When it’s time for bed, the last thing you want to do is listen to your dog whining at night.
But if your dog doesn’t seem to want to sleep at all, that can be pretty frustrating.
The good news is that there are ways to figure out why he’s whining so much, and what you can do to help him stop.
Let’s get into the question: why is my dog whining so much all of a sudden at night?
Why is my dog whining so much all of a sudden at night?
You’ve had a long day, and it’s finally time for you and your pup to go to bed and get some rest.
But suddenly your dog starts crying and you’re not sure why!
Having a dog is a really fun, rewarding experience, but it can be frustrating too. Especially since dogs can’t use language the way we do to tell us what’s wrong.
So, even though it’s obvious your dog is upset about something, it can be hard to work out exactly what it is he’s upset about.
Usually, you can use context to help figure out what’s upsetting your dog so much. And, once you figure out why he’s upset, you can work on helping him fall asleep more easily.
There are some common reasons for dogs to start whining all of a sudden at night. You might have spent less time at home, making your dog a bit anxious. He might simply be too stimulated to go to sleep, especially if he’s still a puppy. His sleeping spot might be uncomfortable. Finally, he might be in pain or have another medical issue—so it’s important to find out what the cause is.
Before we get into more detail on all of these, here are a few related articles about dogs and sleeping:
- Do Dogs Sleep When They Are Bored?
- Help! My Puppy Won’t Sleep at Night
- How Much Does an 8-Week Old Puppy Sleep?
Why is my dog whining and acting weird?
If your dog is usually pretty calm and composed but he’s suddenly started acting weird, there are a few potential issues to think about.
One reason might be that he is seeking attention. Think about your own behavior recently. Have you been away from the house more? Spending less time with your dog?
He might be telling you that he’s feeling a little neglected! If your dog starts whining all of a sudden at night, he could be trying to get you to spend some time with him, even though it’s bed time!
For more articles on clinginess in dogs, check these out:
Puppies may also have a hard time settling down for the night, and yours might whine and act weird because he’s protesting having to go to bed.
Why is my dog suddenly whining at night?
If your dog normally goes to sleep easily, but you find that he’s suddenly started whining at night, there are a few possible causes.
As I said before, it could be that there’s been a change in your lifestyle. You might be spending less time with him, and he’s trying to take advantage of the time he does have with you.
But there could also be something more serious going on. Your dog might be hurt, and lying down makes the pain worse.
He could also have a problem with indigestion, or be experiencing another medical issue. Your dog might have bloat, which is a really serious issue. It’s a medical emergency, so if you suspect your dog has bloat, it’s time to go to the vet.
If your dog seems uncomfortable or in pain, that’s a sign that he might need to go to the vet to see an expert.
Why does my dog whine before falling asleep?
Does your dog seem to have some trouble getting to sleep? Is he whining before he falls asleep?
If your dog is still pretty young, then he might just be protesting about having to go to bed. Puppies will often try to test boundaries. If you’re still working on training your puppy to sleep at night, it’s normal to have some nights where he refuses to go to sleep easily.
That said, your puppy will also likely be pretty tired. Which means, even though he’s crying, he’ll still fall asleep.
But there could be another issue, like how comfortable your dog is. You want to make sure that your dog’s space is nice and comfy. If something in his crate is poking him or it’s too hard, your dog might whine to tell you something’s wrong.
If you think your dog’s crate might be the problem, take a look at the 6 best crates for dogs to sleep in.
How to stop a dog from whining at night
It can be pretty frustrating to have a dog that won’t go to sleep at night without whining. That’s especially true if you’ve had a long day and you’re ready to get some rest!
So what can you do? Try out these tips to help your dog and yourself sleep a little easier.
Make sure he gets enough stimulation during the day
Dogs need to get enough physical and mental exercise every day to stay happy and healthy.
One of the big reasons why your dog might be having a hard time falling asleep at night is because of boredom. If your dog isn’t getting the stimulation that he needs, then he might cry at night.
So you should make sure you’re spending enough time doing activities with your dog. There are plenty of great ways to help him get the physical stimulation he needs. Even if you’re on a time crunch, you can still make sure your dog gets his necessary exercise.
For some more information on that, check out these 11 tips to tire out a dog quickly.
While physical stimulation is important, you can’t forget about your dog’s mind either. You should make sure that his brain is getting enough stimulation too.
For some inspiration, here are 10 brain games for dogs to play at home.
Mental stimulation can also be a wonderful training tool if used correctly. Check out Braintrainingfordogs to learn how to train your dog to be the best dog he can be by using mental stimulation! Or have a look at Dogpackr’s review first to see if it’s a fit for you and your dog!
