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March 8th, 2010 by KittyKitty

A whining dog can be as annoying and nerve-wracking than a barking dog. Many people find incessant whining to be the most irritating of dog behaviors. Pups in the wild instinctively whine to alert their mother when something is wrong, so that she can make correct the problem. Wild pups quickly lose this trait when they mature.

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. Much like a mother in the wild, dog owners must curb this behavior early on in order to keep their pet’s behavior in check later on in life.

Finding the cause of the whining

Generally, a dog of any age is whining with a specific purpose in mind. They have determined that auditory cues are the best way to get something that they want from you. 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.

However, these are not the only reasons a dog will whine. Dogs who whine while eating their food or using the bathroom typically have something physically wrong with them, as do dogs who begin whining for no apparent reason. Your pet may be trying to tell you that he or she is in pain.  After you have ruled out the most common factors, you should call your local veterinarian for an appointment.

How to stop the whining

Just as you have a consequence for a child who misbehaves, there should be a consequence for the dog who whines. Rewarding their behavior by giving them what they want should be avoided. 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 your dog obeys accordingly, then reward him with a dog biscuit or other treat, but never with food from your plate or table.

Dogs often whine out of fear of abandonment.  Continued whimpering may be a sign that you are not providing enough quality attention to your pet. In this instance, you will need to put in some work to make your dog feel more comfortable about being left alone. Begin this process by first spending a few moments with your dog and then leaving for a short time. If your pet begins to whine after your departure, refrain from rushing back to comfort it. Simply answer him with a firm “no”, and then again leave the room for a brief time interval. Compliance should be rewarded several minutes later by lots of praise and affection. If the whining continues, go back to the dog and repeat the same sequence all over again.

Upon successful responses from the animal, gradually lengthen the time intervals that he is being left to his own devices. At some point, the pet will realize that you have no intentions of deserting him, and he will not have any need to express his fear with that constant whining. By coming back into the room each time he whines, you are providing positive reinforcement to his behavior and yielding to the notion that you are wrong to leave him anywhere by himself. You must make him understand that you are the boss in this relationship, and eventually he will begin to conduct himself in accordance with that belief.