Why Is Your Dog Whining?

Dog whining can occur for several reasons. Puppies learn to whine when they are young to indicate that they need food or shelter. Since their mothers respond, it becomes a learned response to problems. Later in life, it can indicate need of any number of things, including attention. Training a new response requires understanding why your dog is whining.

Health Problems

Though whining can be irritating, your dog may be whining for legitimate reasons, so don't ignore it. First, consult your veterinarian about potential health problems. If your dog has been whining since he was a puppy, health problems are not likely to be the cause, but if the behavior begins suddenly, it is often caused by a change in health.

Your dog may have developed a new illness or he might be in pain. If your dog is limping or seems to have trouble getting up or participating in exercise, he might have an injury. Feel along your dog and see if you can find any sensitive areas that might be causing the pain.

Nervous Whining

Whining can also be caused by behavioral problems, such as nervousness or separation anxiety. If this is the case, the whining should appear at similar times—when the dog is nervous. This could be in conjunction with loud noises, new people entering the home or, in the case of separation anxiety, when the owner leaves.

Try to notice a pattern in the whining. If there is a behavioral cause, you should be able to detect a pattern. The best way to reduce this type of whining is to teach your dog to be more comfortable around his fears. For example, if your dog whines during thunderstorms, buy a thunderstorm CD and play it at a low level where your dog isn't stressed. Give him treats for being calm. Gradually increase the noise. If he gets stressed, you're moving too fast.

Prey Drive

Prey-driven dogs often whine when detecting prey, especially if they can't get to it, such as a cat in the backyard or a squirrel in the tree. This is very difficult to remedy because you are working against instinct.

The best way to stop prey-driven whining is to remove your dog from the area with the prey. If he's in the house, close the blinds at the windows or put him in a quiet room at the back of the house where there is less stimuli to distract him.

Whining for Attention

Probably the most common reason that dogs whine is simply for attention. As puppies, they learn that whining gets a response. If your dog gets a response from you when they whine, the behavior will continue.

For example, if your dog is in his crate and starts whining, that behavior will continue if you always let him out when he whines. However, ignoring whining is not always the best solution. First, make sure your dog doesn't have to go outside or doesn't need food or water.

However, if you have eliminated all other causes of whining, it's time to ignore your puppy. If you always respond to your dog's attention-seeking behaviors, those behaviors will never be eliminated.

 

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