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Whining and Crying

How to Respond to a Maltipoo Puppy Whining or Crying

Overview

It is normal for young puppies to cry when first in a new home. It is a big adjustment to go from the dam and littermates to a new environment. It’s hard not to take it personally and wonder if you are doing something wrong. However - barring any health issues – there is nothing wrong, your puppy just needs a bit of time to adjust. 

This phase will pass and usually only lasts a few weeks. You can help your Maltipoo puppy by offering all of the comforts needed, which includes a warm place to sleep and toys to cuddle up to. If the breeder gave you an item with the scent of the puppy’s littermates and/or dam, placing this with the pup will help as well. 

You may be a bit confused about when to go over to a crying puppy and when to ignore it. Human instinct tells us to rush over and offer comfort. However, in some instances, you will want your Maltipoo to learn to self-soothe. If you go to a puppy each time he cries, you can inadvertently teach your pup to constantly expect your attention. And, since that is not feasible, it's best to know how to handle things now, before calling out for you becomes a habit. 

How you react will depend on the puppy’s age and whether it is daytime or nighttime.

Young pup, less than 3 months old, nighttime

Give attention at certain intervals so that the puppy receives a message that he is not truly alone, but does not think that each time he cries, someone will come running. During this first month, it will be a personal decision as to how often you check on him. Keep in mind that a pup may cry himself back to sleep within 10 to 15 minutes. So, a check every couple of hours, after that initial 15 minutes, can be done if you can handle the sleep interruptions.

When you do check on him, assess the area for any drafts or over-heating, be sure that the pup is in his bed, offer a soft toy to cuddle up to, and give a few pats. If you suspect that the pup is thirsty, but confused about how to reach his water, assist him with this. 

Young pup, less than 3 months old, daytime

If you are busy doing things in the house and you have your puppy in his playpen or other area, and he is whining, do not ignore your tasks, but do let him know that you hear and acknowledge his communication. 

If possible, every 20 minutes or so, walk over to say hello (not in a soothing way, but in a matter-of-fact way) and offer a few pets and a smile. Then, if you are busy, move on to what you were doing. So again, not every time your Maltipoo cries, but at intervals so that he learns that he has a loving family, but that crying does not equal instant attention. 

3 months old & older, nighttime

At this age, you do not want to respond to crying at night unless you feel there is a legitimate bathroom need. If so, with lights as dim as possible and with making as little noise as possible, bring your puppy to his designated bathroom area. Only speak to say, ‘Good, dog’ and no more. This must be a serious time; any interaction, including speaking, can send the wrong message that whining to wake you up equals attention. Quietly bring him back to his area and leave it at that.

If you are rather sure that there is not a bathroom need, you will want to ignore any calls for attention. This is easier said than done and certainly goes against human instinct to rush to one’s calls for ‘help’. However, if you know that your Maltipoo is safe and comfortable, you will want to offer the important lesson of self-soothing. This will allow your puppy to mature into a confident, emotionally strong dog. 
Now, this is not to say that a pup should be on his own. You can give him tools to help. This includes:
1. A treat-release toy that holds kibble (great for pups that wake up too early in the morning). One that we really love is the PetSafe Busy Buddy Barnacle Toy. This comes in several different sizes, with the extra-small being great for new puppies. It has 3 small bobbles that each hold a bit of dry kibble and works well to keep a pup happy. 

If your particular Maltipoo pup needs more encouragement to seek out this type of toy, you can also mix 100% pure all-natural peanut butter with the kibble before you place it in, or dab a bit of fish oil around the areas where the kibble eventually makes its way out. 
2. A ‘stay busy’ toy (though the noise of that may keep you awake!). The goal here is to offer an interactional toy that ‘plays back’ with your Maltipoo. Those that speak or make silly noises are good choices. For this, the PetQwerks Talking Babble Ball is perfect. It’s comes in 2 sizes, with the small being ideal for young pups. This speaks each time it’s nudged and it’ll shut off when not in use. 
3. A companion toy. This type of toy can be a tremendous help for puppies that whine and are perfect for dogs of any age that have trouble being home alone. The concept with these is to offer ‘real’ companion via being a good size stuffed dog that has a rhythmic heartbeat and warmth. For this, the Smart Pet Love Snuggle Puppy is pretty awesome; it’s as close as you can get to a dog without actually bringing another one home. 

3 months old & older, daytime

Your puppy is now at an age that being alone for certain periods during the day should be expected. This applies to when you are away, but also when home, but busy. Now is the time to set the foundation that you cannot dote over your pup every moment. If not, you might find your household responsibilities slipping and you’ll be teaching your Maltipoo to not be happy without near-constant attention. When you are busy, ignore calls for attention, unless you suspect a bathroom need. When you are ready to offer attention, do so during a quiet spell. You will not want your pup to think that whining equals you going over.
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