Whining, whining, whining! (amongst other things)

[Rebekah Hartman]

This could've fit in a general "behavior" category, but since there isn't one, I put it here. Samson is a 6-month-old Rottie/Shepherd mix...

Samson has become a MAJOR whiner! I mean, I have moments where I just want to put him in his crate, leave the house and come back when sanity returns. He has begun whining almost incessantly - in the crate, out of the crate, when he's on his bed eating a Kong, during obedience classes... a lot of the time when he's awake. We've tried our best not to reinforce it - if he starts whining in the morning, we ignore it as long as possible, but eventually have to get up and/or go into the kitchen - once he hears us, he's quiet because he knows he can't come out when he's whining. I think that his "goal" is to get our attention, though (to get us to come) and then he's quiet. Even if we continue to ignore him for several minutes without whining, he will still whine the next time he wants us to come. I started trying to put the whining on cue, but he doesn't totally seem to "get it" in that I can't get him to whine on cue unless he's already whining. He already knew "quiet", but he doesn't stay quiet for long once he's in a whining state. Help! We need to figure something out before my hubby and I go nuts!

The whining has been within the last month or so, he did not whine often at all previously, except for a small whimper to tell us "outside" or "I need to potty, wake up". Then, same thing, I wait a bit after the signal and then go, "You want to go outside?", like it wasn't related to the whining.

I am even more concerned about him now, though, because we also have a new (old) problem rearing it's ugly head. Samson is a rescue. We got him at 10 weeks and he promptly got Parvo. Almost died, then rallied, then we started back into housetraining and all the puppy stuff you're supposed to do(minus socialization for a 2-week quarantine). It was a major struggle because we crate trained and he did not "get" the concept of a clean bed (and given his history, who could blame him?) I could have dealt with pee in the crate every time we woke up or got back from an hour out of the house, but we had POOP nearly every time. It was exasperating. So, I cleaned and cleaned and then it finally clicked. He's continued to pee in there on occasion, but we've made progress so I don't complain. Yesterday, however, when my husband let him out (5:30 am, mind you), he'd pooped and peed in the crate. Hmm... this hasn't happened in 6+ weeks! Then when I came home yesterday, he'd pooped again only - there was no poop to be found in the crate! It was on him, on his toys, but no little "pile" anywhere! Oh the horror! If there was one consolation I'd always felt - at least my dog is not a poop eater! Well, no more. He has never eaten poop before and he is on a new food than he used to be, so that may have played a role (I hope!).

Are we headed down the path to some major issues here or could we just be going through a rough patch that will even out as we continue to nurture our dog? He's a maniac in obedience class with the other dogs there, too, I don't know if he's screwed up because of me, because he was sick, because they neutered him at 10-weeks, or if maybe it's a phase?! He is not my laid back, loving (if sometimes a little rambunctious) little pup anymore and I'm pulling out my hair not knowing what to do! It's hard for me to imagine I could've messed him up more than other dogs in the shelters who've been abused and are then rehabilitated - if there's hope for them, there's hope for him, right? What can I be doing better?

[Melissa Brunoehler]

Hey Rebekah~

Think back to when the whining started- did anything change in his life or in yours?
Did he get attention when he first started the whining? It was something new that he normally didn’t do so it would make sense if you responded to the whining.
When did his classes start? Do the classes seem to be stressing him out? Did the instructor comment on his behavior in class?
Do you think he’s physically feeling okay?
When did you change his food?
Think about these questions, they may help answer why he’s whining

Or it may be at his age he may have just discovered whining & that it worked to get your attention. If that’s the case do your best not to reinforce the whining.
Also try to think of the times that he whines-
In class- try to take him outside for “breathers” before he gets stressed
At home- if he’s whining because he wants something teach him an alternative behavior to whining.

Let me know your thoughts & we’ll go from there.

PS don't be so hard on yourself- you're doing a lot for Samson!


This could've fit in a general "behavior" category, but since there isn't one, I put it here. Samson is a 6-month-old Rottie/Shepherd mix...

