Why Do Border Collies Whine/Cry? [Vet Advice + 9 Reasons]

Whining can be nice. If it prevails regularly, it will be a nuisance. So, today we are going to talk about why do border collies whine or cry.

Border collies may whine/cry as a method of communication, excitement, pain, boredom. stress, scared of something, attention, demanding something, separation anxiety, and a way of greeting. Providing adequate physical and mental stimulation, positive reinforcement, consulting a vet are solutions.

Mental stimulation, exercise, positive reinforcement, and some unique training methods can be used to solve this whining behavior of your border collie.

Reasons why your border collie cry or whine?

Like most other dog breeds, it is their communication method with the owner and the family. Now let us dive in to find 9 reasons why your Border collie is whining or crying?

Here is the list of reasons.

Attention
Demanding something.
Excitement.
Boredom.
Pain
Scared or stressed.
Separation anxiety.
Expressing sorry!
Greeting

1. Attention

Border collies whine if they feel they lack attention. So, they need a company for most of the day.

2. Demanding something.

Maybe your Border collie is hungry. If he is whining when you’re at the dining table or eating something, indeed, he is demanding your food. If he/she is whining while scratching the closed door, he may want to go outside or come inside.

Suppose he is whining looking at the treats bottle. In that case, he is demanding a treat, but be careful excess treats can cause him obesity, now which is common among border collies.

This demanding behavior can be easily recognized by looking at where his eyes are traveling other than you while whining.

watch this helpful video.

3. Excitement.

If your order collie is excited, whining may be a part of showing the excitement, accompanied by things like jumping.

4. Boredom.

This breed is a dog that needs a high amount of exercise. He requires a minimum of 2 hours of physical exercise per day. (Let me highlight the word minimum!).

Border collies need a high amount of exercise. They require a minimum of 2 hours of physical exercise per day.
Ms. Pavithra (Veterinary undergraduate)

Also, Border collies are considered as the smartest dog breed, Einsteins of the dog world. So, they need a considerable amount of mental stimulation per day. So, his whining can be due to this lack of physical and mental stimulation.

5. Pain

Whining can be due to pain. Most dogs whine when they experience acute pain conditions. If your border collie is suffering from a disease like arthritis, he may be whining to vocalize his discomfort.

If your dog suddenly started whining, it can be due to some medical condition most of the time. Therefore, consulting your veterinarian is the best option.

6. Scared or stressed.

Some border collies whine when they experience fear or stress. If your Border collie is trembling or panting while whining, he is likely to be scared of something. It may be a new resident in the house or a new pet.

7. Separation anxiety.

If your dog whines just before your departure for work, He or she may be suffering from separation anxiety. Most dogs show drooling, panting associated with whining in these types of situations.

This is a reason you must not ignore it. Later anxiety-based conditions can lead to destructive behaviors.

8. Expressing sorry!

If your border collie is whining just after you expressed your anger for biting your shoes, he may be whining to show that he is sorry.

9. Greeting

Some border collies tend to whine during greetings.

Recommended article: Are Border collies good for first-time dog owners?

How to train your border collie to stop crying or whining?

Before start training your Border collie to stop crying or whining, you must try to figure out the problem. You can closely observe his behavior during whining.

Keep in mind whining can be due to a reason or combined effect of some reasons.

First, let us focus on how to identify your Border collie’s problem.

First, pay attention to the sound of his/her whining and other behaviors accompanied by it.

A demanding behavior can be recognized by looking at where his eyes are traveling other than you while whining.

If your border collie is excited, whining may be a part of showing the excitement is accompanied by things like jumping.

If your Border collie is trembling or panting while whining, he is likely to be scared of something.

If your dog whines just before your departure for work, He or she may be suffering from separation anxiety. Most dogs show drooling, panting associated with whining in these types of situations.

If your border collie is whining just after you expressed your anger for biting your shoes, he may be whining to show that he is sorry.

Next, approach your pooch carefully and handle him gently. If he is suffering from pain, whining will be increased or turned into aggression if he or she is suffering from pain. Consult your vet to rule out the problem.

Then after you figure out that it is not a medical condition, then you can take the following remedies to avoid his problem.

Now let us pay attention to how to overcome each of the problems as mentioned earlier.

1. When they are Scared or stressed.

If your Border collie seems fearful or stressed, try to figure out the reason for his fear. After determining the reason for the fear, work on his training to eradicate his fear.

At first, make sure your dog is at a considerable distance from the object or person that causes fear and never force him to go near it. Next, when your dog dares to look at what is frightening, offer him a treat. Repeat it.

If your dog does not dare to look at the frightening cause, move your pet farther away from it and repeat. Be patient with this process.

2. When they Demanding something.

Demanding behavior is okay if he really wants something. But if he is over-demanding, you must take steps to stop it. If he is over-demanding food, you must never feed on the table.

