Does your dog whine for attention every time you take your focus off them, even if just for a moment? Whining is a problem encountered by a lot of pet parents, but thankfully, there is a solution.
Anxiety in dogs is a common issue that can trigger whining and trying to figure out how to reduce separation anxiety in dogs isn't easy. However, with time, patience, and consistency it can be done.
According to expert trainer Adam Spivey, founder of Southend Dog Training, whining is a learned behavior that often brings positive results.
"If your dog whines for attention and you give it to them at that moment, they learn to keep doing this," he explains. "It will often get worse before it gets better because they have been taught (unintentionally) whining gets them what they want."
To help you put a stop to whining, Spivey has shared a helpful video to Instagram which features him in a real-life training situation with a pup that won't stop whining.
In the clip, Spivey can be seen smiling when he accidentally glances at his clients dog and the dog starts to whine. "It's because he's just got some attention, that's where his whine comes from," he says with a laugh.
Spivey says that in these sorts of circumstances where your dog won't stop whining, what you want to do is ignore them.
"Just carry on talking, act as if he's not there, don't give him the attention that he's looking for, stay nice and chilled out and he will stop."
When Spivey and his clients do that in the clip, it's not long before the attention-seeking pooch in question falls silent.
"He's silent because nobody is giving him eye contact," Spivey explains. "That whine is because he's demanding attention. He's not in pain, he's not sick, he's doing it because that whine gets him what he wants."
It's important if your dog is whining that you don't make eye contact with them and carry on doing what you're doing — this will teach them that whining is pointless.
"Ignore the whining, wait for calmness then fuss the dog," Spivey reiterates. "Recondition your dog that calmness and quiet gets them everything."
