Does your dog whine all day long? Does your dog has started whining in the past few days? Does your dog whine excessively at night?
If the answer is YES for any of the above questions, you’re not alone, my friend. Many dog owners are looking for ways to stop whining in their dogs, and to give you some relief, we’ve listed down exact solutions to curb this bad habit in your little doggie. So, continue reading!
Just like us, dogs also use many forms of vocal communication, like shouting, tail wagging, howling, and sometimes whining. In general, most dogs whine when craving attention, are disturbed or trying to restrain their pet parents.
To reduce and eliminate whining in your dogs, you’ve to take a two-step approach. First, you need to identify the possible reasons behind their whining behavior. Second, after discovering the underlying causes, you need to curb them. This article will help you learn both the steps and make your life more comfortable with your dog. So, let us dive straight into it!
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5 Common Reasons Why Do Dogs Whines!
We already know that dogs use their whining to communicate with us and other pets. Sometimes, this whining becomes their habit, and they do it regularly to pursue their desires. To find out what’s the purpose behind their crying and whining, check out the below 5 reasons…
Your Dog Seeks Proper Attention
Some dogs whine in front of their parents to earn attention, treats, or desired toys. If your dog uses whining behavior to seek attention, rewards, or objects, you need to teach them that remaining quiet is a better strategy. Sometimes reducing attention-seeking whining may be difficult because owners may unwittingly reinforce the behavior.
You can use dramatic body language such as turning away from your dog or folding your arms across your chest to improve this behavior in them. Start ignoring them and let them realize that their attention-seeking whining won’t work.
Your Dog Gets Too Excited
Dogs are lovely creatures and often get excited while meeting other pets and humans. This excessive excitement turns into a bad habit of vocalization in them. Although this comes naturally in most breeds, some dog breeds show more signs of whining at the time of meeting and greeting. Sometimes, this excitement whining worsens when dogs start getting excited after seeing objects such as windows, toys, food, etc.
Related: 35 Common Dog Behaviors And Their Meanings
Anxiety And Stress Issues
Many dogs whine in reaction to stressful conditions, which could be spontaneous or forced. If your furry friends do it just before you leave home or during your absence, they may have separation anxiety. And, if this is the case, your canine will usually exhibit at least one other sign of difficulties like walking, panting, drooling, urinating or defecating indoors, despair, or other clues of anxiety.
Fear of something and mental stress also lead to whining in dogs. If you think your dog feels afraid in the room, look out for other indications in them. They will display signs like yawning, growling, lip licking, panting, tail movements, etc. To let them feel safe in your house, try to comfort them with gentle touch and gestures.
Appeasement Behavioral Patterns
Interestingly, appeasement whining is also a natural dog behavior. Some canines whine when interacting with people and other dogs. Pups can try to appease people or others when they recognize a warning or attack at them.
Overall, appeasement behaviors comprise snatching the ears back, folding the tail, leaning or rolling over on the back, averting eye contact, or whirling the body sideways to the perceived warning.
Pain or Medical Ailments
Pups often whine in response to severe pain or unbearable situations. If you see that your canine vocalizes repeatedly or has unexpectedly begun to vocalize, it is crucial to take him to the veterinarian to rule out the medical reasons. Sometimes our dogs suffer from diseases that can’t be seen from the outside or from their body movements. This could be upset stomach, liver pain, low heart rate, etc. So, it’s always advisable to pay a visit to veterinarians for their proper health checkups.
There are some other reasons as well for a dog’s whining behavior which can be:
- Mood swings in adult dogs
- Health changes due to pregnancy in female dogs
- Moving towards ageing in senior dogs
- Missing their shelter, if recently adopted
- Not happy staying at home
Now that you’ve learned the best possible reasons behind a dog’s whining sounds, it’s time to figure out how we can stop this behavior in them.
5 Effective Ways To Stop Your Dog From Whining
While some pet holders do not mind minor dog whining now and then, On the other hand, some owners feel frustrated and annoyed when their dogs start making weird noises, especially at night time. So, how to stop a dog from whining?
We’ve listed out 5 effective ways to control and eliminate their whining habit:
1. Keep An Eye On Your Dog
Always pay close attention when your dog is whining and any other indications leading to this behavior. Over time, you may see various pitches and volumes of whines for several reasons.
Give your canine what they need under particular situations. For instance, if they’re whining due to hunger, give them the food they love. If your dog wishes to go out for a potty break and starts whining, tie them on a leash and take them outside. Here, your goal should be to fulfill their desires rather than make them wait for something.
