Why does my Yorkie cry when I leave
7 Reasons Why Your Yorkshire Terrier Whines (Quick Solutions Guide)
If you have a Yorkshire Terrier chances are they are the center of your universe. Their unconditional love and affection is what we live for. When they look at us with those puppy dog eyes we melt and are ready to give them whatever their heart desires.
But when does our attention and willingness to always give in go too far?
If you have noticed your Yorkshire Terrier has started whining a lot then you may have your answer.
Yorkshire Terriers whine or cry when they are trying to get your attention or communicate something to you such as hunger, anxiety, pain, separation anxiety or they want to play. Their whining may also indicate something is wrong. Their crying may be reinforced by your constant attention.
If your Yorkshire Terrier is whining and crying a lot its because he is trying to communicate something to you or its a learned and reinforced behavior.
Yorkies can be very bossy and easily take up whining as a way to get something, especially when shes been unintentionally trained to do so.
If you are like the other hundreds of Yorkie Owners that Ive talked with then your dog is whining all the time you might be wondering why and what you can do about it.
Or if you are thinking of getting a Yorkshire Terrier and want to know how to train it not to whinekeep reading for some deeper insight, and to find out some interesting reasons Yorkshire Terrier owners gave for why their dogs whine.
Here is a Quick Solution Guide to Solve Your Yorkshire Terrier Problematic Whining (Find more details below)
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Why is My Yorkshire Terrier Crying and What to Do About It
If you love your Yorkshire Terrier, then theres nothing more heartbreaking than listening to its forlorn cries get louder and louder. It can be really hard and frustrating not knowing what your dog is trying to communicate to you and how to correctly handle your dogs whining to get it to stop and help them be happy and healthy.
Here are 7 reasons your Yorkie might be whining.
1.Your Yorkie is Stressed
Learning to read your dogs body language will be a very important step in understanding their crying. Knowing what they are trying to communicate to you will help you know how to proceed.
When you are looking for signs of stress look to see if your dog is doing any of these things as well. They will likely not be showing all of these signs at the same time.
How to Tell:
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- Barking
- Growling
- Licking Lips
- Yawning
- Raised Hackles
- Pacing
- Whale eyes (When they show the whites of their eyes)
- Freezing or very stiff and tense body. Be very careful if this is the case, its most likely that your dog has gotten to the point he is so stressed his next move will be to bite.
Ask yourself:
Is your Yorkie overwhelmed, or in a new situation?
Is he not understanding you or something you are trying to teach or communicate?
Did this come on suddenly, when someone or something came close?
Can you figure out a way to remove the stimuli that are causing him stress in order to help him calm down?
What to do:Try and change the environment.
Be calm and reassuring.
Avoid too much stimulus.
Make sure that you are clear with training and giving commands.
Dont use harsh punishment.
Try to figure out the trigger and avoid it, or work on training to tolerate it better.
2.Your Yorkie is Excited
Yorkies are very sensitive dogs which makes them wonderful companions because they are always extremely perceptive to your needs and ready and willing to please, but it can also mean that they pick up on every mood and emotion around them.
At times they can also be high energy that can be perceived as excitement.
How to Tell:
Tail is wagging, running in circles, jumping up and down,barking.
Displaying zoomies (a sudden release of energy when your dog seems to go wild and is running around at high speed).
Ask Yourself:
What is your energy level?
Have you just come home from work and they want to greet you?
Maybe your Yorkie is meeting someone new or wanting to play. If you are feeling high stress or excitement your dog will feed off your emotion and most likely be showing that behavior as well.
What to do:
You can redirect his energy by taking him for a run, playing a game of fetch with a toy.
Get him to burn some energy then reward him when hes calm.
Make sure that you have calm energy about yourself.
Dim lights, or use some of thistherapeutic aromatherapy sprayfrom Amazon(Affiliate link)to help calm her down.
3.Your Yorkie Wants Attention
This is the #1 reason other Yorkies owners give for why their dog cries or whines.
Raising and caring for a puppy is no easy task. Yorkies can sometimes be even more challenging since they can build such strong attachments to their owners and because they are so smart they know how to tug at your heartstrings with their adorable little whimpers!
I have first hand experience with this from raising my Yorkie puppy when I was 9 years old.
My little Yorkie (her name was Katie) was so smart and energetic and She required a lot of attention. Whenever she was feeling bored or lonely she would let me know all about it!
How to tell:
Similar to excitement, but more direct eye contact with you with intentions of trying to get something.
Ask yourself:
Has your dog had enough exercise and mental stimulation today?
Most Yorkies need at least 60 minutes of exercise a day as well as plenty of mental stimulation.
What is he trying to get your attention for?
Is it worth giving the attention or not?
Is your Yorkie whining to get food? (Check outthis article I wrote to see why your Yorkie eats weird stuff!)
Do you have a new pet, person, or situation in your family? Perhapsyour Yorkie is Jealous?
What to do:
Your first task is to make sure theyve had enough exercise and mental stimulation.
Trying out a fun training program together likethis widely popular programBrain Training for Dogs can help unlock your dogs hidden potential and help them learn how to avoid problem behaviors.
