When dogs are depressed, they either bark or cry. Another word for it is yelp. When dogs cry, it’s a bit different from barking, but more like a howl. When dogs cry, they do so for several reasons, and the reasons are pretty much the same as the reasons why they bark.

Reasons why dogs cry

Your dog could be crying because of one or several of these reasons:

1. Anxiety. You dog is a very sensitive creature. Especially if you had your pet right from its puppy days, a change in the tone of your voice or the shape of your face sends a strong message to it. Dogs get anxious the way humans do. Dogs cry when they get separated from someone or something they hold dear. And dogs have peculiar ways of expressing their anxiety: wailing, scratching your window or wall, or going around in circles. Some dig a hole in the ground.  All dogs are prone to frequent panic response too.

2. Emotional and physical pain. Your dog’s emotional pain is a result of its anxiety. It is hurting that it won’t be able to see you or another member of the family. And you know how expectant dogs can get: if they see that you like what they’re doing, they’ll keep on doing it. Physical pain arises when your dog gets scratched, blistered or cut. When it finds that it can’t do a thing it likes to do, say, sit in the couch or fetch your shoes, it lets out a cry. Your dog watches your coming and going: When you keep your dog waiting for long, it will cry.

3. Hunger. Obviously, even humans who have nothing to eat could cry. During rare times when you forget to feed your dog on time, it whines and later cries out loud.
4. Shared emotional pain. You’ve heard of this before, and you must have seen how your friend’s dog shares in her master’s grief.  Dogs grow too attached to their masters so that when a member of a family is in pain or passes away, the dog gets affected too. Your dog feels your own feelings as they are several times more sensitive than you.

How to stop your dog from crying

Punishing your dog is never an option to stop it from crying. In many cases in fact, this can backfire.  There are many sensitive ways of soothing your dog.

1. Use positive reinforcement. This method works when, instead of punishing your dog, you reward it. To comfort your dog out of grief, give it what it likes (the same thing you do to comfort a child). If you’re going to be away for some time, train your dog not to expect you by making your coming and going as uneventful as possible. You can do this gradually: first, by coming late by an hour or so; then,  by coming much later over the next few days.  When your dog gets used to it, it wouldn’t be affected much even if you don’t come back for weeks.

2. Leave a stand-in while you’re gone. Your dog won’t miss you so much if it can smell your presence around. Experts suggest you leave a used shirt or pair of pants  to keep your trace present for the time being.

3. Give your dog its own place. When your dog has its own private space, it serves as its comfort zone, so even while you’re away, you dog can be at peace. A decent crate should be perfect. When your dog is inside, it can wait for you without added stress.

4. Praise your dog. Dogs love flattery. Your dog feels good with every kind and adorable word you say to it. It could be its name or yours, but words that your dog has grown accustomed to rub them gently.

The bond between master and dog runs deep. And it’s no more obvious than when our dogs make us cry.