Does anyone else have a very vocal whiney furkid?

[Wallee]

Ok I am sure this one is a behavior problem but I just don't know quite how to handle it...
Little Wallee who is having a bday Wednesday has turned into a very vocal "whiney" little boy...It seems whenever he wants something or sees something he wants, he starts whining. Example..today I was making myself a sandwhich and in the middle got a phone call. I was on the phone in the kitchen and he was standing beside the counter where he could smell the chicken salad I had made and just kept whining. The person on the other end of the line was asking.."what is wrong with puppy"?. Later this morning, I was standing near the patio door (out to the balcony) talking to my brother and again, Wallee stands beside me and starts "whining"..I had a neighbor drop in to visit. I gave her a dental chew for her dog to try. Wallee had one of his own at the time. He gets up on the couch, sees the one she has sitting on the table and again..W H I N E...
I really would like some advice on how to break his constant need to whine every time he thinks he wants or needs something that he doesn't even really need...or get....It seems some days it is a constant whinefest and I am sure that it is even worse this past two days as I was away in hospital and he was pining with hubby.

[yorkietalkjilly]

He's manipulating you to give him attention or give him any and everything he wants. I would start training him that he will get the exact opposite of his desires. Leave the room yourself, go into another room with the door shut behind you, go outside and shut the door behind you or simply turn your back. Another way to stop this behavior is to summarily take him from the room and place him in another room with the door closed until he has been quiet for 15 minutes. That is a strict time - don't fudge. 15 minutes of total quiet no matter what. During that time, he will be having a fit perhaps but eventually a smart dog will settle himself and go quiet to listen, eventually even lie down and nap and once he's quiet, he'll learn that in time you come for him. Before long, he can even gauge when the 15 minutes are up after he's quiet. If you do this enough times and every single whine, he will begin to associate his whining with being immediately alone and for a long time. Some dogs - not many but some - will learn not to whine from just turning your back on them but the real little dictators() have to be removed and placed in another room. Some find their dog reacts quicker by them leaving the scene of the whining and staying away for a good 15 minutes - but most owners hate to make themselves sit in another room or outside for 15 minutes! Whatever works best for you and your baby, though, is the best course for you.

Also, if you aren't already, get your baby busy learning obedience and if he's doing that, he's already learned to listen to and obey you and probably has learned the meaning of the word "No". An obedient, well-trained dog needs only to be told "no" a few times and they will stop themselves, quickly controlling their impulse to whine as they realize they are your team-member, want to please you, don't like to hear you utter the word "no" and want you happy with them. They have learned from all the training that obeying you is the happiest and best way to go for their own interests. That's why obedience training that is ongoing is a smart thing to do with your dog because it can stop new bad behaviors very quickly.

[Wallee]

Thanks again Jeanie..I always know I can count on this forum for useful information. I know that the behaviour was totally created by my need to try to keep him quiet so he didn't disturb the ppl in the basement or my hubby when he was sleeping so probably gave in to him WAY TOO MUCH. Also since I was away in hospital and now home, he has been following me like crazy. I have a dog walker coming to take him for a walk the next few days as I am not able to do much with him during my recoup so I know he has too much pent up energy. I am def going to start giving him time out for his whining though as it is really getting out of hand...thanks a lot.

[MyDearSam]

Sam isn't whiney, per se. But he sure is a mouthy little stink. He will gruff when he wants something, or a sharp, higher pitched bark when he's being ignored. The worst is the super shrill yap when I first put him to bed and he wants to keep playing. The only time he really whines is first thing in the morning when he wants to go potty.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Wallee

Thanks again Jeanie..I always know I can count on this forum for useful information. I know that the behaviour was totally created by my need to try to keep him quiet so he didn't disturb the ppl in the basement or my hubby when he was sleeping so probably gave in to him WAY TOO MUCH. Also since I was away in hospital and now home, he has been following me like crazy. I have a dog walker coming to take him for a walk the next few days as I am not able to do much with him during my recoup so I know he has too much pent up energy. I am def going to start giving him time out for his whining though as it is really getting out of hand...thanks a lot.

They do take advantage of our own problems to get the upper hand!!! LOL. Never let it be said a dog will skip any opportunity to take over their world! You gotta love them for their honest animal natures. Getting him busy walking will be great and, together with some interactive toys and slow-feed dog bowls or interactive dog bowls will help keep him from focusing on your frail state so much and more on playing and taking longer to eat as you want him busy about his own business and not your health.

Even lying on the couch, when you feel better, you can run your little guy through his basic obedience several times a day and toss a treat reward for each well-done trick or command. This will teach him to quickly respond to your words and do what you say because it benefits him and makes you happy - which also benefits him. Obedient, happy dogs get more hugs and treats and smiles. In time, just a simple "no" will stop his whining when he's very well-trained.

