As much as we love our canine companions, a dog that is incessantly barking or whining can sour the the best relationship between the dog, hie owner and the people that live in their vicinity. While it is normal for some barking, even in a well behaved dog, what do you do when your dog is overtly vocal?

1. Listen to your dog. It is not whining without a reason and instead of trying to get the dog to shut up, you will do well to find out what the problem is. Perhaps someone has attempted to enter the yard and your dog is chomping at the bit to get out and mark its territory. Maybe it spotted an animal, lacks food or water, or maybe a hurtful little spur got tangled in its fur. Check on the animal to make sure all its needs are met and then work outward and see if there is something external that might be causing the whining.

2. Unlike barking, whining is a distinct sign of doggy distress and so you will be wise to clue in to the fact that something is bothering your canine. Many a dog was saved by an alert owner who came to find out what was wrong rather than closing a door, only to realize the dog got tangled up in mini blinds and was close to choking!

3. Dogs also whine when they feel lonely. Canines are social animals, living in packs in the wild. Being alone all day while you work can make him whine when you get home. Setting aside the first 10-15 minutes to play with and interact with your dog, scratching a belly, throwing a ball, shower him with affection is a surefire way to stop the whining in it’s tracks. It is also a wonderful stress relief for yourself after a day at the office.

4. Keeping a dog outside by itself is another way to get it to whine. It wants to come in misses the human companionship which is associated with the inside of the house, and will therefore stand by the backdoor and whine until you decide to open the door. This may take 10 minutes or 10 hours, depending on your work schedule. Dogs are persistent and your neighbors may also be when they ask you to put your dog inside the house before you leave next time.

5. Should you discipline a dog that is whining? No, whining is always a sign of distress and punishing a dog that is stressed can make the behavior even worse. Hitting your dog or putting him outside as punishment is the wrong course of action.

Develop a plan for dog training and get started as soon as your dog comes home. House breaking yorkshire terriers and many other tips on dog training can be found on catsdogsandpets.com

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