If your canine vocalizes when given a bone, you may be curious about the reason behind it and how to address the issue. This article will explore several potential factors and provide solutions to help alleviate the behavior.

If you’re wondering why your Dog Cries when it gets a bone, there could be several reasons for this behavior. Some possible explanations include the desire to hide the bone, an injury in the mouth, possessiveness, or unintentional reinforcement of the behavior.

Considering the various potential causes can aid in determining which one is more probable, making it easier to stop your dog from crying when given a bone.

Why your dog cries when it gets a bone

Here are some possible explanations for why your dog may whimper or cry when given a bone, as well as factors that could increase the likelihood of this behavior.

Excitement

If your dog cries when it gets a bone, it could be because of the excitement it feels while anticipating the bone. This is especially true if the crying starts before actually receiving the bone. However, if the crying persists even after getting the bone, there may be other reasons for this behavior.

Injury

If your dog suddenly starts crying when it has a bone in its mouth and its mouth is bleeding, it could be due to a mouth injury. In such a case, taking it to a vet would be the best option.

It wants to hide it

Dogs often cry when they receive a bone because they have an innate desire to hide or bury it, which is likely due to their ancestors’ survival instincts of hiding food.

It is possible that your dog’s inability to find a hiding spot for its bone may be causing it to feel slightly anxious and cry, particularly if it typically hides its bones and desires to go outside with them.

It’s saying thanks

If your dog cries while receiving a bone and stops shortly after, it could be a sign of gratitude towards the bone.

Encouraging the behavior

It is possible that you have unintentionally reinforced your dog’s behavior of crying when it gets a bone by rewarding it with extra attention or other incentives. As a result, your dog may continue to cry in order to receive more rewards.

Instead of rewarding your dog when it cries after getting a bone, it would be more helpful to reward it when it doesn’t cry. Additionally, you should avoid giving any rewards when your dog cries and address any other possible reasons why it might be crying.

Possessiveness

It could be that your dog is being possessive. This would be more likely if it tends to cry when you approach it with the bone and if it can become aggressive when it has the bone and you try to take it away. This post has some advice on how to address possessive behavior in dogs.

Things to consider

When trying to determine the primary cause of your dog’s behavior, there are several factors to take into account.

What else happened when it first started doing it

When your dog starts crying when it gets a bone, it’s important to think about any changes that may have occurred around the same time. If this behavior started suddenly, it could be due to factors such as injury, learning that crying leads to rewards, or an inability to hide the bone.

If your dog always cries when it gets a bone

Another factor to take into account is whether there are any variations in the timing of your dog’s crying when it receives the bone. If it appears to cry more frequently during the moment you present the toy, it could be a result of heightened excitement.

What to do about your dog crying when it gets a bone

Here are some potential solutions for addressing your canine’s weeping when it receives a bone.

Wait for it to stop crying before rewarding it

As previously stated, it is possible that your canine has associated crying with receiving a reward. To address this behavior, it may be beneficial to wait until your dog stops crying before giving them the bone. This can help teach them that being calm and well-behaved is more likely to result in receiving the bone than crying.

Ensure that it is not due to an injury

If your dog suddenly starts crying when given a bone, it may indicate a dental problem, and the best course of action would be to take it to a veterinarian.

Allow it to do so

Dogs often cry when they receive bones, and if this behavior is not accompanied by any other unusual behavior or excessive crying, it is generally acceptable to let them continue. However, if the crying becomes excessive, seeking assistance from a dog behaviorist can help identify the cause and provide solutions to stop it.