Rememberyou only want to reinforce behaviors you would like to see repeated. If shes whining because she needs to go outside to go to the bathroom, then yes you should respond.
If shes whining to get you to share your dinner then dont reinforce that behavior.
Even telling your dog its ok, or to calm down in a loving voice is giving them the attention they are wanting. To truly get this behavior under control you need to completely ignore them.
Do Yorkies Like to Cuddle and Be Held? (What Owners Say!) Paws and Learn
4.Your Yorkie Has Separation Anxiety
For little dogs like our Yorkies, they can easily get used to going everywhere with us. I dont find that to be a big deal, except for when it comes to a time that for some reason we cant take them and they have to stay home alone.
If your Yorkie is not prepared to handle the separation from you the crying can become extreme!
How to Tell:
Constantly jumps and whines for you to touch them pet them or cuddle them. Cries or howls when you leave them alone destroys things when you are gone, is overly excited when you return.
8 Reasons Why your Yorkshire Terrier Follows You Everywhere! 7 Reasons Why Your Yorkshire Terrier Stares at You.
Ask Yourself:
How much exercise has my dog had today. How long have I been gone? Have I trained my dog to be ok without being near me every hour of the day?
What to do:
You need to teach your dog that its not a big deal when you leave. When you leave, make it subtle and no fussing or kisses goodbye. Make your return no big deal and ignore your pup until they are calm.
When they are puppies its best to start with small increments of absence like 5 minutes at a time until they learn to stop crying then moved to longer times.
I always say a tired dog is a well-behaved dog. Giving them something to do while you are gone likethis chew toyorthis puzzle toyfrom Amazon(affiliate link)can help a lot.
Try not to leave your dog alone too long if you can manage it. If you need to be away for more than 3-4 hours and your dog does not do well then its a good idea to find someone that can come and let them out and give them some attention and exercise during your absence.
5.Your Yorkie is Fearful
Puppies are very impressionable and teaching them and socializing them starts in the very beginning stages of their life. Because of this, its important to only support reputable breeders who take good care of their puppies.
Unfortunately, there aremany people that run puppy mills(link to information on how to stop puppy mills)that are breeding Yorkshire terriers purely for the money and do not take very good care of them when they are young.
When a puppy starts their life in this type of environment it can be very damaging and set them up for a lifetime of fear or aggression. Thankfully there are things that you can do to help if you do end up with a puppy that has been treated this way, it will just be more difficult to get them feeling and behaving confidently.
How to tell:
Tucked tail,shaking, lowered ears and or head, trying to hide behind you or something else.
Ask yourself:
How was your Yorkie treated as a puppy? Is your Yorkie a rescue? Was your dog properly socialized when they were young?
Does your dog get frightened when they hear a loud unrecognizable noise?
What to do:
If your dog seems overly fearful of many things and you suspect that your Yorkie is whining or crying a lot because of this, you will need to work very hard at building a solid foundation of trust between you and your dog.
Once this foundation of trust is established it will be easier for you to teach your dog that the rest of the world is not as fearful as they suspect it may be.
DO NOT use any coercive methods of training or yell or be too firmwith your Yorkie.
You may also need help from a professional dog trainer or behaviorist who has experience working with fearful dogs. They will help you come up with and implement a training plan.
If you think their fear is a one-time circumstance that has been brought on by something unexpected in his environment, like sudden fireworks or the sound of a car misfiring, then you can isolate that particular thing and work towards training them to tolerate it.
I always encourage my students (check out my classes) to play sound recordings of fireworks starting quietly in the background and working up to very loud and life-like in order to prepare their dogs for coming celebrations like New Years Eve or the Fourth of July.
You could also try something likethis anxiety wrapfrom Amazon (affiliate link) that has been useful for dogs afraid of loud noises like thunder.
6.Your Yorkie is Bored
When our dog Bear (a Maltese Chihuahua mix) gets playful he lets us know by barking and whining and begging us to play. Most dogs will let you know when they are tired of laying around not doing a whole lot.
Yorkies in particular love to be entertained and challenged. They were originally bred to chase rats so they love to play a game of fetch or do some scent work.
How to tell:Short high pitched whines, usually accompanied by a sigh, may seem lazy or disinterested in their favorite toys or games.
He could be digging in the yard, getting into things they shouldnt like the trash, or chewing up your favorite things like shoes or furniture, or hiding and burring his food.
Ask Yourself:
Again you need to think about how much exercise and mental stimulation your Yorkie is getting. Yorkies do better when they have something to do to occupy their time. It helps if they are constantly learning new things.
When was the last time you taught your Yorkie a new command, game, or trick?
What to do:
Provide your Dog with some mental stimulation. Teach them some new tricks, work on training, or give them a fun new toy likethis fun crinkle toyfrom Amazon (affiliate link).
Try not to leave all their toys available all the time. If you keep all but 2 or 3 put away and rotate them that will keep your Yorkie from getting bored too easily.
You can also try this awesome program calledBrain Trainingthat can give you a huge boost in your training methods and plans.
