Who needs an alarm clock when you’ve got your dog?
From the moment the sun rises, your dog’s already awake.
And since they want to wake you up as well, they cry non-stop.
Good grief!
In this article, you’ll discover:
- 11 reasons why your dog cries in the morning.
- Whether your dog cries due to a peeing problem.
- 7 ways to stop your dog from waking you up with this habit.
- And much much more…
Table of contents
Why does my dog cry in the morning?
Your dog cries in the morning because of having separation anxiety or over-attachment, maintaining a routine, they’re lacking exercise, you’ve reinforced them, they’re feeling discomfort or hunger, needing to pee or go outside, wanting to wake you up, or daylight saving time.
11 reasons why your dog cries in the morning
#1: Crying means it’s urgent
Perhaps your dog is an early riser. (Some dogs like to sleep in, while others don’t.)
Mornings can be lonely when spent alone, and so they try to wake you up to keep them company.
They do this by crying since they know that this behavior gives you a sense of urgency.
You’d think there’s something wrong, and you’ll come running to them in no time.
Your dog’s smart, but a sneaky one too.
#2: It’s their routine
Dogs like sticking to their daily routine.
They can’t read the clock, but surprisingly, they know when it’s time to eat. Or when the children’s school bus is arriving.
They also know when it’s time to wake you up.
If you prepare your day at 6 am, they’ll try to wake you up before that by crying.
You appreciate their effort on weekdays, but on weekends, you just really want to sleep in.
Why’s your dog being like this?
See, dogs are so devoted to their routine to the point that they don’t know when to stop.
If their method of waking you up is by crying in the mornings, they’ll do it every friggin’ day.
#3: They have a peeing problem
Did you know that puppies can only hold their pee for up to 3-4 hours?
Any longer than that and they’ll have no choice but to create little accidents on their crate or your floor.
Oops…
The reason for this is their small bladders.
So if your pooch is still a puppy and they cry every morning, they just want to get out of their crate and pee outside.
“But wait, my dog’s not a puppy anymore.
Why do they cry to pee often in the morning?”
If your dog’s a full-grown adult who pees like a pregnant lady, this could be because of a medical reason.
According to WebMD, frequent urination in dogs can be caused by the following:
- Diabetes.
- Bladder stones.
- Kidney disease.
- Urinary incontinence.
- Urinary tract infection (UTI).
Note: If your dog’s frequent urination is bothersome and is disrupting their sleep, take them to the vet for a check-up immediately.
Reading tip: Why Is My Dog Suddenly Peeing A Lot (In The House)? 27 Tips
#4: Over-attachment
You decided that you want to sleep today until 10 am. Hey, it’s the weekend after all.
But sadly, your dog has other plans.
As early as 7 am, they’re already scratching on your door. With whining and whimpering included.
While they cry for their life to make you open your door, you wonder:
“Out of all the people in the house,
why’s the family dog waking me – and only me – always?”
This seems to be a case of an overly-attached dog, or also known as a ‘velcro’.
They’re waking you up because you’re their favorite person. And they want to be with you always.
Note: ‘Velcro’ dogs can develop separation anxiety if they don’t learn to be independent.
Reading tip: 15 Reasons Why Your Dog Is So Attached To You + 7 Tips
#5: Separation anxiety
Does your pooch cry in the morning when you leave the house to go to work?
Dogs who get anxious when they’re away from their dog parents have separation anxiety. They can’t stand being alone. Or else they get destructive.
Aside from crying, they may also:
- Eat non-edible items.
- Destroy your things at home.
- Consistently whine and bark.
- Do unusual behaviors such as constant pacing.
So what exactly is the reason behind this?
If your pooch is a rescue or came from a shelter, they may cry when you leave in the morning because they’re scared of getting abandoned.
#6: It’s their feeding time
What time do you feed your dog?
Most dog parents leave for work early in the morning. So they feed their dogs before they go out.
If you’re the same as them, your dog cries in the morning because they’re already hungry.
By crying, they try to get your attention. They want to remind you that it’s their feeding time already.
And although it’s really scheduled that they’ll eat in the morning, your dog still thinks that:
“The more I cry, the faster my hooman will give me my food.”
#7: Feeling of discomfort
Another reason why your dog cries in the morning is because they’re feeling abdominal pain.
This could be because of acid reflux, gastrointestinal problems, or diarrhea.
Here are some signs that show your dog has stomach problems:
- Feeling lethargic.
- Excessive licking.
- Yellow or green-colored vomit.
Your dog’s unable to express their discomfort in words. So it’s up to you as their dog parent to try to understand their body language.
#8: They want to go out
If your dog’s an early riser, there are chances that they wake up a bit earlier than you do.
When this happens, they’ll easily get bored because they have no one else to play with. So they cry until your grumpy self lets them out to the yard.
Dogs are much like children.
(In fact, studies show that they have the mental capacity of a 2-year old toddler.)
They’re active, and they always want to play.
Once your pooch has learned that crying will lead them to play with you outside, they’ll use it as their method of communication.
