How to Stop Dog Whining

Dog whining is a common behavior that can be a distraction inside the home, as well as a problem with the neighbors if your dog whines in the back yard when you're not home. If your dog's whining is becoming a distraction, you may not know how to respond.

The tactic used by most people is to lavish their dog with attention or a treat when he's whining to show him he's loved and appreciated, but this simply reinforces the undesired behavior. While it's important to show your dog appreciation and affection, this is best done when your dog is quiet and behaving properly. What are some better ways to stop dog whining?

To stop dog whining, it's important to first determine the reason for the behavior. Whining can sometimes be a sign that your dog is in pain or isn't feeling well. If this is a new behavior for your dog, have him evaluated by your veterinarian to rule out physical causes for his behavior. Once you've ruled out any medical issues, you can further attempt to identify the reason for the whiney behavior.

Try to pinpoint exactly what situations cause your dog to whine. If he's whining because he needs to go outside to relieve his bowels or bladder, this isn't a behavior you want to discourage. In fact, it's one you want to reinforce by rewarding your dog.

The most common reasons dogs whine other than needing to go out is when they feel some degree of separation anxiety, want food, or don't want to be separated from you as when they're put to bed in a separate room or in a crate. They may also whine when they want attention in the form of a tummy rub.

To stop a dog whining, it's important to ignore your dog when he's whining and reward him when he's quiet. This is the quickest and easiest way to stop the behavior, but can be difficult to do. For example, if your dog whines when he's put in his crate to go to sleep at night, the key is to ignore him completely until he stops whining. When he stops and has been quiet for at least a few minutes, return to him and give him attention and a small treat. In this way, your dog will see that whining gets no response from you but you haven't deserted him and he may get a reward if he's quiet. If this is done consistently, chances are the whining will become much less frequent and finally stop.

To stop dog whining, never punish your dog as this is counterproductive and will only make your dog afraid of you. A consistent system of rewards for good behavior and a lack of reinforcement for bad behaviors is usually far more productive for both you and your dog.