If you are on Facebook I would suggest that you join a group like thisCanine Enrichment groupwhere you will find a plethora of great ideas from other dog owners. While youre at it feel free tojoin our Dog Groupand follow me on myFacebook page at Paws and Learnfor fun ideas and new announcements.
You may think getting your Yorkie another dog as a friend is a good idea, and it very well may help take the burden of entertainment off your shoulders, but before you decide to do that this article can help you think about the challenges versus benefits.
When Should You Get Your Yorkie a Friend? (A Guide to Yorkie Pairs) Paws and Learn
7.Your Yorkshire Terrier is in Pain
Yorkshire Terriers are generally a healthy breed and dont usually have major health issues. If you have a rescue or yourYorkie is agingthen pain or discomfort may be a reason your pup is whining.
How to tell:
Look for any kind of physical signs such as limping,constantly lickinga sore area, or yelps and whines when picked up or moved.
Ask Yourself:
How old is my Yorkie? Has his energy been waning? Are there other red flags such as growling or biting when handled a certain way or untouched food?
Has your dog had a recent dental exam? Poor dental health can cause pain for your Yorkshire Terrier.
What to do:
If you suspect your dog is in pain take him to your vet right away. If you cant figure out the cause of the whining and it doesnt appear to be any of the above reasons then you will want your dog to have a complete checkup as soon as possible!
Pro Tip: If you are not able to get a hold of a vet near you, or you want to avoid an unnecessary ER trip, there are online resources that you can turn to. Here is our best recommendation: Pawp: a 24/7 digital clinic for pets that connects you to an experienced vet Why we love it: Answers 24/7! No waiting! Get Answers Online with Local Vets! Quick Response Time! Easy Sign UP! Try Pawp 7 Days For Free
If your Yorkie Puppy is Crying
Youcan expect Yorkshire Terrier puppies will whine more than adult Yorkies, but puppies, in general, may whine for different reasons than adult dogs. If you just brought a Yorkie puppy home and hes whining a lot, its most likely becausehe misses his mother and littermates.
Yorkie puppies should not be brought home before they are at least 8 weeks old its even better if they are 10 to 12 weeks. The younger the puppy the more you can expect to deal with crying.
If you are trying to Crate train a puppy and he whines a lot when he is in his crate it is most likely because he is lonely and scared. A crate all by himself is a scary dark place and if its new to him you can expect hes going to have a hard time at first. When you first bring your puppy homelearning how to properlyCrate Trainis important, dont give in to your Yorkys cries if hes just wanting attention.
How to Help Your Yorkie Puppy Not Cry
Smell is a powerful thing for dogs. Their sense of smell is 40 times better than ours and much more refined. We can use this power to our advantage in two ways.
Before you get your Yorkshire Terrier puppy take a blanket or Sweatshirt that smells like you and give it to your puppys breeder to put in your puppys bed, so they can get used to your smell and create positive associations.
The second way this will benefit your Yorkie is it will allow the scent of his mother and littermates to get on the item so when you bring him home it will smell like them and help make the transition easier for him.
Another great tool to help your little puppy miss his family less is toget a stuffy likethis onefrom Amazon(affiliate link)that mimics the heartbeatof his mama. Having a comfort item like this can be extremely useful and can make a huge difference those first few weeks you have your new puppy.
Its a new environment and its going to take time for him to get used to it.Make sure that he has a small area (Crate or Playpen) to stay in, this will help him feel more safe and secure.
Your puppys natural instinct is to find a den that will help him feel safe. This small area with a crate inside (about 8 sq feet for a small Yorkie and 16 sq ft for a large Yorkie) will help your dog feel more safe and secure.
At night you can keep his crate near you so you are able to comfort him, it might make a few sleepless nights for you, but will go a long way in reassuring your puppy that hes not alone.
It may be tempting to let your puppy sleep with you, but be sure thats what you want before you go down that path. The following article may help you decide.
Should I Let My Yorkie Sleep With Me? (Let Sleeping Dogs Lie) Paws and Learn
When using the crate at night dont take your puppy out just because he is whining, that will only reinforce the behavior. You can take him out for bathroom breaks, but when his bathroom break is over put him back in. If you get him out for a cuddle or let him sleep in bed with you, crate training is going to be a lot more difficult.
Most Yorkie puppy owners said that they would let their puppy cry it out for 10-15 min. and if they didnt stop after that they would take them out to get a drink or use the bathroom, but then promptly put them back in.
Final Thoughts
Whatever the reason for your Yorkie whining the best thing you can do ismake sure that your dog knows you are in charge! That doesnt mean yell at your dog or be mean, butbe firm and consistentin the ways that you respond, let them know that you expect them to be well behaved and they will.
If you continue to have problems with your Yorkie crying please seek help from a professional dog behaviorist or a Vet.
While we strive to give the most accurate and helpful information about your pets health that we can, this article is meant to be informational only and not medical advice. Never disregard, avoid or delay in obtaining medical advice from your veterinarian or other qualified veterinary health care provider regardless of what you have read on this site or elsewhere.