#9: You reward them for crying
You love quiet and calm mornings. Unlike your dog.
They cry to the point that everybody in the household – even your next-door neighbors – gets disturbed.
Uh-oh!
Because you’re embarrassed, you try to make them stop by giving them treats. Aside from that, you also pet them to calm them down.
“My hooman must really like it when I cry my heart out every morning.
Great job, self.”, your dog thinks.
Because you *unintentionally* reward your dog for their crying habit, they think of it as the right thing to do.
#10: Lack of exercise
Your dog may cry in the morning because they lack exercise and activities. Therefore this means that they could also be mentally stressed.
What’s the reason behind this?
People like us feel good whenever we go out on morning jogs.
Not only is it a great way to start the day, but it also keeps us active.
Dogs are just the same. Moreso, if I may add.
They require at least one low-impact exercise a day such as walking (depending on a dog’s condition).
So since your pooch may not be getting enough exercise, they spend their energy in the morning crying instead.
#11: Daylight saving time
Are you in a place that has daylight savings? If so, your dog’s crying habit might be because the time in your location has recently changed.
Here’s a scenario:
You wake up regularly at 7 am this summer, but since DST’s over, the time’s adjusted to an hour back.
Because of this, it’s still 6 am on your clock. And so you continue with your sleep.
But your pooch is worried.
“Omgosh! My body clock says it’s already 7.
Why is hooman still sleeping? Oh no, something’s wrooong.”
They cry because they think something’s wrong.
Silly doggo.
7 tips on what to do when your dog cries in the morning
#1: Schedule peeing time
To lessen your dog from crying in the mornings because they need to pee, create a schedule for them.
For adult dogs, you can take them outside to pee before bedtime.
And for puppies, you can let them out of their crate once or twice in the middle of the night to do their business.
#2: Let them adjust to your new waking up routine
Your pooch’s an early riser and they cry because there’s a recent change in your schedule.
So to correct this, make them adjusted to your new waking up routine slowly.
If they’re used to you getting up at 6:00 am, get up at 6:10 am. The next week, get up at 6:15 am. Then so on.
It’s important to be patient in training your dog.
This takes time and a lot of ‘waking up early’ sacrifices.
#3: Leave them with something on their bed
Your pooch wakes you up with cries in the morning because they want your company.
So to stop them from disturbing your beauty sleep, keep them busy the moment they wake up.
Leave toys and puzzles beside their bed before sleeping.
And if they’re the type of dog who likes to work for their food, you can give them a ‘Kong’ toy.
Now that’ll keep them busy for hours. Or up until you wake up. 🙂
#4: Exercise them before bedtime
To make your dog sleep like a baby, exhaust all their energy within the day.
You may have limited time to take them outside. But within that span, it’s still possible to give your pooch enough exercise.
For example, you can bike or jog while they run alongside you.
At home, tiring your dog’s also possible. Scatter kibbles or treats around your yard. Then make your dog find each one of them like it’s Easter.
#5: Ignore their cries
Okay, ignoring your dog might be a bit difficult thing to do.
Hearing your dog cry can break your heart. But at the same time, it could also annoy you so much you just want it to end.
But to make your attention-seeking dog who uses their cries to get what they want, you must control yourself.
Don’t just ignore them for a while then give in shortly after.
You need to give your 100%.
If your pooch is sleeping outside your room, only go out and greet them at a specific time.
And if they’re sleeping beside you, only stand up when the alarm clock rings.
Which brings me to the next tip…
#6: Set your alarm before you wake up
Set up your alarm clock at a specific time that you want to wake up at. For example, if you need to wake up at 6 am, set it at exactly 6:00 am.
And when it rings, stand up to greet your dog.
Only greet them once the alarm rings.
(Note that it’s important not to hit the sneeze button. Or else this trick wouldn’t work.)
You can vary the time you wake up, this will make the tip work better. Just make sure to set your alarm.
By doing this, you’ll condition your dog that you’ll only give them your attention once they hear the sound of your alarm ringing.
So if you want to set your waking schedule to a later time – let’s say at 8 am, your dog will not disturb you with their cries until then.
#7: Keep their sleeping area dark
Dogs are not nocturnal animals.
Like us humans, they sleep when it gets dark.
So if your pooch is an early riser, you can encourage them to sleep more by keeping the curtains closed until it’s time to wake up.
And if they sleep in a crate, what you can do instead is cover it with a dark blanket.
This environment helps resemble nighttime. And will help them stay calm instead of trying to wake you up with their cries.
Bonus: Fake leave
If your pooch cries in the morning because they have separation anxiety, you need to teach them how not to make a deal of you leaving them.
Do this by desensitizing your movements.
Here’s an example:
Your dog cries as soon as you pick up your keys. (Or wear your shoes, get your work bag, etc.)
To make your dog desensitize with this certain movement, pick up your keys at random times in the day. Make sure your dog notices.
After some time, your pooch will get conditioned that you doing the trigger movement isn’t related to you leaving the house.