There are a number of ways in which a dog vocalizes including howling, barking, growling and, of course, whining. Whining is perhaps the most subtle of these, but a sure attention getter, because humans normally interpret it as a cry of distress. I mean, who can resist such a pitiful sound?

Dogs, of course, have long since figured out that whining is also a sure-fire way of getting what they want.

Why Dogs Whine

A dog will whine if it is scared, anxious, or in pain. Some dogs have even learned how to mimic being anxious or afraid to get attention. However, dogs do not mimic being hurt, so if your dog whines in pain, take it seriously.

The other causes of whining are fairly easy to treat. All it takes is a few, easy to implement, steps.How to End the Whining

Let’s talk about anxiety whining first. A dog that develops this behavior often does so by picking up on clues that you’re about to leave him alone, for example putting on your cap before going for a jog.

These actions become a catalyst for the dog’s whining. The way to address this is to short-circuit the connection the dog makes between what he sees, and what he thinks is about to happen. There are a number of ways you could go about this.

You could simply vary your routine. Or you could confuse the dog by getting ready to leave, and then not go out. Another alternative is to go through your whole routine, then go out for 30 seconds or so, before coming back in.

These are all easy ways to break the connection the dog has built up between your routine, and the fact that it results in him being left on his own. It sounds simplistic, but it works.

Another major cause of whining is fear. For example, the dog may be intimidated by being left all alone in an empty house. The simple solution? Cut down his space.

Confine the dog to a single room or, better yet, to a dog crate, and you eliminate the fear and, by extension, the whining.

Be aware that it will take a bit of time to accustom your dog to the crate, but it is relatively easy because the crate simulates a den environment. Once the dog is used to the crate he no longer feels the need to patrol his larger “territory” (the house). It is an effective way of addressing both fear and anxiety in your dog.

Breaking the “Attention Whining” Cycle

Dogs can be quite manipulative and are quick to pick up on the outcomes of certain actions. For example, if you teach your dog to sit in order to receive a biscuit you’ll find that he starts to sit whenever he wants one – whether it’s on offer or not!Similarly, if your dog works out that you come running every time he whines, prepare yourself for plenty of running.

As you get to know your dog you’ll soon learn all his little tricks and quirks. Turn a deaf ear to attention seeking whining and your dog will soon get the message.

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