OK, my new puppy is adorable in every way. She makes me smile everytime I look at her, and is just of joyfulness for life. One thing I noticed is that she will whine when she needs to go out for a poo (and she is only 7 weeks!!!), but she also seems to whine when she is tired, before sleeping. She is like a toddler in that she plays like a mad thing (bombing around the garden, getting herself busy into everything) and ten she will come in having had a poo and/or wee, and whine, slump onto her bed and grumble as she nods off, and the only thing I can think of is the way toddlers will fight off sleep because they want to keep on doing what they want to and exploring. Am I being far too anthropomorphic in this view, or can puppies be like this?

I wish I could post you some pictures of her. She is so beautiful, people keep thinking she looks like a wolf cub. Even our vet - who sees so many puppies - kept coo-ing over her and calling her 'fluffy teddy bear'!!!

Awwww dunno abo0ut the whineing but my pup sometimes grunts in her sleep sounds like a bark but not a proper bark more of a grunt.

If I send you my e-mail address I would love to see some pics of your dog. What breed is she, as I get told mine looks like a cuddly teddy bear, from the nice people and a duster, broom, rat on a rope from the not so nice people. Mine is a 13 week old shih tzu.

My (not so) little one will also have a little whine just as she's settling down for a sleep and she's almost 21 weeks old now and has been doing it since we brought her home at 8 weeks old. She does it less now than she used to...it seems she does it now when she's REALLY tired like when she's been tearing around the house like a mad thing for an hour and then flops. She's not a whiney dog at all the rest of the time and I think a bit like you (anthropomorphic or not) that's she's over-tired herself but doesn't want to give in and go to sleep :)

You're absolutely right, they do sometimes get overtired and find it hard to 'let go' enough to fall asleep.

She sounds gorgeous!
:)

You have a gorgeous puppy :-D

Merlin has a full on tantrum if he is over tired, he digs at is bed, throws it around and then generally ends up moving it back to its original position, all the time making funny noises until he eventually flops down. Its really funny to watch and this is only ever if he has a busy day.I just thought he was a bit odd lol!

Hi Nanny Ogg

I have a 13 wk old GSD who is absiolutely gorgeous, vet said I should have called him Teddy instead of Kody as he looks like a fluffy bear.  He also whines when he gets over tired, he reminds me of my grandson who also does the same, he gets fidgety and whines then drops off to sleep just like Kody.  Both absolutely adorable !!!

Sounds just like my Missy. She seems to whine to fight off the sleep. She is zonked out in her crate at the moment after an exciting morning shredding a cardboard box!

i dont know about the whining but they definitely get over tired like toddlers leo still does sometimes now and hes 18 months - refusing to go to sleep and you watch the eyes gradually start to close on them

Congratulations on your new pup Nannyogg and I wish you both many, many happy years together. 

GSD's do whine and whine and whine and then whine some more.  Sounds like Missy has found her first whine.  Some will have a sigh whine just as they're about to drop off to sleep.

Missy sounds absolutely gorgeous and you have so many, many happy years to look forward to.  Enjoy :-)

Hey Spender, thanks for your comments. I am looking forward to every knew phase she goes through!
She has certainly found here whine over the past few days. She only barks rarely, and then only in play outside (and it comes as a bit of a shock from something so small!) - she whines constantly though. Whining can mean anything from 'I'm tired', 'I'm falling asleep', 'I am asleep and talking in my sleep', 'I need a poo', 'I need a wee', 'I want to play', 'I'm bored', 'I'm hungry', 'Where are you?', 'What do you mean?', 'I'm happy but I don't understand what is going on'.

It would be great to have a book of translation, but it is amazong how expressive she can be, and we are just learning to understand some of the different tones she uses for different things. Today when she slept in her crate, she was whinging and whining in her sleep and moving her little mouth while she was on her back with her legs in the air!

Bless her.  She sounds a little darling. They are very expressive dogs.  All different sorts of whines coupled with body language mean different things. 

Mine have the 'I want the toilet' whine, the 'sigh' whine, the 'walkies' whine, 'food' whine,  the 'question' whine - my bitch will place her paw on the sofa and whine while looking at me.  She won't get up until I invite her.  The 'early morning alarm clock' whine.  I'm usually up at seven but if I oversleep, I'm whined awake lol. The 'give me attention' whine.  'where are you' whine. The' going out in the car' whine is very loud, they get so exited, and practically sing all the way to their destination.   Needless to say I switch off on those occasions.  Some whines do get ignored. They have different tones too.  They are so funny. 

It's so exiting getting to know a new pup.  Keep us updated on how she develops. :-)