How to Deal with Puppy Whining
When puppies are cold, hungry or tired, whining is very natural for them. Mother dogs provide a safe place to sleep, warmth and milk to their puppies when they whine.
Over time, the puppy will begin to associate the two actions and will start to whine on purpose. This lets the puppy’s mother know that something is wrong or he needs something.
Puppies should be adopted between 8-10 weeks of age. It’s at this time that puppies discover that whining doesn’t have any impact with their new family; or they may use whining to manipulate their new mother (you!) into giving them what they want.
Therefore, it is commonly believed that a new puppy should be left on his own for the first night is his new home. If you respond to puppy whining with warmth, petting, cuddling, your dog is certain to feel that whining will get him what he wants.
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Of course, this will require good judgment and common sense on your part. A scared puppy will require affection, reassurance and attention. The secret is to respond quickly so he doesn’t think that puppy whining is what got the desired result. Puppies should not become accustomed to whining each time they want something.
To accustom your puppy to being left on his own, you should leave him alone even when you are in the house. This should help to avoid your puppy suffering from separation anxiety when you leave him at home alone. As soon as you know that all your puppy’s physical needs have been met and you have taken the time to accustom him to isolation, then you must teach him that whining is inappropriate.
This does not mean that a puppy that is highly distressed, whining, and crying should be cruelly ignored. You should show him some love and help him to relax once the whining has stopped. It is not always possible to wait until your puppy has stopped whining completely as some puppies will whine for hours.
If this is the case, there is no need to prolong your puppy’s suffering – seize your chance when he stops whining, if just for a few seconds, and open the door of the crate. Although this is far from perfect, it’s likely to be the best you can do.
By 6 months of age, most dogs will have outgrown puppy whining. Puppies that still whine after this time are probably doing it by instinct, or they have figured out that it gets them what they need.
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