How To Teach A Dog To Stop Whining
31 Dec 2009
When a dog whines it is trying to communicate. One of the first actions a dog learns is to whine. When it is hungry the puppy whines to let its mother know. The puppy learns that whining produces the desired result because the mother dog feeds it when it whines.
As the puppy grows older 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 it becomes separated from its litter it will whine as a sign of its distress and to let the litter know that it needs to be rescued.
It can be extremely distressing for a puppy when it has to leave its litter and its familiar surroundings to become a part of your family. It will whine to communicate its distress to you.
Now is the time to start training your dog not to whine. If you pay attention to its whining you are reinforcing this action and the dog continues to believe that if it whines it gets the attention it wants. 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 not neglect your dog and you must spend time with him and play with him. You can reinforce good behaviors by spending time with him when he is quiet and not whining.
Once your dog has become familiar with you as its new family it may suffer from separation anxiety when you leave it alone. Separation anxiety in dogs is not uncommon. Remember that dogs are naturally pack animals and it may feel quite anxious when you leave it. 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.
Listen to your dog’s whines and you’ll start to understand what it is he is trying to tell you. 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.
Your dog requires exercise and stimulation. Play games with him, take him for walks and take him to dog parks so that he can run off the leash and socialize with other dogs. Dogs can quickly become bored if they do not receive the stimulation that they require as intelligent animals. A dog that is bored 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.
