A whining dog can be annoying.
Super annoying.
That might explain why I see so many questions in the forums by people who are desperate to find a way to get their dog to stop being such a cry baby.
Here’s the short answer, you can’t.
If you have a whining dog, you’re pretty much going to have to learn to live with it.
HOWEVER, there are some things you can do to limit how much your dog whines.
Related: 10 Simple Ways to Relieve Dog Boredom
Whining Dog – Curb the Crying
The reason you can’t stop a dog from whining completely is because that’s how he communicates. You can’t train him out of it the way you can train him to walk nicely on a leash or to sit. It would be like trying to train him to not pant when he’s hot. It won’t happen.
What you can do is limit the triggers that cause him to become “Crybaby Supreme” of the house.
RELATED: Do Sad Dogs Cry?
Identify His Triggers
No dog whines for no reason. There is something causing him to whine. For example, I came across a question in one of the forums of an owner who’s dog whined non-stop when the other dog took his toy. That’s a trigger. In that case, you’d make sure that you keep the favorite toy out of reach of both dogs and then give your whiny dog his favorite toy. Other triggers can include:
- Certain Objects
- Certain Words or Phrases
- Body Language
- Other triggers unique to your pooch
Address the Triggers
Once you’ve identified what causes your dog to become a big, fat crybaby, it’s time to do something about it. Depending on the trigger you can either eliminate it or desensitize your dog to it. For example, if car keys create a whining dog, you can take them out periodically, jingle them a bit, and then put them away again. Eventually, your dog will learn that jingling keys don’t ALWAYS mean that you’re leaving.
See Your Vet
Sometimes a whining dog is a dog in pain. If there are no obvious triggers around and your dog is vocalizing a lot – especially if he appears to have a rounded back or a tender body part – take him to the vet immediately. In this case, your whining dog is actually a dog in pain.
Be Patient
You’ll never be able to completely quell a whining dog. It’s how the communicate. It would be like trying to train your toddler not to talk. Instead, take steps to limit the triggers that cause your dog to whine in the first place and realize that he’s not being bad, he’s just talking. That’s what helps you keep your sanity when you have a whining dog.
