Things You'll Need
- Radio or TV
- Dog crate (optional)
- Spray bottle
Instructions
Take your doberman to a veterinarian if the whining is sudden and out of character for your dog. Dobermans are usually fairly stoic as a breed and won't show pain easily. Whining could be indicative of an underlying medical condition and you should see a veterinarian to eliminate the possibility of an illness.
Leave a radio or the TV on in the same room as your doberman if he is whining due to separation anxiety. Dobermans are usually loyal to their owners but you don't want them so dependent on you that they can't be left alone. The sound of the TV or radio can be soothing to the dog. Since dobermans have excellent hearing, you can leave the volume low and it will still be effective.
Condition your dog to being left alone by establishing a place in the home where he goes when you are not present. It can be a set room of the house or a dog crate. Make the location as pleasant for the dog as possible, with food, water and toys available to keep the doberman occupied during your absence.
Leave the dog in the location you've established for 15 minutes at first. Gradually extend the period of time you are gone so he gets used to it, understands that you always come back and stops whining as a result.
Say "no whining" in a firm tone of voice when your doberman starts to cry for food or attention. Spray him in the face with water from a spray bottle at the same time to establish that whining has negative connotations. Dobermans are an intelligent breed and they typically respond quickly to this type of corrective training.
Take your doberman to a dog trainer if it continues to whine, since you may need a professional to establish why the whining is occurring and what can be done to prevent it.