crying puppy

Question
I have a 9 month old puppy that we got for my 4 year old daughter when the puppy was 4 months old.  She is very hyper and friendly like a lot of puppies.  Two days ago Zoe (the puppy) started crying while playing with her favorite toys.  We throw the toy for her to go get it and then she whines when she gets near it, licks it several times, takes it to a place on the sofa or floor, scratches the floor or sofa before she sits the toy down, puts the toy down and starts crying again.  Most of the time she scratches several different places before she is satisfied.  We are very concerned.  We called the vet and they told us it did not sound like she was sick and to see a behavioral specialist.  We have a 9 year old Shih-tzu also who is acting fine.  He stays at home with the puppy for 2 hours every day.  We wandered if he did something to her, but she does not seem to be afraid of him.  Please help.

Answer
Unlike a professional behavioral specialist, I can admit I may not have an answer.  I am much cheaper too.  The puppy that didn't make it into your home until 4 months old may not have had the proper experiences before it was 12 weeks old.  As it matures, something could be coming out.  My best shot is to try the confidence building exercises I would suggest for a submissive wetter.  

Start with obedience training.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  As you praise the dog for following your commands, it will build its confidence.  

Play tug of war with the dog and lose.  However at the end of the game, take the rope or toy and put it up, less the dog becomes confused about who is top dog.
Ropes from the pets' store quickly turn to hazardous shreds.   Ones I made
lasted much better.   Go to a hardware or home center that sells rope by the
foot.  Buy 2' of 3/4" poly rope.   Melt the ends, and tie  knots in it.   Get
them as tight as possible, put it in a vise and pound it with a hammer.  Watch
carefully, and be ready to discard when it comes apart.

Finally, make sure it has a den to live in.  If you are not using a crate, buy one.  The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, may take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going
in.  Feed it in the crate.  This is also an easy way to maintain order at
feeding time for more than one dog.