Samson has become a MAJOR whiner! I mean, I have moments where I just want to put him in his crate, leave the house and come back when sanity returns. He has begun whining almost incessantly - in the crate, out of the crate, when he's on his bed eating a Kong, during obedience classes... a lot of the time when he's awake. We've tried our best not to reinforce it - if he starts whining in the morning, we ignore it as long as possible, but eventually have to get up and/or go into the kitchen - once he hears us, he's quiet because he knows he can't come out when he's whining. I think that his "goal" is to get our attention, though (to get us to come) and then he's quiet. Even if we continue to ignore him for several minutes without whining, he will still whine the next time he wants us to come. I started trying to put the whining on cue, but he doesn't totally seem to "get it" in that I can't get him to whine on cue unless he's already whining. He already knew "quiet", but he doesn't stay quiet for long once he's in a whining state. Help! We need to figure something out before my hubby and I go nuts!

The whining has been within the last month or so, he did not whine often at all previously, except for a small whimper to tell us "outside" or "I need to potty, wake up". Then, same thing, I wait a bit after the signal and then go, "You want to go outside?", like it wasn't related to the whining.

I am even more concerned about him now, though, because we also have a new (old) problem rearing it's ugly head. Samson is a rescue. We got him at 10 weeks and he promptly got Parvo. Almost died, then rallied, then we started back into housetraining and all the puppy stuff you're supposed to do(minus socialization for a 2-week quarantine). It was a major struggle because we crate trained and he did not "get" the concept of a clean bed (and given his history, who could blame him?) I could have dealt with pee in the crate every time we woke up or got back from an hour out of the house, but we had POOP nearly every time. It was exasperating. So, I cleaned and cleaned and then it finally clicked. He's continued to pee in there on occasion, but we've made progress so I don't complain. Yesterday, however, when my husband let him out (5:30 am, mind you), he'd pooped and peed in the crate. Hmm... this hasn't happened in 6+ weeks! Then when I came home yesterday, he'd pooped again only - there was no poop to be found in the crate! It was on him, on his toys, but no little "pile" anywhere! Oh the horror! If there was one consolation I'd always felt - at least my dog is not a poop eater! Well, no more. He has never eaten poop before and he is on a new food than he used to be, so that may have played a role (I hope!).

Are we headed down the path to some major issues here or could we just be going through a rough patch that will even out as we continue to nurture our dog? He's a maniac in obedience class with the other dogs there, too, I don't know if he's screwed up because of me, because he was sick, because they neutered him at 10-weeks, or if maybe it's a phase?! He is not my laid back, loving (if sometimes a little rambunctious) little pup anymore and I'm pulling out my hair not knowing what to do! It's hard for me to imagine I could've messed him up more than other dogs in the shelters who've been abused and are then rehabilitated - if there's hope for them, there's hope for him, right? What can I be doing better?

[Rebekah Hartman]

Melissa-
Thank you for the encouragement! His food changed right before the pooping began (again), and I think that may be why he ate the poop, too. (Gack! I hate writing that) We are trying very hard not to reinforce the whining. I would say he does it most persitently in the AM between when he's taken out to go potty and when we actually get up and allow him to be up for the day. At the same time, though, he does it throughout the day - he can be playing away and all of a sudden decide that it's time to whine. He is also beginning to try to break down all of the barriers in our house to keep him out of areas. Baby gates won't work (at least not the inexpensive kind) because he climbs over them, so we have other "obstacles" to keep him out of the dining room and from going upstairs and he'll often go and try to knock the barriers down and whine in the process. I struggle with wanting to redirect him but also not wanting to reinforce the whining or the barrier-breaking behaviors.

I can't put my finger on any specific changes that occurred around the onset of the whining. It was before training began, but has persisted now that we're working on more training. We do take frequent breaks in classes and a lot of "settle" commands, too to work on remaining calm around other dogs. The trainer chalked the last class up to an "off day" for Samson, but I feel like this week probably won't be any different. We've tried to go for walks, but we can't seem to keep the pulling to a minimum anymore, so he ends up not getting exercise. I play fetch with him in our yard, which works until the neighbors dogs come out and then he freaks out because he wants to go play with them (and one of them is NOT friendly, though smaller than Samson is).