I sure hope you feel better soon. And excuse Wallee for his little dictator ways - he's probably thinking he's earned a little Diva behavior from all his worrying about mommie. Excuse him but teach him another way all the same and he'll be happier, too.

[Verbena]

It is so hard to ignore those little faces. Galen whines as soon as he sees me walk into the room in the morning. Or if he wants to come out of his ex pen. If he whines at all I do not go near him or walk past him. It is so hard. I am trying to stay strong lol

[Ldyrev1]

That is funny!! Princess Sophie whines at the mirror in the sewing room cause the puppy in there won't play with her. LOL She has NOT figured our mirrors and is very funny to watch her bringing toys to the mirror puppy. HAHA!

[Wallee]

Well, some whining is acceptable for sure. Like when they whine to go outside and stuff...I just don't like the constant demanding whining. Good thing is, when I am here alone and he whines, if I ignore him, he will just go away and lay in one of his beds. I just have to learn how to control the demand whining when he is right beside me like this afternoon when I was on the phone...I think I will use the good ole "time outs" for those occasions. He for sure knows Imean business when he gets put in time out.

[Potter]

Pao whines a lot just before bedtime every night because he knows he will get some treats. I sometimes give in (my bad) but when he is being super annoying by whining non-stop even after giving him treats, I just give him a firm NO, he will go in to his cushion dog house and sulk in there lol.

[Jacksmom052709]

Jack will whine/bark if we are standing (typically in the kitchen) and not paying attention to him - instead of correcting the behavior, I just pick him up because that's what he wants. Yes, I am a total pushover.

Izzy whines about everything, whether its to get up in the chair to be with us, to pick her up, she wants a treat, I'm not paying enough attention to her, Jack has her favorite toy... I could go on and on with her... She doesn't bark, just whines. And again, because I spoil my two, she typically gets her way. I know, its a bad thing on my part.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Potter

Pao whines a lot just before bedtime every night because he knows he will get some treats. I sometimes give in (my bad) but when he is being super annoying by whining non-stop even after giving him treats, I just give him a firm NO, he will go in to his cushion dog house and sulk in there lol.

Sulk? Your dog sulks too?

My Tibbe has the sulk down to an art form. He just can hardly abide my using the word "no" with him and I usually get a very indignant look, he immediately stops the behavior and leaves the room or goes into his airline carrier, lying down with his back to the door! If I go looking for him out of the room, he's most often lying in the other room with his back to the door!!! And he will rarely look around at me when I check on him but sometimes I do get the stinkeye. I just look in to be sure he's okay, don't say anything but do laugh like an idiot inside at how cute he is and then leave him be. He will isolate me for quite a while before I'm forgiven and he comes back. He really takes it personally when told "no". I don't know why that word offends his sensibilities so much but it does. He rarely misbehaves so I hardly ever have to utter it but when I do, I pay.

[Deb1]

Teeka is the biggest "whinner" in the world when it comes to my leaving her! She hates it when I run into a store without her. My DH says she whines constantly while I am gone and then continues to whine when I come back. I guess, she if letting me know that she missed me. Yup, I have a whinner!

[Teresa Ford]

Jeanie already gave you the advice I was going to give. Whew my fingers are tired anyway.

[Potter]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Sulk? Your dog sulks too?

My Tibbe has the sulk down to an art form. He just can hardly abide my using the word "no" with him and I usually get a very indignant look, he immediately stops the behavior and leaves the room or goes into his airline carrier, lying down with his back to the door! If I go looking for him out of the room, he's most often lying in the other room with his back to the door!!! And he will rarely look around at me when I check on him but sometimes I do get the stinkeye. I just look in to be sure he's okay, don't say anything but do laugh like an idiot inside at how cute he is and then leave him be. He will isolate me for quite a while before I'm forgiven and he comes back. He really takes it personally when told "no". I don't know why that word offends his sensibilities so much but it does. He rarely misbehaves so I hardly ever have to utter it but when I do, I pay.

Lol your Yorkie and mine must be cousins or siblings of some sort. Ya he sulks big time. I RARELY say no to him lol..I think that is the problem and when I do put my foot down, he feels offended lol. He does the same. He goes in to his cushioned dog house which I call it his mortgage free house, his back faces the door. If I take a peek at hime through the door, he will either ignore me or gives me the stinkeye...alot of the time I get the stinkeye lol which makes me laugh. He will stay in there usually till I turn off the lights to go to bed..weird dog

[Britster]

Oh god yes. Jackson is a BIG whiner!! He is very well trained, but it's just something I can't crack. I've tried ignoring, I've tried saying 'NO' etc. But if there is something he wants, he's determined to sit there and whine for it.

Ex: when we are visiting at my dads house and the cats are fed upstairs, he always sits at the top and whines until he can go lick the bowl He knows what he wants, and knows he will get it, I guess, but yeah... He's a talker!