How to Calm your Dog When it Whines

It seems like almost every dog owner goes through a phase when their dog begins to whine. Whether it’s separation anxiety or something else, your dog is whining for a reason, and the best way to solve your problem is to find out what that reason is. Now, if you’re here, reading this article, we can assume that your dog has a whining problem. So let’s help you fix it and explain how to calm your dog when it whines.

Discover Why Your Dog Is Whining

Finding out why your dog is whining is going to be the first step to stopping it altogether. To find this out, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions.

• What time of the day does whining occur most?
• Do I leave my dog alone for long periods at a time?
• Is the air conditioner set at the appropriate temperature?
• Is my dog still adjusting to the new home?

Most dogs will whine when they are brought into a new home. Either because they miss their mother and family or because the area is something they aren’t used to. If you’ve just bought your dog, it may just need some time to adjust to the new home. This may take a few weeks to a month. If the whining continues after this, you will need to take the appropriate steps to help it to stop.

However, if you’ve had your dog for longer than a month and you are experiencing whining during the night, your dog may feel lonely or scared. Some dog owners can fix this by adding a new addition to the family or by having the dog sleep next to them at night.

The Most Common Reasons That a Dog Whines

#1 Stress or anxiety 

One of the most common reasons for a dog to whine is due to separation anxiety. Separation anxiety usually happens if your dog is left home alone during the day. It is most common if your dog is left home while you are at work or when you spend most of your time in the other room rather than having one on one time with your dog.

Here are some of the things to look for if you suspect your dog has separation anxiety. 

• Your dog stays next to the door throughout the day while you are away.
• Your dog follows you around the house no matter where you go.
• Your dog immediately begins to whine when you enter the house.
• Your dog whines when you aren’t in the same room as them.

These are just some of the ways to know if your dog is suffering from separation anxiety. If this is the case, it is likely your dog is worried or scared of losing you and never knows whether you will come back when you leave. To fix this, you need to give it reassurance that you will come back and give it enough one on one time to help your dog feel loved. Another thing that vets may suggest is giving your dog some herbal remedies such as oils or tablets to help relieve anxiety. Talk to your vet about the medicines you should be using for your specific dog breed.

#2 Excitement

Some dogs start to whine because they know they are going to be going on a walk or playing outside soon. This type of whining is usually okay as long as it’s not too aggressive or loud. If you don’t want your dog to whine before you take a walk, try not to let it see you getting the leash or your shoes on to go outside. You may even want to rush the process by bringing your dog outside as fast as you can once it’s time for their walk. This will limit the whining.

#3 Your dog wants attention

This one is super common in dogs and usually results in crying in order to receive the attention it craves. When your dog does this it is trying to train you to react to their whining which is why you should never give them the attention they desire when they are whining for this reason. Instead wait until they stop whining and then reward them for stopping. You can do this by playing with them or even giving them a nice scratch and saying “good boy.”

#4 Your dog might need to use the restroom

If your dog needs to use the bathroom, it may whine or bark to let you know it needs to go outside to do its business. If this is the case you will want to let your dog outside as soon as possible to help stop an accident from occurring.

#5 Your dog may be in pain physically/emotionally

If your dog is experiencing a type of pain, whether it is physical or mental, this might be the cause of its whining. You may want to inspect your dog’s body for cuts or sprains. It’s best to take your dog to the vet if you suspect it has injuries, whether internal or external. However, if your dog has recently experienced a loss or moved away from it’s home, it may be hurting emotionally. Speak with your veterinarian to know what to do to help your dog through this time. They may be able to prescribe medications that can help.

Further Advice to Help You Calm Your Dog When It Whines

Have your dog trained by a professional

Proper training is a great way to calm your dog when it whines. And training without the right kind of experience can take months longer than needed and be a struggle. We recommend professional dog training classes, but, if you are up for the challenge, you may want to do some research on the topic and train your dog yourself.

Go for a walk

If your dog is whining, it may need to get out and get some energy, so taking your dog on a walk or playing a game that involves high energy can help you calm it.

Exercise your dog right before bed

Whether your dog is whining or not, it is always a good idea to give them some active time right before bed to help them sleep better at night time and calm.

Limit napping 

Excessive napping adds to headaches and makes it harder for your dog to have a calm sleep throughout the night without whining. If your dog is taking a lot of naps during the day, there may be something wrong, and you will want to talk to your vet about the situation. However, excessive naps might be due to being fed too much food. Always try to make sure you aren’t giving your dog more food than needed.

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