Why is the dog whining?

Dogs are pack animals, which means they actively communicate with both relatives and people. And whining is just one of the ways of communication, an attempt to convey a message to the “interlocutor”. Why does a dog whine and what to do about it?

Photo: maxpixel.net

Why is the dog whining?

There are many reasons why a dog whines. But here are the main ones:

1. The dog needs something or is experiencing discomfort. For example, the water bowl is empty, and the pet is thirsty. Or you need to go outside to relieve yourself, you are not in a hurry, but she is no longer able to endure. Or maybe your favorite ball rolled under the sofa, and your four-legged friend can’t get it.
2. Dog bored. Yes, dogs, like people, can get bored. Only if a person is able to find a lot of entertainment for himself, dogs are limited in this sense, including the conditions that people create.
3. The dog is experiencing pain. Most often in this case, the dog whines when changing positions, when trying to stand up or lie down, shakes his ears or shows other signs of illness (for example, whines immediately after eating or during urination, etc.)
4. The dog is suffering alone. Some dogs find it hard to be alone and start whining when they are anxious or urging their owner to come back.
5. dog unnecessarily excited. Sometimes the cause of whining is overexcitation of the dog. It is difficult for the animal to cope with this state, and excess emotions “come out” in sounds.
6. The dog realized that in this way he could get your attention. If the owner quickly and easily breaks away from his business when the dog begins to whine, but does not indulge him with too much attention at other times, then he taught him to whine.

Photo: flickr.com

What should I do if the dog whines?

There are as many ways to deal with dog whining as there are causes.

1. If there is reason to suspect illness, as soon as possible consult a veterinarian and follow his advice.
2. If your dog is whining because of discomfort, you should understand the cause and eliminate her.
3. The owner should ask himself the question: Is your dog bored?? Are all her needs met? Does she have enough entertainment, including toys? Does she have the ability to act like a dog? How active and complete are the walks? Do they work with a dog?
4. If the dog is struggling to endure loneliness, it is worth, again, to analyze whether all five freedoms are satisfied. Also have methods (moreover humane), which help the dog cope with anxiety from separation from the owner.
5. If the dog is whining solely to get your attention (and you are sure of it, to the exclusion of all other possible reasons), ignore these attempts, but at the same time give the dog so valuable attention when he shows desired behavior (for example, lying quietly).
6. If the dog can’t handle the excitement, it’s the owner’s job to help him. learn to “keep it up”. To do this, there are many games and exercises that are pleasant for the dog and at the same time very useful.

A dog’s whining can be annoying to the owner, but it signals that something is not going well in the dog’s life. 

It is imperative to understand why the dog is whining and create conditions in which the pet will not need to show such behavior.