Puppy crying: why puppies cry at night and how to help them settle

Puppy crying is normal, especially in the first few nights and weeks in a new home. Most of the time your puppy is telling you something simple: they feel alone, need the toilet, are hungry, cold or bored. Answer the need calmly, keep a steady routine and build time alone in small steps, and the crying usually fades as your puppy grows in confidence. Crying that comes with other signs of illness or pain is different, and needs a call to your vet.

Why do puppies cry and whine?

A young puppy has only a few ways to tell you how they feel, and whining, whimpering and crying are the main ones, just as they are for adult dogs. Until the day they come home, most puppies have spent their whole life sleeping in a warm pile with their littermates beside their mother, so the sudden quiet of a new house can be a real shock. Crying is how they call for company and comfort, and it nearly always has a good reason behind it.

The usual reasons fall into a handful of groups:

What the different sounds can mean

You will soon learn your own puppy's sounds, but a few patterns are worth knowing. Whining, howling and barking that start soon after you leave can be signs of separation-related distress. Whimpering, especially alongside changes in how your puppy moves or behaves, is one of the recognised signs of pain in dogs. A puppy who whines at a toy on the sofa is usually just frustrated. Context tells you more than the sound itself.

Loneliness and missing their littermates

This is the big one in the first weeks. Even a short spell alone in another room can set a new puppy off, because they have never been on their own before. During the day someone is usually around, but at night a puppy may fall asleep with you close by and then wake up alone in the dark, which is why so much crying happens after bedtime.

Needing the toilet, especially under 12 weeks old

Young puppies have small bladders. Many cannot hold on all night, so they wake, need to urinate and cry because nobody is there. Puppies under 12 weeks old are likely to need at least one toilet break overnight. Our guide on how to toilet train a puppy covers the daytime routine that makes the nights easier.

Hunger, cold and comfort

A hungry puppy will tell you about it. So will one whose bed is chilly or too exposed. A warm, comfortable bed helps, and a very open bed can leave a puppy feeling vulnerable.

Boredom and frustration

Puppies cry when they want something they cannot reach, such as a toy or a treat, and some simply struggle to entertain themselves when left. Plenty of daily play, short dog training sessions and a safe chew go a long way.

Pain or illness

Crying can be a sign of discomfort. Common causes in puppies include soreness after vaccinations, teething pain as baby teeth make way for adult ones, insect stings or a tummy upset after eating something they should not have. If the crying comes with other changes, read the section on when to call your vet below.

Puppy crying at night: the first few weeks

The first few nights are usually the hardest, and the first week or so is when most owners struggle. Accept that this settling-in period will be tiring. A predictable bedtime and a puppy who knows you are close by make the biggest difference, so decide where your puppy will sleep before they come home.

A bedtime routine that works

1. Start the routine at about the same time each evening.
2. Feed the last meal at least three hours before bed.
3. Play earlier in the evening so your puppy is tired, and keep the last half hour calm, with lower voices, dimmer lights and quiet cuddles.
4. Take your puppy out for a final toilet break just before bed and praise them calmly if they go.
5. Settle them in their crate or bed with a safe chew or toy.

Where your puppy should sleep

For at least the first few nights, put the crate or bed beside your own bed. If your puppy is struggling to settle, sleeping in the same room helps them feel safe while you keep the routine going. Some puppies settle faster if you sleep on the floor next to the crate for the first night or two. A hand or arm near the bed also helps your puppy learn they are not alone.

The crate itself should be just big enough for your puppy to stand, turn around and lie down, with room for a water bowl, and lined with soft bedding plus a blanket that smells of you or their old home. A cuddly toy is fine, as long as it is not something they could chew up and swallow. Our crate training guide explains how to make the crate a place your puppy likes to be, and our guide to puppy sleep covers how much rest a growing puppy needs.

Tips for when your puppy cries in the night

• Check the toilet first. Take them out quietly, with no chat or play, praise them if they go, then put them straight back to bed.
• If they do not need to go, reassure them gently. A hand near the crate or a gentle stroke is usually enough.
• Keep your response low-key. No lights, games or fuss. Give just enough attention to comfort them, so your puppy does not learn that crying is a way to demand a cuddle or a game.
• Set an alarm if it helps. For the first couple of weeks, expect to get up once, and possibly twice, a night.

Moving the crate further away

Once your puppy settles happily with you in the room, move the crate a foot or two further from your bed each night. If they cope, go a little further the next night; if they struggle, wait at that distance for a few more nights before you continue. This can take a few weeks, so do not rush it.

What not to do when your puppy is crying

The RSPCA goes further than most, describing "cry it out" methods as damaging: they raise stress hormone levels and can lead dogs to stop calling for their owners altogether, which is not the same as being settled. That is why UK dog welfare charities recommend comforting a crying puppy rather than leaving them to it, for the sake of their long-term well-being.

