing physically wrong with your dog, the vet may be able to recommend an animal behavioral therapist or natural remedies to help your dog sleep soundly.
How Do You Tell the Difference Between a Dog That Is Dreaming and Seizing?
According to the American Kennel Club, a dreaming dog can twitch, paddle, or kick its legs. These movements usually last less than 30 seconds. During a seizure, a dogs limbs seem rigid and move violently.[8]
During a seizure, dogs may urinate or defecate, something a housetrained dreaming dog wouldnt do in its sleep.
| State | Dreaming | Seizing |
| Leg movement | Dogs legs twitch, kick, or paddle for less than 30 seconds. | Dogs legs appear rigid and move violently. |
| Urination & Defecation | Housetrained dog does not urinate or defecate in bed. | Housetrained dog may urinate or defecate in bed. |
FAQ
Why Is My Dog Crying at Night All of a Sudden?
Although your dog may simply be dreaming, if your dog suddenly and regularly starts crying in its sleep, it could signal pain because ofan injury or a condition like arthritis, anxiety, or separation anxiety.
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?.
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