Is your dog a whiner? If so, you’re not alone. Whining is one of the most common behavioral problems dog owners have to deal with. And, luckily, it’s a behavioral problem that can be solved.

THE FIRST STEP

When your dog starts whining, what should you do? Well, first, make sure they aren’t whining because they are sick or hurt. Also make sure they aren’t doing it because they want to be let out to relieve themselves. Those are “good whines” that shouldn’t be discouraged or ignored.

But what if your dog is whining because they want to lie on the couch, or they don’t want to be moved to another room during dinner?

IGNORE THE WHINING

Once you have determined that your dog isn’t whining because they are hurt, or need to be let out, your best reaction is no reaction.

Ignoring a whining dog can be pretty tough. The whining can be as annoying as fingernails scratching across a blackboard. And who wouldn’t want to do whatever it takes to put a stop to it?

But when a dog starts to whine, it’s because they want something. Giving them what they want will make them stop, it’s true. But it will also teach them that whining will get them what they want. And, if whining is working for them, they have absolutely no reason to stop.

Don’t jump up to give your dog what they want. Don’t even yell at them to stop. Just ignore the whining. Turn on some music. Put in some earplugs. You might even have to put your dog somewhere where you won’t be able to hear them.

REWARDS FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR

When your dog realizes that whining isn’t working, they’ll stop. And what should you do then? Praise them. Give them plenty of pats and pets, and tell them what a good dog they are. This will let your dog know that not only is whining a bad thing, but not whining will get them all kinds of rewards and positive attention.

Ignoring your dog’s whining might be hard at first. In fact, you might have to sit on your hands to keep yourself from doing something to make it stop. But ignoring the noise will get easier over time. And you won’t have to do it for long. Pretty soon, your dog will get the message. And, once this message gets through, you’ll have plenty of lovely peace and quiet to enjoy.