Why Your Puppy Cries (& How to Calm Them, Step-by-Step)

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Or: The Emotional Adventures of a Tiny Drama Creature.

Puppies cry. They cry when they’re tired, confused, lonely, hungry, overstimulated, understimulated, or simply because a leaf moved in a threatening manner.

If your puppy has been performing nightly serenades or daytime whimpers, take a breath.
You’re not failing, and they’re not broken.
This is Puppyhood: The Musical.

Before we start, if you’re still on the hunt for your dream dog, try the Which Dog Breed is Best for Me? Quiz. It may save you from choosing a breed that sings at every occasion.

Pickles’ Aside: If drama had a junior division, puppies would sweep the awards.

Why Puppies Cry: The Real Causes (None of Which Are Naughty Behaviour)

Let’s get one thing clear: puppies do not cry to manipulate you.
They cry because they’re teeny tiny babies with zero emotional regulation and the coping skills of a damp sponge.

Here are the actual reasons.

1. They’re Lonely or Scared

Your puppy has gone from a warm cuddle pile of siblings to a new home with new smells, new rules and a large human saying “who’s a good boy” in a voice that can only be described as questionable.

Owner insight:
“My puppy cried the first few nights because, frankly, he thought he’d been kidnapped.”

What helps:

  • sleep nearby
  • soft reassurance
  • familiar scent (jumper, blanket, heartbeat toy)
  • keeping the environment calm and predictable

Pickles’ Aside: If my cuddle pile vanished overnight, I’d also file an emotional complaint.

2. They Need a Wee

Crying = communication.
Sometimes the communication is: “My bladder is tiny, and I am about to explode.”

What helps:

  • Take them out
  • keep it calm
  • Praise if they go

Puppies don’t wee out of rebellion. They wee because they’re basically living Capri Suns with legs.

3. They’re Tired (And Puppies Are Terrible at Knowing They’re Tired)

Overtired puppies behave like toddlers in a supermarket meltdown.

Signs:

  • biting increases
  • zoomies intensify
  • then… tears, drama, the works

Owner insight:
“I thought my pup needed more play. Turns out he needed a nap so desperately he was crying at the wall.”

Solution:

  • short nap in a crate or pen
  • calm environment
  • gentle routine

Pickles’ Aside: Overtired puppies make about as much sense as a wet biscuit.

4. They’re Overstimulated

Too many toys, too many people, too much noise.
Cue emotional collapse.

Fix:

  • quiet area
  • fewer toys
  • short break from stimulation
  • soft, gentle voice

A good rule: if your house feels chaotic to you, your puppy probably thinks they’re in a carnival with questionable safety regulations.

5. They’re Understimulated

Yes, the opposite is also true.

Signs:

  • pacing
  • whining while staring at you
  • bringing toys, then crying when you don’t respond
  • general “I am bored and upset about it” energy

Fix:

  • five minutes of nose work
  • a chew
  • a simple puzzle game
  • a little play
  • environmental enrichment

Pickles’ Aside: My boredom threshold is low. My expectations are high.

6. They’re Hungry (And Puppies Grow at Warp Speed)

Puppies don’t need to be near the bowl to cry about hunger.
They will cry anywhere if their stomach says it’s time.

Puppies grow absurdly fast.
They’re building bones, organs, muscles, brains and questionable decision-making skills.
That takes calories. Lots of them.

Signs of hunger crying:

  • restless whining
  • sudden fussiness
  • crying shortly before mealtime
  • scavenging behaviour

Solution:

  • Feed meals on schedule
  • ensure portions match growth needs
  • Split meals into 3 to 4 small feedings
  • Check your puppy’s weight weekly

Owner insight:
“I realised my puppy wasn’t dramatic. He was just starving because I’d misread the food guide. The crying stopped overnight.”

7. They’re in Pain or Discomfort

Teething. Tummy aches. Growth spurts.
If the crying sounds sharper, more constant or more distressed, check with a vet.

Pickles’ Aside: Teething hurts. That’s why I bit the chair leg. Not sorry.

How to Calm a Crying Puppy: Step-by-Step

Your 3am survival plan.

Step 1: Pause and Observe

Don’t go into panic mode.
Take 10 seconds to look for clues:

  • Do they need the toilet?
  • Are they overtired?
  • Are they overstimulated?
  • Are they hungry?
  • Are they simply confused?

