Beagles are a social breed known for their soulful baying, but many Beagle owners soon find out that their new pup is also a regular whiner.
Why do Beagles whine so much? There are multiple causes for Beagles’ whining behavior, but most commonly, whining is a sign of anxiety or boredom.
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Are Beagles Particularly Emotional Dogs? (Why Do They Cry So Much?)
Beagles were originally bred to hunt in packs, and so they have long been a very social breed.
As they became more of our pets than working dogs, Beagles integrated into human packs and satisfied their need for companionship with human company. (Although many Beagle owners will tell you that their pup is much happier with a Beagle companion.)
When left alone, however, the Beagle is particularly sensitive to the lack of companionship on which it thrives. As a dog bred to vocalize for attention (the Beagle was bred to bay when the hunter’s prey was cornered,) it is only natural that loneliness, boredom, and anxiety get vocalized too.
The vocalization of emotions in this way leads us to conclude that – while all dogs are emotional creatures – Beagles are particularly sensitive to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
What Does It Mean When Your Beagle Is Whining Or “Crying”? 4 Possible Causes
Beagles may whine or “cry” for various reasons, including illness, boredom, anxiety, for communication, and loneliness.
- Pain or Illness
Like all dogs, whining can be a sign of physical illness or pain.
In most instances when pain is the culprit, whining occurs when pressing on or manipulating a part of the body.
When illness is the culprit, you may notice other unusual symptoms, including:
- Frequent urination
- Bathroom accidents in the house
- Straining to use the bathroom
- Blood in the urine or feces
- Swelling or distension of the abdomen
- An inability to get comfortable/restlessness
- Anorexia
If you suspect that your Beagle is whining due to pain or illness, your first stop should always be at your veterinary clinic!
It is always best to rule out any injury or illness when your Beagle exhibits unusual behavior.
2. Boredom in Beagles
Beagles are exceptionally intelligent dogs bred to work as hunters. You can imagine the amount of energy these small pups need to keep up with chasing hares!
Now take a child with that same amount of energy and leave them in a room by themselves with nothing to do. It will not be long before you hear: “Moooom, I’m bored!”
When your Beagle is bored, they may well reiterate this childhood mantra in their own way – through whining!
If you have been neglecting your Beagle lately and spending too many hours at work and not enough time with them, your pup may be trying to tell you that they want more stimulation!
Consider adding some interactive dog toys to your Beagle’s life, try hiring a dog walker, or booking doggy daycare for your pup. Whatever you do, find a way to keep your pup busy because a busy Beagle is a happy Beagle!
3. Your Beagle is Anxious
Anxiety is another common cause of whining in Beagles.
As such a social breed, it is sadly not uncommon for Beagles to develop significant separation anxiety. In addition to whining, dogs with separation anxiety can also exhibit the following behaviors
- Breaking out of a confined area like a crate or a closed room in an attempt to “find” you.
- Shaking or trembling at the first sign of you leaving.
- Running from you when you try to say goodbye before leaving.
- Self-harming behavior such as chewing on paws, pulling out fur, or biting the tail.
- Destructive behavior such as having “accidents” in the house, going through the trash, or destroying items they know they should not have.
Separation anxiety is a beast that is notoriously difficult to remedy, so it is crucial to take every step possible to avoid your dog becoming so co-dependent on you.
Creating an extended social network is a great way to do this. For example, regularly take your dog on playdates or to doggy daycare.
If your Beagle has already developed separation anxiety, talk to your vet about how best to help your pup.
One of the most effective methods of working with dogs with separation anxiety is ongoing and long-term behavioral conditioning. As you go through lengthy behavioral training, though, your vet may suggest an anti-anxiety medication for more immediate symptom relief.
4. Whining For Communication
Just like children, when our dogs want our attention, they will find a way to get it. Whining is just one way that your dog knows that they can get your attention.
Beagles may whine to let you know that they want to go outside, or they may whine in protest that you are not sharing your grilled cheese, but either way, they are trying to tell you something!
If your Beagle is whining to communicate with you, you must not pander to their behavior. If you satisfy their demand for attention when they whine, you are only teaching your Beagle that whining is an effective means of getting what they want!
When A Beagle Is Crying, Do They Cry Actual Tears? (Why Do They Have Tear Stains?)
When a Beagle “cries” they are expressing real tears, but they are not crying in the human sense of the word.
Beagles are a hunting breed driven by their sense of smell. This natural drive to hunt via scent means that Beagles are constantly sticking their heads, noses, and faces into places to find the source of a scent. Often this “nosey” behavior causes dirt, dust, and debris to fly up into the air and get into your dog’s eyes.
Like us, when our dogs get irritants in their eyes, their body’s natural response is to flush those irritants out by secreting tears.
If your Beagle’s eyes are frequently irritated and tearing, you may start to notice tear stains on their fur. These stains are the result of the constant moisture that tears leave on the fur.
If you notice discoloration or discharge with your Beagle’s tears or if tearing becomes a problem, be sure to check in with your vet to rule out infection, blockages in the tear duct, or other more serious conditions.
Tips On How To Get An Adult Beagle To Stop Whining So Much (Is It Ever Okay To Let Them Whine A Little?)
If your adult Beagle has taken up the habit of whining and you want to put an end to this problem behavior, the first thing you need to do is to find out why they are whining. You cannot begin to address the problem if you do not know what your dog is trying to communicate.
If you have ruled out illness, boredom, and anxiety, the next thing to know is not to give in to your dog’s whining!
As soon as you teach your dog that they can get what they want from whining, you are positively reinforcing that behavior and it is not going to stop.
If your Beagle is whining, one of the best things that you can do is ignore them, and when they stop whining, give them the attention that they deserve.
This will take a little repetition, but your Beagle will catch on quickly. In this approach, you are turning the equation around and rewarding your dog for not doing something you dislike.
How To Get A Beagle Puppy To Stop Crying And Sleep Through The Night
If you just brought a new Beagle puppy home, you may notice that they are excessively whining at nighttime. Nighttime whining is not uncommon in young puppies and is something that is seen in every dog breed.
Puppies are born in litters. When your puppy ate its meals, they had their mom and siblings close by, when they slept, they had their mom and siblings close by, when they played…you get the picture.
As soon as you brought your puppy home, though, you took them away from that security and companionship and put them in a new situation where nothing is familiar. It is not surprising that your little pup is calling out for attention!
The first thing to do when you notice this type of behavior in your new Beagle puppy is to check in with your vet to make sure that there is nothing physically wrong.
The chances are that there is indeed nothing wrong physically, but it is always best to rule out any possible problems especially when you need to check in with your vet anyway.
If you have ruled out physical causes for whining and your Beagle pup is having trouble getting through the night alone, one of the easiest and most soothing things that you can do is invest in a heartbeat toy.
There are multiple brands of this toy on the market, and they all feature a heartbeat sound and a warming pad or insert. Placing this next to your new pup simulates the warmth and heartbeat of their mother and can quickly soothe a fussy puppy to sleep.
