How To Stop Dog Whining

A variety of techniques are available to choose from when deciding how to stop dog whining. Whining is a way for dogs to communicate, and can occur for various reasons, including wanting attention or feeling anxious or excited. Effectively stopping your dog's whining can be achieved with the help of the following techniques.

1. Ignore it. This strategy works well to stop dog whining related to attention seeking. Go out of your way to physically turn away from your dog when it starts this type of whining. Be sure not to reinforce your dog's whining by giving it any kind of attention in response to the whining, even negative attention such as scolding. This ultimately teaches the dog that whining will not get it what it wants.
2. Reinforce positive behavior. Reward your dog when it isn't whining by giving it treats or attention. Always make sure that your dog is quiet before providing a reward, so that it understands that being quiet generates positive attention.
3. Diversion. The technique of diversion works especially well to stop dog whining as a result of excitement, such as when meeting people. Try redirecting your dog's attention to a bone or toy to give it something else to focus on besides whining.
4. Professional training. Obedience classes can be effective in helping to stop dog whining. You may also consider seeking out a specialist such as a certified applied animal behaviorist to work one-on-one with you and your dog to determine what will work best in your individual situation to stop your dog's whining.
5. Medication. To stop dog whining caused by anxiety, medication can be an effective option. Consult with your dog's veterinarian about obtaining an anti-anxiety medication to give your dog during stressful times.