First things first, however you choose to respond to your pup plays a crucial role in your pup’s training. Many dog ​​owners don’t realize that their own response reinforces their dog’s behavior. Therefore, it is very important that you learn how to respond to your dog if you want to stop your puppy’s constant and heartbreaking (sometimes annoying) whining.

If you just brought home a new puppy

Your new pup is whimpering because he’s in a new environment, away from his siblings and mother. It will take some time for his pup to feel at home. If you’re feeding your dog (highly recommended), try using a ticking clock to comfort your pup when he’s in his crate. Make sure you put the watch outside of his case so he can’t reach it but close enough for him to hear it. This can help calm your puppy when he is in his crate.

winner of the night

Does your pup keep you up at night with his whining? If this is the case, try putting a blanket over his cage at night. Out of sight, out of mind. Make him as comfortable as possible with toys and maybe a stuffed animal for added security (along with the ticking of the clock to help him fall asleep just like he did with his mom). If your pup whimpers and you respond with a “Shh, there there” your only reinforcement of that whimper. It is best to completely IGNORE your puppy when he is whining. This way, your dog will learn that just because he’s whining doesn’t mean he’ll get the attention he wants. You don’t want your pup to call attention to himself on his own terms, you need to do it on your own terms, that’s where obedience training comes in.

Most of the time, your pup will whine for a few minutes, but if your pup knows there is someone in the room who can potentially give him the attention he wants, he will continue to whine. You have to stay strong and completely ignore it. Every time you respond, you’re giving your new dog a reason to keep whining, to get a response from you (and maybe a chance to get out!)

Another reason your dog may be whining is because something is wrong. If you don’t have a puppy with separation anxiety, you may have an older dog with separation anxiety. Dogs that have never shown signs of separation anxiety may develop it in the future. Maybe you went away for a weekend or took it to a friend’s house because you were on vacation. These reasons alone can cause sudden separation anxiety in older dogs.

Here are some important things to keep in mind when dealing with a constantly whining dog. Puppies require a little more patience due to their incessant whining. Older dogs require a change in their daily routine or a trip to the vet to see if there is something medically wrong with them.