Is your new puppy whining day and night? Like raising a new baby, puppies cry and whine to communicate their thoughts and feelings with their new family. Unfortunately, they don't speak the same language as their human roommates, so to get their point across, you'll hear a lot of dog whimpering, whining, yelping and even crying.
As much as you love the newest addition to your family, it's very frustrating to listen to a puppy whining all day, or even worse, throughout the night when you wanted to rest from your busy day. After days of this behaviour, everyone in your house ends up tired and stressed out, and no one wants that.
The first step to correct the dog whimpering is to identify what is making your dog whine. Once you know what they are trying to communicate you will be able to help your pup learn to stop. There are a few reasons why your dog might be whimpering.
Is Your Dog Bored?
Keep them busy. An active dog has less time to whine, but a bored dog is basically shouting for you to pay attention to them or give them something to do. There's actually a simple fix. When your puppy starts to whine, turn their attention to something new. First, start by training your dog simple commands. This gives your dog a mission, and by spending time together, you'll begin to build your bond. Giving them a chance to show you how and what they have learnt is a good way to curb their whining behaviour. Trying things like building dog obstacle course in your backyard to burn off some energy, playing fetch, doing a little dog treat scavenger hunt or just a simple game of tug-of-war with their favourite toy are great ways to keep a bored dog entertained.
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Is Your Dog Excited?
While this may seem like the least likely reason you'll hear your puppy whining, it's actually very normal. Your dog is smart. They know how great you are, and they are simply excited to see you. Or, they want their ball, another toy, a treat or maybe dinner. There are many things that excite your dog. They just don't know how to communicate that yet. To manage the behaviour, address each situation separately. For example, if your dog sits at your feet during dinner and whines throughout your meal, consider feeding them their meal in a different room at the very same time. If your dog whines for attention only, it's best to ignore them completely. Then, when they are calm and not making noises, reward them with the attention they deserve. Remember dogs are pack creatures, and they see you as their pack leader. When their pack leader isn't giving them attention they can feel neglected. They just need to learn that you love them even when you're not paying direct attention to them.
If your dog is used to a routine, like going for a walk early in the evening or playing before you leave for work, and that gets disrupted they may think you are ignoring them. Reassure them that they are still a good dog and try and give them as much attention as your schedule will allow; this should help with the whining.
Does He Need to Go Outside?
One of the simplest answers to why your dog is whining is that they need to go outside. If you have done a good job of potty training your puppy, they will let you know when they are ready to go out to relieve themselves. Whining is typically a common behaviour for puppies going through potty training, but over time you can teach them to go sit by the door or even ring a bell when they want to go out.
Is Your Dog Sick?
It's important to note that while whining is normal and to be expected, especially with a puppy, always be on watch for other signs and symptoms that something could be wrong. When in doubt, make an appointment with your veterinarian's office. Your vet will be able to perform a thorough examination and let you know if your dog is in fact whining because they are not feeling well.
Finally, remember to be patient with your new furry family member. Moving into a new home is scary, and your puppy is adjusting. Increase the positive attention when they are behaving, and make sure to never bring negative attention to the whining. Working with a professional trainer on these behaviours at a young age will help your dog learn to communicate without whining. Eventually, they will grow into being a dog that uses other non-verbal cues to inform you of their needs, or they will gain the independence to meet them themselves.
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