Dog Whining In Crate All Of A Sudden

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Throughout the crate training process, a lot of us probably weathered the storm of crying, whining, and barking while our pups were adjusting to their new sleeping area.

Eventually, our dogs settled down and slept in their crates without incident…or at least we thought so!

In some cases, our dogs may have been quiet in their crates for quite some time but then one night you hear them suddenly whining within their crate again.

Dogs and puppies may begin suddenly whining in their crate because they are trying to indicate they need something, they are feeling unwell, or they were not fully crate trained in the first place. In most cases, the whining is an easy fix, provided it’s not due to a medical issue.

Determining why our dogs and puppies are suddenly whining within their crate is the first step to help fix the issue and get back to peace and quiet once again.

Below we’ll look at the most likely reasons as to why your pup is suddenly whining while within their crate, as well as what you can do to help stop the whining. We’ll also look at instances where your dog is suddenly barking within their crate, and how the sudden whining while in their crate may be different for young puppies and older dogs.

#5 Something scared him while in the crate

Sometimes dogs get scared while they are in the crate and associate this fear with the crate itself. For example – perhaps somebody in your neighborhood lit some fireworks while your dog was crated. Or a loud thunderstorm happened and your dog was in his kennel. These negative events can be strongly linked to the crate in your dog’s mind. If this is the case, you need to be very patient with your whining dog – he is simply afraid and needs your reassurance. Try to sit with him and comfort him. He needs plenty of positive experiences to once more associate the crate with a place of rest and comfort.

Dog suddenly hates his crate what should I do?

When you observe a change in your dog’s behavior like whining in the crate when he never did it before, you have to be methodical about it and analyze the situation using common sense and go through all possible reasons for this change using the process of elimination.

Sometimes the reason could be something so small you wouldn’t even consider it when it actually matters to your dog, so the most logical thing to start with is to recall if you’ve changed anything related to the crate in the last couple of days which might be the cause.

Don’t consider anything to be insignificant, moving the crate a few inches may cause the dog to suddenly hate it. Dogs are different and they associate feelings to anything and a favorite spot could make him like or hate the crate.

If you’ve brainstormed and still can’t remember changing anything about the crate then, let us go through the most common reasons that would make a dog whining in his crate all of a sudden.

How Do I Stop My Dog From Whining In His Crate?

To get your dog to stop whining while in his crate, you must first determine the cause of the whining.

If it is due to the fact that your dog was never fully crate trained in the first place, then you will have to review the crate training process and perhaps backtrack a bit to help your dog understand that the crate is a good place to be.

If the whining is related to your pup needing to potty, then you may need to adjust to a different potty schedule.

If the sudden whining is a result of an illness or injury, your vet may be able to prescribe your dog medications that can help with his discomfort and limit the whining.

For dogs who suddenly begin whining in their crate due to being uncomfortable, you can look at getting them a different crate, placing a more comfortable mat within the crate, or even covering the crate with a crate cover or blanket to make it more private and secure for your dog.

If the sudden whining is due to a training issue, you can reach out to a local dog trainer who can help you set up and stick to a good training plan to encourage your dog not to whine when it wants something.

FAQ

Why has my dog suddenly started crying in his crate?

The reasons can be manyfold – from changes in sleep and eating schedule over negative and stressful events to boredom and lack of enrichment. You should generally not ignore any sudden behavior change in your dog – this also applies to crying in the crate.

Why does my dog suddenly hate the crate?

Your dog might suddenly hate its crate because it’s feeling pain or discomfort. Something in there might be uncomfortable or cause trouble for your pet. For example, your dog could take his food to his bed and then hate the smell the next day. He might also soil his bed, which will need a thorough cleaning.

Should I ignore my dog whining in crate?

Try to ignore the whining. If your dog is just testing you, he’ll probably stop whining soon. Yelling at him or pounding on the crate will only make things worse. If the whining continues after you’ve ignored him for several minutes, use the phrase he associates with going outside to eliminate.

Why is my dog all of a sudden barking in his crate at night?

A dog barking at night all of a sudden can be a real worry. Not just for your neighbors and your ear drums, but because new behaviors can be a sign of a problem. Illnesses, old age, sounding the alarm to intruders or other animals. Even fear, anxiety, loneliness and boredom can play a part.