Teaching A Dog To Stop Whining

When your dog whines he is attempting to communicate. One of the first actions a dog learns is to whine. The hungry puppy whines to let its mother know that it is hungry. The mother dog feeds the puppy and the puppy learns that whining produces the desired result.

A puppy will continue to whine when it is distressed or requires attention as it grows into a dog. A puppy that is one of a litter will feel a sense of belonging to that litter. If a puppy becomes separated from its litter its whines are a sign of its distress and it is letting the litter know that it needs to be rescued.

When the puppy is removed from its litter to become a member of your family it may feel extreme distress at being removed from its familiar surroundings and former family. It may whine to communicate its distress and sense of loss.

Now is the time to start training your dog not to whine. If you pay attention to its whines you are reinforcing this action and the dog continues to understand that if it whines it receives attention. On the other hand it is important that you have taken care of the dog’s needs before you try to stop a dog from whining. Always ensure that your dog has food and water and is comfortable and is not trying to communicate to you that he is thirsty or hungry. Have your dog seen by a vet if it whines when running, eating or gong to the toilet.

Your dog must not be neglected; you must play with him and spend time with him. Reinforce his good behavior by spending time with him when he is being quiet and good.

Once your dog has adapted to you - its new family - it may suffer from separation anxiety if you leave it. Separation anxiety in dogs is not uncommon. Dogs are pack animals by nature so remember that when you leave it it may feel quite anxious. If it is your habit to put your dog outside before you go out spend some time with him in the outside environment and make sure he has toys to play with. The dog will soon learn that being outside can be fun, too.

When you pay attention to you dog’s whines you’ll soon begin to know what he is trying to communicate to you and why. Perhaps your dog could be trying to let you know that he is hungry or thirsty, hot or cold, bored and lonely or wanting to go outside, or he may be in pain.

Provide plenty of exercise and stimulation for your dog. Take him for walks, play games with him and take him to dog parks so that he can socialize with other dogs. Dogs are intelligent creatures and require stimulation or they can become bored. A bored dog may whine for attention.

Tend to your dog’s needs and don’t let him manipulate you with his whining. You will soon learn to recognize the difference between a dog’s genuine needs and his need to get your attention.  Reinforce good dog behavior. Give him the love and attention that he deserves when the whining has stopped and he will soon learn that his whines do not produce the results that he wants.