I don't work (or I should say I work from home) on Fridays, so I'm making a concerted effort today to play outside lots and take play breaks with him as well as correct the bad behaviors (time out). He's still had some whining bouts, but has been more or less well-behaved. When I play with him, he accepts all my attention for a minute or two, then walks away with a toy to another part of the room and plays independently. I don't know if he just wants my attention when he wants it and then otherwise is perfectly fine by himself or what, but it's not like he can't live without my attention.

[Melissa Brunoehler]

Hi Rebekah!

I’m thinking a few things for Samson-

1. Make sure he gets plenty of physical & mental exercise. How is he with other dogs? If he’s okay perhaps you could ask your neighbor if the nice dog could come over to play.
2. Also make sure he’s getting plenty of quality time with you.- QT depends on the dog, sometimes a few minutes here & there does the trick while some dogs thrive on long walks, activities.
3. Does he have his own special place like a dog bed? If not get him one & teach him to go to it on cue.(I can help you with that if you’d like)
4. I’ll occasionally recommend time outs, but you shouldn’t need to do a time out more than once or twice. If it’s more than that you need to take a step back & figure out what’s going on. – What is the dog doing when you issue the time out? Why is the time out not working?
5. I would keep a leash or line on Samson when you’re around to supervise. Keep him in the same room as you & always have his bed available to him. When he does something he isn’t supposed to (like trying to knock a barrier down) simply go pick up the leash bring him to an appropriate spot & offer him a toy. When you pick up his leash don’t make eye contact or say anything to him, be unemotional.
6. In that in between time in the morning, it’s understandable that he’s whining, he’s bored. Have you tried giving him an interactive toy so that he can entertain himself? If you need toy suggestions, let me know.
7. Besides playing fetch you might want to try other games with Samson, like scent games. You can sprinkle kibble around the yard & have him “search” for it. You can also teach him to “go find” his treats/toys.
8. For Walks I would go back to doing the “be a tree” method. I think you’re familiar with this, if not please ask.
9. Continue to completely ignore the whining I know it’s hard but it’s what works.


Let me know if you have any questions.




Melissa-
Thank you for the encouragement! His food changed right before the pooping began (again), and I think that may be why he ate the poop, too. (Gack! I hate writing that) We are trying very hard not to reinforce the whining. I would say he does it most persitently in the AM between when he's taken out to go potty and when we actually get up and allow him to be up for the day. At the same time, though, he does it throughout the day - he can be playing away and all of a sudden decide that it's time to whine. He is also beginning to try to break down all of the barriers in our house to keep him out of areas. Baby gates won't work (at least not the inexpensive kind) because he climbs over them, so we have other "obstacles" to keep him out of the dining room and from going upstairs and he'll often go and try to knock the barriers down and whine in the process. I struggle with wanting to redirect him but also not wanting to reinforce the whining or the barrier-breaking behaviors.

I can't put my finger on any specific changes that occurred around the onset of the whining. It was before training began, but has persisted now that we're working on more training. We do take frequent breaks in classes and a lot of "settle" commands, too to work on remaining calm around other dogs. The trainer chalked the last class up to an "off day" for Samson, but I feel like this week probably won't be any different. We've tried to go for walks, but we can't seem to keep the pulling to a minimum anymore, so he ends up not getting exercise. I play fetch with him in our yard, which works until the neighbors dogs come out and then he freaks out because he wants to go play with them (and one of them is NOT friendly, though smaller than Samson is).

I don't work (or I should say I work from home) on Fridays, so I'm making a concerted effort today to play outside lots and take play breaks with him as well as correct the bad behaviors (time out). He's still had some whining bouts, but has been more or less well-behaved. When I play with him, he accepts all my attention for a minute or two, then walks away with a toy to another part of the room and plays independently. I don't know if he just wants my attention when he wants it and then otherwise is perfectly fine by himself or what, but it's not like he can't live without my attention.