Give his meal before your meal or give it at the same time. Then he will be less interested in your food.

3. When Boredom.

If you feel like he is bored, give him enough physical and mental exercise. As we discussed earlier, the border collie is a dog that needs a high amount of exercise. your border collie needs a minimum of 2 hours of physical exercise per day. (Let me highlight the word minimum!).

Also, Border collies are considered as the smartest dog breed, Einsteins of the dog world. So, they need a considerable amount of mental stimulation per day.

So, his whining can be due to this lack of physical and mental stimulation. You can provide him with toys, puzzles, etc. to keep him mentally stimulated.

4. When they seek attention

It is attention-seeking whining. You can teach him/her that staying silent is the best. You have to reward him for being silent.

Teach your border collie that staying silent can get your attention to him by giving treats or encouraging him verbally and physically just before giving attention to him.

5. When they are prone to anxiety.

If it is an anxiety-based condition, the best option is the ‘choice’ cue. When your border collie is trained in this, he can have choices in his life, which will minimize anxiety.

6. Greeting

If your Border collie whines during greetings, you can do something to divert his/her attention. As an example, you can use his favorite toys for it.

Other than these you can,

Train him the quiet command. If you are sure he is whine for no real reason, you can try this.
Use stop music to calm him down. There are professionally proven music selections to calm dogs.
Encourage his/her calm behavior.

Most dog owners ignore their dogs when they are calm and care for them when they are whining, howling, or barking.

But if you can encourage his behavior, he will naturally tend to stay as an obedient dog. You can use treats. Also, you can praise him verbally and physically.

Why Border collie puppies cry at night?

Why do Border collie puppies cry at night? Especially during a puppy’s first year, they don’t like to be left alone. So, they tend to feel insecure at night if they are left alone. They cry because,

They are stressed or scared.

They feel hungry.

Want to go to the toilet.

Pain or some kind of discomfort.

They are stressed or scared: It is mainly because the poor little pup does not know the fact that you are going to his family, and he is likely to be suffering from homesickness.

Now let us focus on how to stop your Border collie puppy from crying at night.

Bring him/her next to your bed in a box or in his crate.

Then you will not have to up in the middle of the night and get out of your bed to comfort him. If they wake in the night, they can recognize your smell, and they will feel secure as you are near them.

You can simply caress him by your hand if he starts to whine or cry during the night.

By the way, here is why your dog hurt itself inside the crate.

Use music.

Therapy experts for pets say that soft music can calm your puppies crying at night.

Things to be aware of.

You must bear some essential facts in mind with regard to the whining of your beloved Border collie.

Never use punishments.

Never use punishments to stop the whining of your BC. If he is whining due to some mental conditions like separation anxiety, it will worsen.

If he/she suddenly started whining.

If your dog suddenly started whining, it can be due to some medical condition most of the time. So, a trip to your veterinarian is the best option.

Never feed your Border collie from the table.

If your furry ball is whining for more food after you just fed him/her, it is a severe condition that should be corrected, and never feed him from the table.

Suppose you or any other family member starts feeding him from the table due to his whining. So, you will need to do it every day as he will naturally tend to expect it during your mealtime.

So, you must be wondering why am I emphasizing this so much? Because overfeeding can result in obesity. Overweight dogs have an increased risk for many types of cancers, Diabetes mellitus, heart diseases, and hypertension.

Expecting a walk just after one.

Suppose your pooch is whining for another walk just after a walk. In that case, it is likely to be a problem in the urinary system or digestive system. So, I recommended you consult your veterinarian.

If it is a mental condition.

Suppose the reason for your Border collie’s whining carries a cause with a mental situation. In that case, you must pay your serious attention. Reasons like boredom and separation anxiety can later lead in to destructive behaviors.

If it is a pup.

Some new puppy owners tend to ignore their pup’s whining, thinking that it will go away with time. But according to my experience, puppies should not be left to cry.

Leaving a puppy to cry on its own at night can increase the risk of developing anxiety-based conditions. These conditions can later lead to destructive behaviors such as digging the flower beds, chewing the shoes, etc.

If it is a lack of exercise.

Border collies are energetic, acrobatic, and athletic dog breeders who need a high amount of exercise daily. So, they require a minimum of 2 hours of exercise per day.

It should be vigorous exercises other than something like a walk. Lack of exercise can later lead to destructive behaviors.

Never force.

If your Border collie is scared of a person or object, never force him to go near it. It will make things worse and can even lead to the disruption of his/her relationship with you.

Conclusion

The key point in finding solutions to your Border collie’s whining problem is finding the exact reason or reasons for the problem.

If it is a medical condition, consult your veterinarian to rule out the problem. If it is a behavioral problem, you can adopt the tactics mentioned earlier to prevent your furry ball’s whining problem.

So this article has been addressed Why do border collies whine or cry.