Dog Whining

Whining is one way in which a dog communicates. Dogs communicate through facial expression (yup! Like humans!), body language, barking, howling, and other forms of external bodily or vocal change. Whining, in particular, is used to communicate distress.. whether it is separation anxiety, uncertainty, fear, pain, and/or hunger. Whining may also be your dogs way of telling you that he wants more affection.

If a dog learns that he will get what he wants after whining, then it can become a form of manipulation.  Instead of whining being strictly a communication mechanism, your dog may learn to use it as a clever  way to get what he wants.. like dogs begging at the dinner table!

First, before all else, try to understand what your dog is trying to tell you. If he is whining and trying to lead you to the door, perhaps he really needs to go to the bathroom. If he is whining and scratching his ear, perhaps he has an ear mite infection. If whining is a new behavior then you will want to check whether he is eating, walking, and behaving normally otherwise. Animals cannot say “I think I sprained my ankle” but will try to let you know their state through vocalization and body language.  If he is whining after not seeing you for a few hours, he may just be expressing his emotional state at seeing you again. In this case, give him the attention he wants but if the whining does not stop after the first few  minutes than take proactive measures to stop it.  

Remember that it is good that your dog is trying to communicate with you – good communication between a dog and its’ owner strengthens their bond and ensures a more comfortable living situation with less problems.

The two most common reasons for dog whining are to get more food and attention.

If your dog uses whining as a way to get table scraps, do not reinforce this behavior unless you are willing to live with whining at every meal. Take these steps:

1. Feed your dog his meals away from your dinner table in a consistent spot
2.  Never give him leftover scraps at the table! Instead, pick up his bowl, put the scraps in it, and place it in his designated feeding area .. but only if he was not whining for it at the dinner table beforehand.
3.  Ignore him and the whining completely. Your dog will eventually give up and lay peacefully by your side. Make sure to not make eye contact or make “awww” noises out of sympathy because this can motivate dogs on since they are receiving extra attention.

If your dog is whining for your attention and you have time to give him the attention.. go ahead and play with him. Dogs are social creatures and thrive on their bond with their human. It is okay for a dog to whine a little bit – it is only when the dog uses it as a constant source of manipulation that it becomes a problem. If you are not able to give him the attention he is seeking than simply ignore him. He may get worse for a moment but he will eventually stop whining and give up, often laying peacefully at your side or going off to entertain himself with a toy or someone else in the house. If he doesn’t stop then look at him directly and say “no” firmly. Do not touch him since the touching may reinforce the whining.

For most dogs that is enough to stop the annoying behavior. If it does not work for your dog, there are additional options. You can startle a dog out of its “mind frame” using various methods. There are various methods for doing this, a few are listed below. Try them out until you find one that works for you and your dog.

1.  “Pennies in a can”: Find an empty soda can and put pennies in it. Then tape the opening shut. If he starts to whine then rattle the pennies. This will make a very loud noise and startle the dog at first. It is an unpleasant noise and the dog will associate his whining with an unpleasant outcome.
2. A quick distracting noise, like “TCH!” or “HEY!” made as soon as the dog begins the whining behavior may stop him.This is similar to what Cesar Milan does on his show, The Dog Whisperer.
3.  Water Spritz: fill a spray bottle with water and squirt the dog each time it begins to whine.
4. Reinforce her quiet behavior – praise her and snuggle her when she is quiet