My dog always barks when I leave her at home alone, help!
Sue Ketland, Dog behaviour and training specialist
My dog won't stop whining, what should I do?
My 3-year-old Dachshund has been whining a lot lately, and I’m not sure what’s causing it. Sometimes it happens when we’re just sitting together, and other times when he’s in a different room. I'm worried that I'm accidentally rewarding his behaviour because I go to him every time he whines. Is this possible? How can I figure out why he’s whining, and what’s the best way to manage it without making it worse?
What our expert says
Lindsay Arliss
Dog behaviour and training specialist
A dog may whine for many reasons. They could be distressed or need something or could have learned that whining gets them more attention!
Try to figure out what could be causing your pet to whine, by watching what happens just before and after they start to do it.
If your dog has learned to whine for attention, and it’s become a habit, you need to help teach them not to do this. Remember that for many dogs, bad attention, such as getting told off, is still better than no attention, and this can reinforce unwanted behaviours!
To help your dog, don’t give them any attention when they do whine, this could be simply taking your hands off them or making less of a fuss of them or even getting up and leaving the room. At other times, you can give them all the attention they deserve, but when they whine, stop!
If you think your dog is distressed and whining to let you know there is a problem, again you’ll need to do a bit of detective work. What is happening immediately before the dog whines? Are they home alone? Have they been left downstairs? Are they behind a pet gate or barrier in the home?
Whining can indicate mild distress, so a little training or distraction could resolve this. Giving your dog a stuffed kong, or a lick mat to keep them entertained, may help.
If the whining turns into a stronger vocalisation like barking, your dog might be feeling upset and distressed, which is more serious. Dogs that struggle with being left home alone often panic, so they may benefit from a behaviour modification plan from a qualified professional (please get in touch with us for more information about this)
Some dogs whine when they see people or other dogs they may want to meet and could become frustrated if they can’t. Again, whining indicates a low level of frustration, but if the vocalisation is stronger, it could be an emotional reaction, so it’s best to seek the support of a professional to help your pet.
If you can’t see a behavioural reason for your dog’s whining, it could indicate there is a health problem, so we would recommend a vet check to rule out any pain or discomfort.
For more information on this topic, Lindsay Arliss recommends these articles:
Why is my dog barking and howling while left alone?
Lindsay Arliss, Dog behaviour and training specialist
How to help a dog with separation anxiety
Ciara Pollen, Behaviour and training advisor
Why is my dog barking and howling?
Lindsay Arliss, Dog behaviour and training specialist
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