Wondering how long until your puppy stops crying in the crate—or whether something’s wrong? If your puppy cries, whines, howls, or barks nonstop when crated or left alone, they could be showing early signs of puppy separation anxiety.

While some vocalizing is normal, especially on the first night of crate training, excessive crying that lasts for hours or happens every night may signal a deeper issue like separation anxiety.

In this post, you’ll learn how to tell the difference between normal crate adjustment and separation anxiety-driven behavior, how long to let your puppy cry it out in the crate, and when and how to intervene effectively.

We’ll also walk you through positive, gentle crate training techniques that help your puppy feel safe, calm, and confident—whether you’re in the next room or away for the day.