My pup whines about everything. Eating, playing, settling, other dogs, and whenever we go ANYWHERE. Mostly the whining seems to be some form of communication, kind of "chatter" (like now, he's on the dog bed, whining softly...sort of bird-like) but it's intense when we go anywhere new (I've posted about that before) as well as him biting my pants leg and trying frantically to get back in the car.

All of this kind of whining is normal 11 week old puppy stuff, right? Is this anything I should be concerned about? Medically he's sound. Does this imply weak nerves, or just a healthy normal pup? I'm assuming all is normal, but I'm never quite confident when it comes to this guy. We're working on the new place whining (acclimating him to new places, etc. which is slow going by the way )...but I'm wondering if it's more far-reaching than I originally thought.

Will this run it's course (it's very frequent) or is it just that I'm likely to have a chatty dog? Is there anything to discourage it or should I just ignore it? It's fine if that's just the way he is, but I'd rather not if it there's anything I can do about it.

I love the puppy stage, but I'll feel so much more sure of myself when he's a full grown dog!

My 17 month old GSD still whines as he did when he was a pup, and all the time. He whines when he wakes me up, he whines when he wants food or water, he whines when he's sitting and staring at the decoy. It gets really bad when he is anticipating something--either during the obedience, during inhibition exercises before a bite, even when he's been slipped the sleeve.

It is not weak nerves or any indication of anything as far as he's concerned--he has never shown avoidance to any situation, will tear into any obstacle on command, and has gone from whining over a tug to full-fledged civil behaviour in a second.

I think it's a combination of him trying to inhibit his drives and just his general outlook in life. Since he whines when he's happy, I don't think it's a sign of unease on his part.

my gs puppy does this, too, as well as a ton of other noises...I was sort of concerned at first but when I realized that she was just talking to me and was perfectly happy and wanting to play I quit worrying about her...she talks to me all the time when she first wakes up in the a.m. She even tries to get me to howl with her after my kids and I got her to "sing" with us once before...she likes howling with us now

I wouldn't worry unless the noises are accompanied by nervous or jittery behavior...

My dog was a talker, too. I basically had a bark command then a no/enough/quiet command to control it. She was allowed 3 or 4 barks & that was it.

Oh Amber, thanks *a lot* for such a vivid description of the puppy days!!! I'm looking into pups now, and oh ho hoooo....how dreadful is that? There is *something* about a mature dog. I can't wait for the day to hold the lil one though, and listen to the whining and feel the rip in the pant leg.

As for the whining, I agree with what was posted about the drives and your pup's earnest endeavor to interpret it's life. My big dog was pretty vocal all throughout his life, but was able to teach him quiet--though he never did get it perfect when we'd get in the jeep to go somewhere. Always, without fail, he'd whine whine whine at the beginning.

Those pups are like babies---Shhhhh,shhhhhh. Just keep saying it. Shhhhh. Then distract. Shhhhhh.

The inside whining I think isn't accompanied by fear...but who knows? Because, like I said, he's terrified to go anywhere new. The yard's okay, the car's okay, and for about 3-5 minutes, anywhere else is okay, too. But then he just gets majorly unhappy and whines and nips at my pants, glued to my legs. He seems really worried at these phases so I guess I'm wondering if his full-time whining is connected to these more intense whine-sessions.

I've been trying to socialize him well, but maybe he needs more? Never encountered this before!

Whining maybe be normal, but over the life of a dog, it can get down right annoying and really something I would not encourage personally. The best way to discourage the whining is simply ignore it. Definately don't pet him or comfort him when he whines. This just re-enforces the behaviour. In a dogs mind the association is quickly made WHINING=GOOD THINGS! It gets them pets, treats, attention! I wouldn't even tell the dog "quiet!" - he stills sees that as getting your attention. When your dog is quiet, that is the time to give him 'the good things'. Only reward the behaviours you want. Ignore the ones you don't. If the whining does not get the dog what he wants, he will not continue.

Denise, I understand what you mean but I don't think that ignoring the behaviour is always the best way to elliminate it. This has just been my experience.

The reason I say that is because often times, the dog IS getting a reward from doing some things, even if the reward isn't coming from me.

Just hypothetically, let's say the reward from the whining is a self-soothing which, without disapproval from me, may reinforce itself! Jumping up is another example. You don't just ignore it because, left alone, it satisfies the dog and he will keep doing it. You do something to counter-act it, either walking away, holding the paws, saying no, whatever your method is. But just ignoring it would mean you had a dog in your face a lot!!

Sometimes a dog needs to know that the behaviour is unwanted in order for it to stop, IMO.

Now, as far as this whining goes, though, if it's a phase (you know, just a puppy thing), and it usually recifies itself...I'm willing to ignore it. But, you're right! I'm not all that jazzed about having a dog do that constantly for the next decade or more! He's a loud bugger!!

I guess I'm trying to determine if this is just a phase. Hard to tell. From the posts it sounds like some dogs are just whiney! A few people have said their dogs have just stayed that way!

The other thing is that I really want to make sure it's not an anxiety thing. I really want to do what I can to make sure he's as confident as possible!

my last two dogs have been whiners all their lives. it is their preferred method of communication. they aren't anxious, just talking, or sometimes demanding.

i ignore it as much as is feasible. i reward silence as much as possible. but i also have pretty much given up on changing it. sometimes it is pretty hilarious, actually, as when we are driving to public lands for a hike, and as soon as the dog senses we are near the trailhead, he starts crying with a voice that almost sounds like singing.

Hi Amber. I will agree that certain behaviours ie whining and jumping can be self gradifying. I do not have a problem with letting my dog whine when he is just lying on his mat or otherwise relaxing. I assume this is calming/relaxing for him. Similar to a cat purring? However if he starts whining because I have stopped petting him or I am eating a cookie that he thinks he would like me the share - I definately ignore!

As for jumping up, again I agree that can also be self rewarding, but unlike whining it is dangerous and totally unexceptable. My first option for correcting jumping, would still be ignoring. I basically fold my arms and turn away. I am not suggesting tyou just stand there and let the dog jump at your face. We should all have many techniques in our tool box. I always prefer to start with the least harsh. If that works, great! - doesn't work I move onto the next.

This is just my opinion, but left unchecked 'phases' can have a way of turning into unwanted behaviours that you eventually have to deal with. For example the 'teen' dog will go through a phase where they will push the envelope and challenge your authority. Although this is age related and termed as a phase, if you do not reinforce the rules, chances are your dog is not going to simply outgrow the behaviour.