Puppy whining is a normal canine behavior, but it may be excessive and may become annoying at some point, so you need to stop the behavior. In order to be able to successfully stop the puppy whining, you have to know what makes your pet whine in the first place.
Triggers of Puppy Whining
Puppies may whine for a wide range of reasons including:
- Separation from mother and brothers or the owner, as the puppy feels abandoned
- When they feel cold
- When they are scared
- If they are in pain (i.e., someone steps on their paws)
- Boredom
- Attention seeking behavior
Puppies will whine instinctively, as a signal that they are not comfortable and they need attention. Puppies whine more than adult dogs. Adult dogs typically whine only when they are in pain, are bored or want the attention of the owner.
Make the Puppy Feel Secure
A sense of security and warmth can be all the puppy needs to stop whining, if this behavior is caused by the separation from his mother and brothers. However, offering attention to your puppy whenever he starts whining can lead to a behavioral problem, as the puppy will learn he can control you by whining. Consequently, you will need to provide a good environment and affection to your puppy, but you will also have to know when to stop. If you see your puppy is whining to get your attention, you have to simply ignore him. Even though this is hard at first, your pet will see that he cannot blackmail you through whining.
Removing Whining Triggers
If you identify certain factors that trigger whining, make sure to get rid of these. Your puppy may be scared of an object, a larger pet or alarms and loud noises. If certain factors cannot be eliminated, try to make your puppy less sensitive to these by exposing him repeatedly to them.
Training the Puppy
Your puppy will most likely start to whine when you leave the home or leave the room. It can be heartbreaking to hear your puppy whine, but you have to know that you establish the rules. Otherwise, you won't be able to go to work or outside without having to take your puppy.
You can train your puppy not to whine by not offering attention when he whines. The puppy will see that whining will not make you come back.
You can stop your puppy from whining by going out and coming back after 20 minutes, and offering the dog a treat. You can increase the interval you are away, until the dog will be able to stay without whining for as long as you are at work. The puppy will see that you won't abandon him, as you will always be back with a treat and he should stop whining. It also helps to give the puppy a chew toy just before you leave and make sure the puppy doesn't see you prepare when going out.