How long does puppy crying usually last?

There is no fixed timetable, but there is a usual pattern. The first few nights are the toughest, and puppies gradually grow in confidence and become more likely to sleep through over the following weeks. Moving a puppy to their long-term sleeping spot can itself take a few weeks.

Most puppies sleep through the night by around 16 weeks old, although this varies, and larger breeds tend to gain bladder control sooner than smaller ones. Consistency and patience matter more than speed. If the crying continues to get worse rather than better after the first couple of weeks, or your puppy seems distressed rather than just unsettled, it is worth asking for advice.

Puppy crying when left alone

Puppies need to learn that being on their own is safe, and the best time to teach it is early. Start tiny and build up:

1. Set up a safe space. A kitchen or utility room with a stair gate works well, because your puppy can still see, hear and smell you. Add a comfy bed, water, chew toys and a recently worn item of your clothing.
2. Start with a few minutes. Give a stuffed chew toy, close the gate and stay within sight and earshot. After a few minutes, open the gate again.
3. Build up slowly. Gradually increase the time until you can be out of sight, working towards about half an hour while you are elsewhere in the house.
4. Return before they get worried. Repeat short absences several times a day. If your puppy shows signs of worry, go back to the last length of time they coped with.
5. Prepare before longer absences. Exercise, a toilet trip and a small meal before you go help your puppy relax.

Some puppies make progress in a few days and others take longer. Keep comings and goings calm. A dog should not be left alone for more than four hours, and a puppy for much less. If you work long hours, a dog sitter or walker can give company and a toilet break.

Signs it may be separation anxiety

Ordinary puppy crying tends to settle once your puppy realises you will come back. Separation anxiety looks different, and a dog may show several of these signs when left alone:

• Barking, whining or howling
• Chewing or damage near doors and windows
• Urinating or defecating indoors when they would normally go outside
• Trembling, panting or heavy drooling
• Pacing, circling or excessive licking
• Refusing food or toys while alone
• Seeming anxious as you get ready to leave

Distress usually starts within a few minutes to half an hour of you leaving, and many affected dogs show no obvious signs while you are at home, so a camera can help you see carefully what really happens. Health problems can cause or worsen this behaviour, which is why the first step is your vet.

When to call your vet or a behaviourist

Most crying in a healthy puppy is about comfort, not a medical condition. Call your vet if the crying comes with any of these:

• Low energy, hiding or withdrawing
• Loss of appetite or difficulty eating
• Vomiting or an upset stomach
• Physical signs such as limping, reluctance to move, or difficulty lying down or getting up
• Crying or growling when touched or picked up
• Straining or trouble passing urine or faeces
• A sudden change in behaviour

If you think your puppy is in pain, contact your vet right away, and never give them painkillers meant for people. If your puppy collapses, is struggling to breathe or seems seriously unwell, treat it as an emergency: contact a vet immediately, using your out-of-hours service if your practice is closed.

For crying linked to being alone or settling at night that is not improving, talk to your vet, who can rule out a medical cause and refer you to a qualified behaviourist. Look for an ABTC-registered behaviourist or a clinical animal behaviourist, who can work out the root cause and build a plan around your dog's needs.

If you are still getting ready, our guide to helping your puppy settle covers the first days and nights in detail, and when you are ready to find a puppy, every listing on Companimal is checked by a person before it goes live.

Frequently asked questions

Should I let my puppy cry it out?

No. UK welfare charities advise against it. Leaving a puppy to cry can increase their anxiety and teach them that being alone is frightening.

Is it normal for a new puppy to cry all night?

Crying on the first few nights is very common as your puppy adjusts to sleeping without their littermates. Having them close to you, a calm routine and a toilet break or two usually helps them settle over the following days and weeks.

How often should I take my puppy out to the toilet at night?

Puppies under 12 weeks usually need at least one toilet break overnight, and for the first couple of weeks you can expect to get up once or twice a night.

How can I comfort a whining puppy?

Check whether they need the toilet, then offer calm reassurance, such as a hand near the crate or a gentle stroke, and keep the room quiet and dim. Having you nearby is often enough.

Why does my puppy cry when I leave the room?

Your puppy has never been alone before, so even a short gap can feel worrying. Practise very short absences and build up gradually, returning before they become upset.

Why is my puppy whining in the crate?

They may need the toilet, be uncomfortable, or not yet feel the crate is a safe place. Check the toilet first, make sure the crate is the right size and cosy, and keep the crate next to your bed at first.

When should I worry about my puppy crying?

Call your vet if crying comes with low energy, not eating, vomiting, limping, crying when touched or any sudden change in behaviour. Contact a vet immediately in an emergency.