How to Handle a Whining Puppy

Raising a puppy includes teaching him good habits for him to be a valued member of his human family. Puppies usually form bad habits that need to be corrected to make him live harmoniously not only with his owner but also with the community.  Barking and whining are normal dog behaviors but these behaviors can be a problem if your puppy is continuously barking and whining day and night.  Whining is a bad habit that could be really so disturbing and dog owners should know how to  handle a whining puppy Here are some tips.

Check for obvious reasons why your puppy is howling or whining. He might want to do something but restricted to do so because he is confined in his crate and he feels he need to howl or whine to get your attention. Does he need to go to his toilet area and do his business? Is the water and food dish empty? Is his favorite toy unreachable? Or is he sick? To handle a whining puppy, you should look for obvious reasons why your puppy is whining for you to address the problem immediately and stop your puppy from whining.

Aside from the obvious reasons why puppies whine, there are also deep psychological and emotional reasons why dogs whine and loneliness is one of them.  Dogs or puppies that are confined for long periods of time may become lonely.  They need an outlet for the isolation or loneliness and in most cases they find barking or whining a good outlet. A good way to handle a whining puppy due to loneliness or boredom is a good exercise and daily walk with your dog. Dogs are social animals so they need to interact with people and other dogs to avoid loneliness and boredom.  A well exercised puppy is a happy dog and tends to forget to whine. He will be content to sleep when he gets home after a fun exercise and socializing with other people and dogs than whine.

The best way to handle a whining puppy is to engage him in obedience training. This kind of activity stimulates his mind and makes him busy, so busy that he will forget about whining.  There are many dog commands that you can teach your puppy to be more obedient.  One important command that you can teach your dog is the “quiet” command. This command can be very helpful if you want to handle a whining puppy.

As mentioned earlier, barking, howling and whining are natural dog behaviors as birds sing and cats meow but as long as the whining is tolerable and acceptable, there is no problem with the behavior. You should teach your puppy that whining is acceptable until you command “quiet” and by that time he needs to stop whining. Your puppy must learn this rule for him to know that his whining is no longer funny and the behavior is becoming a nuisance.

Having a puppy at home is a great joy but it also includes great responsibilities. Your puppy’s behavior is a reflection of you as a pet owner.  Your puppy could humiliate you if his bad habits are not corrected. Learn more on how to raise an obedient and happy dog, visit Secrets to Dog Training