9 Reasons Why Australian Shepherds Whine & Cry So Much

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When your australian shepherd whines or cries when they’re hurt, it makes sense. But why on earth do they whine or cry when seemingly nothing’s wrong?

Is it normal for australian shepherds to whine & cry so much or is something wrong?

Why Do Australian Shepherds Cry So Much:

When australian shepherds whine and cry much more than is necessary, it’s because it’s become a learned behavior for them. In the past whenever they’ve whined or cried it brought you over to them. Now they know it’s something they can continue to do when they want your attention.

In this post you’ll discover:

9 real reasons why australian shepherds whine & cry so much
When their whining is actually something to worry about
4 tips to help get your australian shepherd to cry less (Tip #2 is simple and you can start doing it today!)
And much more

Let’s jump right in.

Table of Contents

Top 9 Reasons Why Australian Shepherds Whine & Cry So Much

1) They Need Your Help

Sometimes when your australian shepherd whines or cries it’s for a very good reason.

In certain situations they’re trying to communicate with you that they need your help with something.

It could be that their food/water bowl is empty and hasn’t been refilled in a little while or that they have to go to the bathroom and need to be let outside.

If your dog is constantly whining or crying, take a moment to see if you can identify any specific patterns and try to address whatever it is that they’re trying to communicate.

Some of the time they aren’t trying to bug you because they’re bored, it’s because they need your help!

[Nothing brings peace of mind quite like speaking with a vet – click here to chat with a vet online now]

2) They’re Feeling Deprived Of Attention

One of the most common reasons for whining/crying in aussies is because they’re feeling deprived of attention or affection.

If you haven’t been paying attention to them much lately, they may become bored and crave more attention from you.

Also, you may have unintentionally taught them that whining or crying gets your attention.

If every time they’ve whined or cried in the past you’ve gone to them to console them and give them affection, they’ll want to do it more.

Which means your australian shepherd crying for attention can become quite an irritating habit.

On top of this, if there are other dogs in your home or if you have any children, it’s possible that your aussie is feeling left out because all of your attention is going to those other family members instead of them.

3) Overly Excited

Australian shepherds can be very excitable dogs and when they get really excited, they may start whining or crying.

This could happen when you come home from work, during a play session or simply because they’re happy to see you.

While it’s definitely cute at first, the constant whining and crying can become quite annoying over time.

If your dog is particularly excitable, try to channel that energy into positive activities like playing fetch or going on walks.

Also, make sure you’re giving them plenty of attention when they’re calm so that they don’t get too excited in an attempt for attention in the future.

Related Reading: 14 Real Reasons Why Australian Shepherds Wiggle

4) Something’s Hurting/Bothering Them

If your australian shepherd is whining or crying and you can’t identify any reason in particular for them to be behaving like this, it’s possible that they’re in pain.

This could be anything from a recent injury to something as simple as an itch they can’t reach.

Take a closer look to whether they’re crying more when making certain movements.

If they’re exhibiting any of this behavior, take them to the vet for a check-up to rule out any potential medical issues and try to establish if there’s a physical reason for them to be whining or crying.

5) They’re Jealous

It’s possible that your australian shepherd is feeling jealous of all the attention that other people or animals in your home are getting.

This may cause them to whine and cry more often because they want to be the center of attention.

If you have other pets in your home, do the best you can to give them all equal amounts of attention.

Also, if there’s anything else that could be triggering their jealousy (such as a new baby), try to take measures to make sure they aren’t feeling left out or neglected.

While you obviously will need to give most of your attention to your baby if that’s the case, try to always make a little time for your aussie.

Jealousy can lead to a lot of undesirable behaviors in dogs, so it’s important to nip it in the bud as soon as you can.

6) Australian Shepherds Are Talkative

It’s important to remember that australian shepherds were bred to be working dogs.

Because of this, they’re often quite vocal.

Which means even if there isn’t anything wrong or bothering them, they may still be whining or crying because it’s just their way of communicating.

