17 Reasons Why Is Your Dog Whining

The high-pitched whine repeated several times in succession may denote excited feelings together with energetic body expressions including wagging tails, jumping up, and full-of-energy behaviors.

Such whining is more frequent for the dogs when some greeting event takes place, such as when the pet owner is coming back home. This can also occur in situations where your dog becomes excited due to something nice, like food, going for a walk, or even playing with a toy.

Diagnosis of excitement whining can only be made by seeing your dog's body language and the contextual situation in which the whining has occurred. If the whining starts right after you have put on their leash or opened a bag of treats, then this is likely an exciting reaction.

Also, excited whining can tend to be higher and more frequent than other types of whining. Reinforcement can go to your dog for the correct excitement behaviors if done matter-of-factly and positively while learning to express emotions healthily.

Whining could be due to anxiety and fear, as they always show distress when there is a reason for them to whine. It may be because of loud noises, new places, or even being away from their owners. They may whine, walk, shake, or even hide in addition to all these gestures.

The signs other than whining out of anxiety or fear are cowering, avoiding eye contact, and running away. As much as whining goes on, the dog looks disturbed, and that is most probably because of anxiety or fear.

When reassuring a winning dog, they need to be calm and confident. Give treats and pets, or simply stay near them to help them feel secure.

Sometimes they must be relocated from the item that is stressing them out in the first place, or there may be attempts made at calming methods, such as soothing music or special diffusers.

Whining, together with pacing, inappropriate chewing, or excessive barking, can also signify that your whining dog does this due to boredom and uses different kinds of ways to entertain themselves. The whining occurs consistently after the dog is at no activity after a very long play and freedom.

Whining out of boredom is common in high-energy breeds that require loads of physical and mental stimulation to stay happy and well-behaved. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise every day, interactive toys and chews for when they're alone, and regular opportunities for training and playtime with you.

It is probably under these conditions that a starving or parched dog starts whining insistently and urgently, often in accompaniment with other behaviors related to pacing, circling, or even attempting to lead the owner to his food or water bowl. Whining may grow louder and more frequent with the imperatives of food and water arising.

To tell if the whining is a call for food or water, see which behaviors follow the whining. If your dog is sniffing at its food or water, licking its lips, or acting restless and anxious.

Then, if the whining would stop the moment the dog had been fed or watered, it shows that they whined due to their physiological needs.

Your dog will whimper once they reach a threshold where they are either too cold or too hot. This is their version of screaming and letting out a cry as an invitation to rescue them. When they get cold, dogs start shivering or sometimes shaking. Their whine could also be higher pitched and more urgent sounding.

In contrast, when he feels too hot, his whining follows excessive panting, restlessness, and searching for a cooler place. In both instances, the whine is a way the dog lets the owner know that it needs to be helped either to raise or lower its body temperature.

For this, a warm, comfortable bed or blanket will keep the cold off, and moving him to a cooler, well-ventilated area will help if he is overheating.

They whine to be comforted or cuddled when they are affectionate and seeking companionship, physical contact, and reassurance from a familiar human. This whining, in this case, is soft and sorrowful and is often accompanied by a leaning, pawing, or even nudging of the dog against the owner.

This type of whining is characterized by loose body language, soft eyes, and a wagging tail. As a matter of fact, it is indeed giving into this need for affection that strengthens your bond with your dog and eases any anxiety or insecurity felt by them.

Dogs whine due to stress because they want to express discomfort and be comforted. This stress can come from changes in routine, a new environment, or even interactions with other animals or people.

A whine can sound more high-pitched, hopeless, or desperate if a dog is in a state of distress. They may also be panting, pacing, shaking, or trying to retreat or run away.

To find out whether a dog is whining due to stress, look at the dog's body language. Signs include rigid posturing, ears laid back, a tucked tail, or refusing to look directly in the eyes or turning away from the source of the stress.

First, to help the poor stressed dog, be patient with him. Make the environment calm, give your dog gentle petting, and perform calming activities. Sometimes it is necessary to remove a dog from a stressful situation, or otherwise, you need to go to the vet or animal behaviorist for further consultation.

One good thing they do is circling or pacing around the door from which they leave as if trying to lead you there. They sniff the floor by the door or stand and wait for you at the door.

They even sit at, or stand by, their leashes as if to say, "Hey, take me out." The whine itself can be more urgent-higher pitched than the whine for attention or another reason.

If your dog is whining and partakes in any of these activities, it is a good tell that they want to go outside. Thus, immediate responses through taking them out will help avoid accidents and give them a reason for understanding their whining means something.

The other reason for whining is for the attention of the owner and usually is combined with other behaviors, such as pawing, jumping, or even barking. Attention-whining dogs may follow one around the house, sit or stand close to them, or maybe even try climbing onto one's lap.

Similarly, if you ignore their whining, it escalates into louder and more frequent complaints. Once attention-seeking whining is identified as such, it can be cured by simply ignoring your dog and giving attention and affection only when your dog is quiet and calm.

