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How to Correct a Whining Dog
from:To virtually all puppies, whining is normal dog behavior. A pup
under 8 weeks whines instinctively when it becomes hungry,
tired, or cold. The puppy's mother deals with this whining by
allowing the pup to suckle and by providing a warm and safe
environment. As the puppy grows older, its whining is no longer
instinctive, but consciously calculated to get what it wants
from mom.
When the puppy is about eight weeks old and moves to its new
home with a new mom (you), it will carry on using this whining
technique to get what it wants. It's only normal; it worked on
its first mom, so why shouldn't it work on you?
Puppies will be happy in a safe and balanced environment. Simply
responding to all its demands will produce imbalance in time,
with the dog becoming confused about its position within the
family and possibly developing obsessive disorders. Now is the
perfect time to deal with whining by not responding in an
encouraging manner. Rather than showing affection when the pup
begins to whine, show affection when it's in a stable frame of
mind. Unless there is an obvious reason for the puppy's whining,
ignore it. Help your pup to understand that all its needs will
be met at a time decided by you, not when it produces a
manipulative whine. Very quickly this will, in fact, make the
pup feel much more secure than otherwise.
The most important thing to remember is that it's all about
timing. If you are unlucky and do happen to get a pup that
whines incessantly, wait until it stops even for two or three
seconds, seize the moment and show immediate affection.
How to Correct Whining in Adult Dogs
Whining after about six months old is not a normal for dogs. If
your dog is still whining beyond this age, there are four main
reasons for why this is happening.
Firstly, your dog may be suffering discomfort. The second reason
is that your dog may be bored and lonely. Thirdly, it may just
need a comfort break and needs letting out. Lastly, it may be
suffering from anxiety, even distress.
You need to be able to identify the reason for the whining and
then respond in an appropriate manner.
Whining from discomfort
When a dog starts whining from out of the blue and for no other
identifiable reason, it may well be that it is distressed due to
discomfort or pain. If in doubt, see your vet, but you can check
for pain by observing your dog to see if its locomotive
functions are normal. For example, is it limping? Will it rest
on one side only?
Then you can check it over for abrasions, splinters and the
like. If you can still see no reason for the whining, check over
its body for signs of inflammation. Check each leg by running
your hand up and down and prod lightly around the joints. It's
as simple as that.
Whining due to boredom or feeling ignored
All dogs, to varying degrees depending on the breed and
individual dog, need plenty of exercise and a sense of purpose.
Lack of exercise and stimulation is one of the worst things a
dog can experience. Signs of ennui are a distracted whine,
directed at nothing in particular, and a listless plodding
around the house.
The solution in this case is obvious: your dog needs more
exercise. It is in a dog's nature to spend time running and
walking in a pack. Without that input, your dog will become
unbalanced. Increased exercise will probably also cure a dog's
feeling of being ignored, although for many breeds it is also a
good idea to formulate some interactive game play.
Whining from anxiety or stress
Dogs can be spooked by many things: fireworks, thunderstorms
etc. This can make them fearful. Do not attempt to correct the
behavior; just ignore it. That may seem tough, but showing any
kind of reaction, even affection, will only serve to increase
the dog's fear. Just act normally and your dog should feed off
your confident energy if you have its full trust.
Again, if your dog just happens to be a little nervy for no
discernible reason, do not react. If you do react, you will only
reinforce your dog's sense that there is something to be nervous
about. Instead, why not take a walk to redirect your dog's mind
onto something he is familiar with and enjoys.
Whining to go outside
If your dog is whining to go outside, you know that it is
comfortable, trusting and wanting to please you. You have
obviously trained him very well indeed. All dog owners know when
their dog is whining to be let outside. Whining on this account
is a great sign of your success in training your dog. Want to
know the solution for this problem? Didn't think so.
Further Reading
I would recommend, without a moment's reflection, the blog below
if you really want to understand your dog's behavior.
About the author: Timothy Payn
Tim writes a dog behavior blog at Dog whining cure blog.
Get Outstanding Savings On Dog Treats.
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