Dog Training Basics

Posts Tagged ‘stop dogs whining’

When a dog whines it is trying 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.

As a dog grows it will continue to whine when it is distressed or requires attention. 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. The dog will continue to whine if you reinforce this action by paying attention to its whines. 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. Make sure that your dog has food and water and is comfortable and is not trying to communicate to you that he is hungry. Have your dog seen by a vet if it whines when running, eating or gong to the toilet.

You must spend time with your dog and play with him; do not neglect him. If you spend time with him when he is quiet and not whining it will reinforce good behavior.

Your dog may suffer from separation anxiety one it has adjusted to you and you leave it alone. 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.

Pay attention to your dog’s whines and you’ll begin to understand what he is trying to tell you and why. Your dog could be trying to communicate to you that he is hungry, thirsty, hot, cold, bored, lonely, wanting to go outside to relieve himself, or he may be in pain.

Provide your dog with plenty of stimulation and exercise. Your dog is a sociable animal and you should take him for walks, play with him and take him to dog parks so that he can learn to socialize with other dogs. Dogs are intelligent creatures and require exercise and stimulation or they can easily become bored. A bored dog will sometimes whine to get attention.

Tend to your dog’s needs and don’t let him manipulate you with his whining. You must learn to recognize the difference between the dog’s genuine needs and his need for attention.  Reinforce good dog behavior. He will soon learn that his whines do not get him the results that he wants if you only show him the attention and love that he needs once the whining has ended.