In addition, ample exercise, mental stimulation, and quality time with you can also lessen any reason for attention-seeking behaviors to surge.

Sometimes, whining and delight grant dogs the right to greet proprietors or anybody. This sort of whining speaks of their loved ones whom they miss.

Whining canines while greeting someone they like is generally accompanied by behaviors such as tail swinging, jumping, bowing, and an open-mouthed "smile." Still groaning, they keep the expression of joy dancing with their paws.

Greeting whining is done by social and affectionate dogs that get excited at the prospect of being reunited with their favorite people. This sort of vocal communication shows their enthusiasm and strengthens further their bond with their masters.

A growling whine might be loud and insistent but is nothing to get worried about. If anything, it shows a healthy bond between dog and owner.

Other dogs whine more as they age because of age-related life problems: cognitive decline that ultimately results in the dog's disorientation and anxiety, progressive loss of hearing, whereby whining may be an attempt to get attention, aching, and discomfort due to arthritis or dental maladies, and separation anxiety when left alone.

Whining: As the dog ages, other symptoms manifest, including confusion, pacing, staring into space, accidents in the house-showing cognitive decline-whereas hearing loss may make them jumpy or unresponsive to commands.

To help an older dog grumble, when necessary, besides providing positive reinforcement training, mental stimulation, and a safe and comfortable environment, medication for pain should be provided. It is also best to have a veterinarian check for possible health issues that may underlie these behaviors.

A dog may express its digestive issues if it is whining incessantly due to vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or abdominal pain. Whining caused by this ailment may sound more painful or distressing compared to other reasons behind whining.

The dog may also present with a crouched disposition, tucking of the tail, and avoidance of being touched around the abdomen. Such gastrointestinal disturbances may be elicited by food allergies, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, or obstruction.

If your dog whines and acts this way, then his condition needs to be checked by a vet for proper diagnosis of the underlying causes and treatment. Also, a bland diet and plenty of water will soothe an upset stomach.

Territorial whining may be shown with other concurrent behaviors that reflect an intent to defend the perceived domain. Such dogs show aggressive posturing by standing tall with raised hackles, direct staring, and low rumbling growls as strangers or other animals are advancing on their perceived domain.

They can even build into overt defense mechanisms like barking, lunging, or snapping to discourage perceived violators. Territorial whining is harsher and more insistent than attention or need-based whining.

You might also find your dog patrolling the edges of his territory, urine marking, or denying others access to certain parts of your home or yard.

Some canines whine to say sorry and express their feelings of regret over something that they did wrong, such as chewing on the furniture or jumping on guests. To a certain degree, it is his or her way of saying sorry and begging for forgiveness from human companions.

This kind of whining comes with typical submissive body postures such as ears down, tail tucked, and avoidance of eye contact. Whining accompanied by these behaviors in dogs depicts regret and an intention of making things right after something has happened.

Other times, the whining may be employed by the dog as a means of trying to get his owners' attention toward something with which they feel threatened or in need of attention. In such instances, an alert whine may also be accompanied by other behaviors, including barking and pacing.

For example, the whine of a dog by the window sees something outside that is weird and fascinating. A whining standing dog by their bowl may be trying to tell their owner that they are hungry. These two whines express the dog in need of attention concerning something while trying to get in contact with them.

Whining is one-way dogs show empathy and, therefore, their way of responding to your emotional condition. Dogs are sensitive to changes in human emotions through body language, tone of voice, and even a change in scent.

It can also be a comforting gesture or one showing concern toward an owner whom the dog feels is sad, stressed, or upset. It all relates to the bond between humans and dogs being particularly strong, where many dogs have an inbred need to comfort their owners in times of woe.

Dogs are social animals that always crave love and acceptance from their master, and so when told off, let alone in a serious or angry tone of voice, they feel insecure or anxious.

Whining in that respect is usually submission behavior, as the dog knows he did something wrong, or the owner isn't pleased with them. They will also whine in combination with other submissive behaviors such as avoiding eye contact, lowering their head, or even tucking their tail between the legs. This is indicative of them wanting your reconciliation or reassurance.

Here are a few tips and tricks that shall help you address your whining dog in a much more constructive manner. This way, a much happier and more peaceful atmosphere can be ensured both for you and your canine companion.

What Makes Dogs Whine

First, address the whining by trying to find out why it is happening in the first place. Observe the whining dog for patterns or triggers that might flare him up.

Train and Set Limits

Most importantly, train your dog not to whine. Reward quiet time, while setting limits.

Provide Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Keeping your dog happy with regular exercise and mental stimulation will help him whine less often. You could try using some interactive toys, taking him regularly for a walk, and playing with him to make him happy.

Professional Help

By this time, if all kinds of methods have been tried and the whining persists, perhaps this is the right time to seek advice from a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. They will be in a better position to provide specific advice and strategies particular to your dog's needs.

Veterinary Check-Up

If you believe that your dog is whining due to some pain or due to some medical problem, then without wasting any more time, seek advice from your veterinarian. A proper check-up can rule out any health complication which might be the cause of the whining.