In some cases, you may not be able to stop them from whining or crying altogether, but you can at least train them to only do it when necessary.

7) Difficulty Being Alone

Many australian shepherds don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time and will start whining or crying as a way of communicating this.

If you’re gone for more than a few hours, it’s possible that your dog is feeling lonely or even abandoned.

When aussies develop strong feelings of anxiety when separated from their owner it can make them start doing many excessive behaviors.

Crying/whining being one of them.

8) They’re Afraid

Australian shepherds may also start whining or crying when they’re afraid of something.

This could be anything from a loud noise to a new person or animal in your home.

If you’ve recently brought a new pet into your home, it’s possible that your pup is feeling intimidated and/or scared.

Likewise, if there’s been a recent change in your home environment (a move, for example), your aussie may be reacting to that.

In either case, try to identify what it is that’s making them scared and do what you can to help them feel more comfortable.

9) Empathy?

Last but not least, it’s possible that your aussie is whining or crying because they’re picking up on your emotions if you’ve been feeling down lately.

Interestingly, not only can dogs smell their owners emotions, but they can also read their owners facial expressions and body language to help them determine how they themselves should feel.

This is because they see you as their pack leader/alpha and if you’re feeling sad or stressed about something, then they trust your judgment and will replicate those feelings.

Which means your aussie might be whining and crying a lot lately because you’re feeling blue and they’re replicating that feeling.

4 Helpful Tips To Get Your Australian Shepherd To Stop Whining & Crying So Much

1) Be Careful What You Reward

If you’re rewarding your australian shepherd every time they cry or whine, then guess what? They’ll keep doing it!

When you reward behaviors in your dogs (even if it’s unintentional) they’ll continue to repeat them because it works to get what they want.

But when you stop rewarding the behavior and instead ignore them, most of the time the behavior will stop.

So if your aussie is crying or whining for attention, try to ignore them as much as possible and only give them attention when they’re calm and behaving appropriately.

This may take some practice, but it’s worth it in the long run.

2) Make Leaving Less Of a Big Deal

If your australian shepherd is excessively crying and whining when you leave them alone for a period of time, try to make leaving less of a big deal.

So instead of saying goodbye to them, hugging and/or petting them before you go out the door, just quietly leave without making any fuss over it.

It’s also a good idea to change up your ‘I’m about to leave‘ routine.

Without realizing, you likely do the same 4-5 things every time before you leave the house.

And your smart aussie has picked up on this and starts working themselves up when they see you starting your leaving routine.

So try changing it up, switching the order or even doing something completely different.

For example, grab your keys but go do the dishes.

Or, grab your keys, put on your jacket and go watch TV for a little while.

This will confuse them and stop them from getting overly emotional when they see you start your leaving routine.

3) Find Their Trigger

If you’re able to figure out what’s triggering your australian shepherd’s excessive whining or crying, then you can start working on addressing that issue.

Is it a new person in your home? A loud noise outside? Something that’s making them scared?

Once you know what’s causing them to whine or cry so much, you can start working on fixing that issue.

Which can mean helping them overcome the thing that’s bothering them enough to make them want to whine so much.

Or, if possible, getting rid of their trigger altogether so they don’t have to worry about it anymore.

4) Take Them To See a Veterinarian

If your australian shepherd has been excessively whining or crying for more than a few days and you’re unable to figure out why, then it’s time to take them to see the vet.

Excessive whining or crying can sometimes be a sign of an underlying medical issue like arthritis (in older dogs), ear infection, injury, etc.

So it’s always a good idea to rule out any potential health issues before trying to address the behavior.

[Nothing brings peace of mind quite like speaking with a vet – click here to chat with a vet online now]

Other posts you might find interesting:

8 Best Dog Beds for Australian Shepherds | Beds That Last

11 Reasons Why Australian Shepherds Are Good Dogs + Tips

9 Reasons Australian Shepherds Howl + 4 Tips To Reduce It

14 Real Reasons Why Australian Shepherds Wiggle