Silencing Your Whimpering Dog

The annoyance of a whining dog can surpass even that of one that barks incessantly. Many people find incessant whining to be the most irritating of dog behaviors. Much like a human infant cries, wild pups use whimpering to announce their need for attention, whether they are injured, cold, or just need food. Typically, as wild dogs mature and become more independent the whining is outgrown.

Housebound dogs sometimes retain the whining habit into old age, simply because they can use it to manipulate their masters into giving them something. Whining and other noises that an adult, domesticated dog makes are solely for the purpose of gaining attention from the owner. The pet owners must essentially emulate the mother of the animal in the wild by forcing the pet to stop doing it as soon as possible.

Uncovering the Root of the Problem

Dogs usually whine for a specific reason. They are doing it to get something from their masters. By initially getting to the bottom of the whining, you can find a way to modify the animal’s behavior completely. Generally, domesticated dogs will whine in an attempt to inform you that it needs food, that it needs to be let outside to relieve itself, or that it merely wants physical attention from you.

But there could be atypical causes for the whining which are not so obvious. If the basic needs of your dog are met, and it seems to continue whining without an obvious reason, you should begin to consider other causes. Also, whining can indicate that the dog is hurting, so if he is whining while performing any of the above mentioned routine activities, this is an indicator that he may be suffering, and an appointment with the doctor is warranted.

How to stop the whining

The most successful method of curing the problem is to handle it as you would one of your kids. Do not provide reinforcement for the whining by providing the animal with the desired result. If your dog habitually begs for scraps at the dinner table, issue a series of several commands, such as sitting or laying down, to break their attention away from your food. If this works and he obeys your instructions, reinforce his behavior by giving him something he likes, such as a biscuit.

If you find that your dog whines when he is not with you, this may be his way of letting you know that you are not giving him enough attention, or it could indicate separation anxiety of a general fear of abandonment. In this instance, you will need to put in some work to make your dog feel more comfortable about being left alone. A good start is to alternate spending time with you dog with leaving him alone for short periods of time. When you are working on this and leave the room, you dog may start whining and it is important that you do not reward the whining by immediately returning. Instead, respond from outside the room with a firm no, and continue to leave the dog alone. If this is successful in stopping the whining, pause briefly, and then find a way to reinforce his correct behavior with praise. If your dog continues to whine after a few minutes, the return to the room, do not praise him, but do start the process over.

Once you begin to notice progress with your dog, begin increasing the periods of time that you leave your pet by itself. Before long, your dog will be comforted by the knowledge that you will eventually return, and will then stop whimpering when you leave. However, if your dog continues whining and you return immediately when it starts to whine then you are actually rewarding the whining, you are teaching your dog that when he whines you will come back and this will encourage your dog to continue whining. It is important that your dog understand that you are the Alpha Dog, the dominant partner, the one in control and you will find that the whining will subside in no time.

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