How to Stop Dog Whining
It can be a heart-wrenching thing to see; the sad eyes, the droopy ears and the pitiful look on your dog’s face when he starts to whine. It can also be a heart breaking sound and before you realize it, you are asking your favorite pooch just what is wrong. Of course, once you do that, you are only reaffirming what your dog already knows, that whining gets him exactly what he wanted. This is why you want to learn how to stop dog whining.
Many owners have fallen into this trap and it usually starts when you dog is still very young, although it can occur when your dog is older. Whining is a natural behavior in dogs and it is very similar to barking, it is a way for your dog to express what he is feeling but sometimes it can become a very annoying habit.
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In order to stop dog whining, it is important that you first know why your dog is whining. The answer to this question can be a number of things, including:
Pain: Although there are many breeds with a high pain tolerance, meaning it takes a lot before they express it, a dog can whine when he is feeling some form of discomfort. If you suspect that he is injured or sick, it is very important to take your dog to the vet.
Loneliness: This is a very common reason why dogs whine and this often happens when a dog is separated from his owner. I have seen many dogs whine at the bathroom door simply because their owner isn’t with them.
Excitement: Usually whining in an excited dog is something that isn’t a big deal. This is just a whine where the dog tells you he is excited about something, whether it is a new ball or going for a walk.
Attention: Sometimes dogs will whine to get their owners attention and it is very important that you never give in to this behavior. If you do, you are only reaffirming the fact that you dog will get attention when he whines, and you will have a much harder time trying to stop dog whining.
Learned: This can go hand in hand with attention whining but many times is a learned behavior. When a dog first whines, the owners give him some form of positive reinforcement and eventually the dog learns that whining is okay.
Begging: Lastly, some dogs will whine when they are begging. This can make begging extremely aggravating and can be the last straw for some owners who then begin crating their dogs during meals.
While all forms of whining can be annoying, I find that it is important to really think about what you can live with. If your dog is whining when he is excited, especially when he sees you, then why would you want to curb that behavior. It is an expression of happiness so why make your dog miserable.
In addition, whining for a need to be met is another type of whining that you may not want to discourage, such as whining to be let out for a bathroom break. When it comes to what type of whining you allow, be a little lenient for some of them because not all whining will create a lifelong habit.
Now that you know some of the reasons as to why your dog might be whining, its time to learn how to actually stop dog whining, which you will find our next article: How to Stop Dog Whining – Part Two
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