A whining dog can make even the most patient owner feel crazy. Teach your pooch that whining doesn't work, and you'll see the behavior decrease.
Your Whining Dog: What to Do
Because dogs don't have language skills, they do whatever they can to get their needs and wants recognized. Like human babies, they will often cry or whine for something they want. And also like human babies, they are very adept at learning how to push your buttons and induce you to give in to their pleas. They learn very quickly what works and what doesn't, and if you've given them the message that whining will get them what they want, they won't hesitate to use it every time.
Puppies naturally whine when they want something; it's infant behavior. But it's your responsibility as a dog owner to teach your pup that whining isn't an effective way to communicate with you.
Dogs are very black-and-white learners. If any behavior is rewarded, they will repeat it. This means that if they are whining for a treat, and you give it to them, they've instantly learned that whining gets them what they want. And you better believe that they'll go back to that behavior each time they want another treat, no matter how much you scold them for doing it.
So what does this all mean? Never give in to whining. Ever. Even if your pup has been whining for 20 minutes, if you eventually give in all you will have taught her is that she must whine for a very long time before she gets what she wants.
Be quick to reward good behavior and ignore negative behavior like whining. You can also command her to stop whining by saying "no" very firmly and clearly.
Puppies and Separation Anxiety
Another reason puppies whine is because they have been left alone. This is an instinctual behavior, instilled in their genes from when dogs lived in the wild. A puppy left alone would be very vulnerable, so she whines to signal an alarm. In your home, however, your puppy needs to learn that you can leave her in a room unattended, and that it doesn't mean she's being abandoned.
To teach her to handle your departure, place her in a room and play with her for a few minutes. She shouldn't feel like the area is a punishment or a negative place. Then leave the room. She will probably begin to whine or cry. Do not immediately go back to her or reassure her. If you do, she'll learn that whining brings you back. Once she has been silent for a couple minutes, return and lavish her with praise and maybe even a treat. Keep practicing this until you're able to leave your whining dog for extended periods of time.