Owner insight:
“Half the time the crying stopped when I stopped moving and actually watched him.”

Step 2: Meet the Basic Needs First

Toilet → nap → food → quiet time
This solves roughly 70 per cent of crying.

Pickles’ Aside: My hierarchy is nap, snack, wee in that order.

Step 3: Comfort, But Don’t Overwhelm

Comfort = calm presence, not smothering affection.

Helpful options:

  • sit near the crate
  • offer a comfort object
  • gentle voice
  • a few slow strokes

You’re providing safety, not turning into a human bouncy castle.

Step 4: If Overstimulated, Redirect the Brain

Crying + bouncing + inability to settle = “my brain is full.”

Solutions:

  • scatter-feed
  • snuffle mat
  • licking activities
  • frozen Kong
  • simple scent games

Mental exercise calms puppies beautifully.

Step 5: If Overtired, Guide Them into a Nap

Dim lights.
Quiet.
Soft bedding.
Small chew.
Sit nearby until they settle.

Owner insight:
“My pup cried whenever he was awake more than an hour. Turns out he was basically asking for a nap with tears.”

Step 6: If It’s Separation Crying, Stay Close

You don’t need to hold them.
Just be nearby.

If your puppy is struggling at night, make it easier on them by sleeping downstairs on the sofa for a night or two, or by popping a smaller crate in your bedroom. Remember, your little one has gone from sleeping in a warm cuddle pile of littermates to suddenly snoozing alone. That jump is huge, and completely unnatural for a baby animal.

A heartbeat toy is a brilliant addition too. Warm, soft, and comfortingly familiar, it gives your puppy something to snuggle into so they feel safer, calmer and far less alone in those first tricky nights.

Solutions:

  • crate in your room
  • hand beside the pen
  • soft reassurance
  • gradually increase the distance over days

CrazyDogs Manifesto:
Safety before independence.

Step 7: If It’s Teething, Offer Relief

Teething pain is legit misery for puppies.

Give:

  • frozen carrots
  • cold toys
  • frozen washcloth
  • puppy-safe chews
  • cold Kong

Biting is relief, not rebellion.

Pickles’ Aside: My gums hurt. I will therefore eat your slippers.

Little-Known Calming Tricks (Your Secret Weapons)

The Reset Walk

A 2-minute, slow sniff-walk can stop an emotional meltdown instantly.

Warm and Cold Combo

Warm cloth softens gums; cold toy numbs them.
Powerful when used together.

The Stay-Close-and-Reassure Method

When your puppy cries, stay close and give them comfort. You don’t need to ignore them, sit across the room, or pretend you’re running a Victorian orphanage. Puppies cry because they’re scared, confused or overwhelmed, and being near you is what helps them settle.

Pick them up if it soothes them. Sit next to them if that works. Offer gentle strokes or soft words. You are not “creating bad habits”, you’re building trust, which is the foundation of every bit of training that comes later.

The Calm-Down Zone

Instead of sending your puppy off to a dark corner, create a soft, safe little space near you where they can unwind when life gets too loud. Think comfy bed, soft lighting, maybe a chew or a snuffle mat, not isolation, just a gentle reset spot.

This isn’t about shutting them away. It’s about giving them a place where their brain can take a breather while still feeling secure and connected to you.

Pickles’ Aside: If my environment is calmer, I am less likely to behave like a tiny gremlin. Marginally.

Enzymatic Cleaner Magic

If crying leads to accidents, always clean with an enzymatic spray.
It removes every trace of scent, preventing repeat “hotspots” from forming.

Pickles’ Aside: If the carpet still smells faintly suspicious, I assume the party continues.

When Puppy Crying Is Not Normal

Call your vet if:

  • Crying is constant
  • puppy cries when touched
  • Crying happens during toileting
  • appetite drops
  • Behaviour suddenly changes

Always rule out pain first.

Thinking of Bringing Home a Puppy?

Grab the New Puppy Paw-rent Planner for schedules, sanity savers and troubleshooting guides.
And when your puppy finally sleeps without crying, celebrate with Cartoon Pet Portraits.

Pickles’ Aside: If you cried with your puppy, that’s called bonding. Happens to the best of us.