Lately, I’m getting a lot of questions about crying pups, possible depression, and what their families can do to help their pups. The symptoms described are usually the same. I hear things like, “He cries when I put him in the crate,” “She is always following me around, seeking constant attention,” ”He seems miserable when I leave,” and/or “She is so destructive when I leave her alone.”
Us dogs have several good reasons for doing this. The first and most common reason is we like attention. When you comfort us after we signal our dismay, that tells us that not only will our behavior be tolerated, but you REWARD us for it. This is an awful idea. When you give us attention, it is oh-so-enjoyable…. We feel it’s our duty to keep you happy, and we know you’re happy when you’re returning the love.
Our attention-seeking behavior is not much different from how Mom describes human babies. Apparently, they exhibit something similar. They cry in their cribs, car seats, pak-n-plays, their rooms, the line at the grocery store, and anywhere else they feel like it, waiting for someone to come along, pick them up, and give them some attention. When people do this for little humans, it reinforces their bad habit of crying. We’re not much different.
Also, it’s important to know about your dog’s life before he or she came to live with you. My human sister rescued Bitsy, a neglected Pomeranian, from a HORRIBLE living situation. Before her rescue, she’d been left alone in a very small room for days at a time. Alone. For days. After her adoption, the first six weeks were miserable, and they lost many hours of sleep to Bitsy’s constant crying. Because of her past, she was a lonely dog, even though she had two new sisters, but she was also afraid her new human parents would not return, a product of her history of abandonment. The only thing that built her confidence was when someone came back. After some intense snuggle therapy during regular interactions (NOT as a reaction to the crying), and her parents always returning to see her, she’s a healthy and happy pup, living it up!
Lastly, you should consider their age and the likelihood of deteriorating joint health. When we talked about what to expect from a westie, we discussed their inclination for pelvic joint problems. Be on the lookout for limping, particularly in the colder months. Your pet’s cries may actually be a signal to you about pain they experience. If you’ve determined this is something affecting your pet, it may be a good idea to add a Glucosamine or Chondroitin supplement or to switch to a food which contains it, after consulting with your vet. If you’re feeling those aches and pains, maybe you should talk to YOUR doctor about supplements too.
If your dog is ACTUALLY depressed, he or she will exhibit some physical symptoms of depression, which should accompany his crying. Watch for signs of under or over-eating, general lethargy, excessive sleeping, unexplained weight gain or loss and sometimes irritability (yes, sometimes we get grumpy). Noticing something listed here is an excellent indicator that it might be a good time to schedule an appointment with your vet to discuss your recent discoveries. In the meantime, playful exercise and daytime walks, that aren’t about getting busyness done, are good for curbing your pet’s depression. Interactive toys, that give him or her a chance to spend quality time with the family, can also be helpful.
Unless your dog is showing signs of being sick or hurt, it’s best to ignore unfounded crying. It will be hard to do at first, but every time you give into his crying, it reinforces the crying behavior, and later on, it could result in some possessive aggression.