Set up a daily routine
If you’re not already in a daily routine, then this is your sign to set one up.
Having a routine will be really beneficial for you and your dog. First, your dog will start to understand when it’s time for each event during the day.
He’ll know that the daytime is when it’s time for playing and exploring. But when it’s night, that’s when he needs to go to sleep.
Setting up a solid routine will also help you make sure that you’re able to give your dog everything he needs throughout the day.
It can take a little bit of time for you and your dog to figure out what works for you. Just keep trying new things until you see what works.
You can also download my free puppy schedule planner to help keep track of your schedule.
Set up a nighttime routine
Part of your daily routine needs to include your nightly routine. Having a routine in place before you go to bed will do wonders for you and your dog.
Your dog is smart, and will be able to pick up on the cues that you’re going to bed. As he notices these cues, he’ll understand that it’s time for him to go to bed too.
Your bedtime cues can be anything. As long as your dog understands that they mean you’re going to bed, they’ll work.
Crate train him
Have you crate trained your dog? Lots of people avoid crate training their dogs because they’re worried crates are harmful.
But your dog’s crate can be really helpful! It all just comes down to how you use it.
Make your dog’s crate is a super comfortable and quiet place and he’ll learn to love sleeping in it. Never use it as punishment, and only use it as a place for your dog to go to decompress or rest.
Want to crate train your dog but not sure where to start? Here’s how to crate train a dog easily in 13 steps.
How do you calm down a whining dog at night?
If you’re taking all the above steps to prevent your dog from whining at night and he’s still doing it, you might be feeling pretty frustrated.
But don’t give up! You can still find ways to help your dog settle down and get some sleep without him whining.
Give these tips a try.
Make sure he doesn’t have any health issues
If you’re doing everything you can to help your dog settle down and he’s still whining at night, it might be time for a vet appointment.
First, make sure there’s nothing that could be causing him pain or discomfort in the crate. If there’s something, fix it or replace the crate.
If your dog’s crate seems fine, it might be time to call your vet. They’ll be able to take a look at him to make sure that he hasn’t hurt himself.
If your dog has a medical issue, then your vet will set you up with a treatment plan to help you and your dog rest easier.
Give him a chewy or a frozen Kong toy
If your dog doesn’t have any medical issues that are causing his whining, then there are other ways you can help him fall asleep without whining.
Dogs are mouth-based animals. They lick and chew things to explore, and pick things up with their mouths.
A dog’s mouth is super important. Giving him something to do with his mouth could help him settle down for bed.
Chewing on a chewy or a frozen Kong toy can help your dog relax. Doing this makes your dog’s brain release a hormone called serotonin that helps stabilize his mood and increase his feelings of wellbeing.
Cover his crate
Some dogs struggle at bedtime because they know there’s so much to do outside of their crates.
Your dog might be whining because he wants to get out of there and check out all the sounds and scents there are.
Making sure your dog gets enough daily stimulation will help a lot of with this. But if your dog is still struggling, you can try covering his crate.
Keeping the space where your dog is sleeping dark can help prevent your dog from getting distracted and help him sleep better.
Set up some white noise or calming music
Dogs have really, really sensitive hearing, and are able to pick up on sounds we’re not even aware of.
That can make it hard for your dog to settle down at night. He could be whining because he hears so much going on, and he wants to check it out.
So what can you do? You can drown out the noise!
YouTube has lots of great playlists that you can play for your dog during the night.
Related questions to your dog’s sudden whining at night
We’ve talked about why your dog might be whining so much at night all of a sudden, but you might still have some questions. Here are a few related issues.
Why is my old dog whining for no apparent reason?
As dogs get older, they go through a lot of the same aging processes that we do. Your dog might go through something similar to dementia called canine cognitive dysfunction.
Some of the symptoms for this issue include whining for no reason, anxiety, restlessness, or excessive barking.
If your older dog is whining for no obvious reason, your vet will be able to help you find the source of the issue.
Why do dogs whine when they see you?
If your dog whines when he sees you, that can be pretty confusing! Is he upset?
Probably not!
While many dogs bark out of excitement, some dogs naturally whine more than others. Your dog is probably still super happy to see you, he’s just communicating it differently than other dogs might!
My dog is whining for attention, what can I do?
If your dog is whining for attention, don’t provide it when he’s whining.
Instead, make sure that in general you’re providing him with the attention he needs—and deserves! Just do it at other points in the day, not when he’s begging for it.
Conclusion
While there are lots of great things about having a dog, there can be some pretty confusing parts too. If your dog is suddenly whining at night, you’re probably wondering why.
The good news is that once you figure out why your dog is whining so much, you can find ways to help him stop. And soon you and your dog will get a full night’s sleep again!
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