When your dog gets the things they desire, they’ll gradually reduce their whining vocalizations.
2. Deal With Your Pooch Positively
If your dog whines too much, it may evolve into aggression one day. So, it’s very important to take a careful and gentle approach to curb this destructive behavior.
Look for the indications and objectives because of which your dog starts making crying noises. Never punish or shout at your pup for whining, as this may make a nervous dog more anxious, turning into destructive behavior. And, always avoid any kind of verbal or physical punishment.
As per many pieces of research, dogs who feel comfortable with their owners don’t whine too much. Treat your dog with positivity and calmness when you see them complaining. Offer them treats, start playing with them, and touch them gently to relieve them.
3. Solve Their Anxiety Behaviors
There are reasons why our little companions get stressed and anxious. Try to find out the sources that are making your dog nervous and fearful.
If you can deduce the possible reasons behind their sudden anxiety, proper training and desensitization will make it easier to solve the problem. A pet with higher mental and emotional strength can easily fight loneliness, stress, and fear and unlikely whines a lot.
Spend some quality time with your pets that will make them feel more comfortable and enjoyable. So, finding a solution for your dog’s anxiety can help reduce their whining behavior.
4. Build Confidence In Them
A confident dog is a treat to train. And do you know that you can quickly curtail a dog’s whining behavior by building confidence in them?
Try some obedience lessons with your pooch friend, for example, reward-based training methods and fun training sessions. You and your puppy can also attempt trick-training courses or dog recreations such as agility, flyball, and musical freestyle.
A dog with high confidence can easily deal with their whining issues without much of your intervention. So, if you’ve tried all possible ways to stop crying/whining
5. Manage And Reward Them Accordingly
Many times, dogs start whining while greeting people and other pets. If your dog also whines when welcoming people, you can distract their behavior by diverting their attention to the toys.
You can use different management methods to discourage your pup from becoming excessively excited. Avoid speaking in excited, loud moods, and maintain your actions slow and quiet. It’s also important to reward them for their calm manners while training them. This will help them realize that they’ll only get treats if they stay calm and quiet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Like always, we never leave any stone untouched while discussing an issue with our readers. There are so many doubts and questions regarding whining behavior in dogs, so we’ve listed down 5 common queries that most people ask.
Why Is My Dog Whining So Much At Night?
If your dog is continuously whining for 5-6 hours straight at night without stopping, it can make any owner feel worried. If the condition stays the same for 2-3 days, it’s advisable to visit your vet without any further delay. There are chances that they’ve developed a recent illness or injury.
Why Is My Dog Whining For No Reason?
You might be wrong if you think that your dog is whining without any reason. As per the studies done on dog’s behavior, whenever a dog whines, there’s a reason behind it. It could be any possible reason like seeking attention, or anxiety, or loneliness.
Why Is My Dog Whining All Of A Sudden?
If your dog has suddenly started to whine, there’s a possibility that they’re going with some stress. It could be due to an injury that they might have got or something like an upset stomach. It can also be due to climate changes or shifting homes when they’re not feeling comfortable. Separation anxiety is another big reason behind sudden whining in dogs.
How To Stop A Dog From Whining Instantly?
If you’re looking to stop your dog from whining instantly, you can try some hacks that work on almost every breed. So, if your dog is whining, start giving them bits of their treats to keep them engaged in food. Or try to entertain them with flashlight beams, make them catch something, etc. Your goal should be to keep them engaged and distracted from their whining behavior.
Why Is My Dog Whining While Lying Down?
If your dog is whining while lying down straight on its belly, there are chances that its stomach is upset. Find out what they’ve eaten in the last few meals and check out their poop color. If they suffer from diarrhea or stomach infection, they will feel discomfort and start making whining sounds.
Does It Mean Something Bad When Dogs Whine/Cry?
Many people still believe that when a dog whines or cries, something terrible is going to happen. But trust me, this is a pure myth with no logic behind it. Dogs whine for some reason, and one should not involve stars, moon, sun, or any beliefs with them.
Final Thoughts
It may seem a daunting task to control a dog’s whining. But believe me, with proper methods and training sessions, you can stop any dog from crying and whining. However, if nothing works out, you can also take some dog training services from professional trainers and behaviorists.
I hope the above methods will help you to provide comfort to your dog. Just try to be patient and gentle with your four-legged companion, and soon you’ll get the desired outcomes. Let me know in the comments section, how you’re dealing with the whining situation of your dog.