How to Curb a Habit of Whining

Dogs whine to let you know they are upset about something, but listening to your dog whine can be annoying. Your immediate response may be to satisfy what the dog wants in order to stop the whining. Unfortunately, if your dog is only whining to get attention, by giving your pet what it wants, you are encouraging the behavior. Teaching your dog not to whine unless it is in actual distress requires training yourself and your pet.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog
  • Reward
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take your dog to the vet for a checkup. Your dog could be whining because it is in pain or discomfort. The vet will do a thorough exam to see if the whining has a medical cause. If the whining stems from a physical problem, have the problem taken care of.

    • 2

      Learn how to reward your dog for good behavior. Most dogs are highly motivated by food and so small treats that can be consumed within seconds, such as diced meat, will be a good reward. Other dogs are more motivated by attention and play. For these dogs, enthusiastic praise and playing with a toy for a while will be their best reward.

    • 3

      Reward your dog whenever it is being quiet. This is important because it shows the dog that being silent gets it things it likes.

    • 4

      Walk and play with your dog. Many dogs whine because they don't get enough attention. Take some time out of your day for your pet and resolve some of this problem. In addition, exercise will make your dog tired, and tired dogs are less likely to whine.

    • 5

      Ignore your dog when it whines and then reward the dog as soon as the whining stops. For example, if your dog whines because it wants to be played with, turn your back on the dog. Do not make eye contact or even acknowledge the dog is in the room. When your dog stops whining, immediately turn around and reward it. If the whining does not resume, play with your dog (or do whatever it is the dog was whining for). This teaches your dog that whining gets it nothing, while being quiet will be rewarded.

    • 6

      Place your dog in a room alone and close the door without saying anything to the dog. When your dog starts to whine, ignore it. When the dog stops whining, enter the room and reward the dog. If praise is your dog's main form of reward, do it in a quiet voice to keep the dog calm. Repeat this until the dog doesn't whine when you close the door. Some dogs whine because of separation anxiety and this exercise will help break that.

    • 7

      Stay relaxed and don't make a fuss over your dog when you leave if your dog whines because of separation anxiety. When you return, greet the dog only briefly and in a calm manner. This teaches the dog that your coming and going is nothing to get excited or anxious about.