Whining is one of many forms of canine vocal communication. Dogs most commonly whine when they're seeking attention, when they're excited, when they're anxious or when they're trying to appease you.
The Root of the Behavior
While kissing and hugging come naturally to us as a form of expressing our love, it can cause your dog to have a panic attack. Kissing can give him serious stress. If your actions, as much as they are well intended, make him feel anxious in any way, then he will start to whine or cry.
If your dog is whining just to get your attention, ignoring her is the best way to stop the behavior, training experts say. When the whining starts, avoid eye contact by turning away from your dog. Don't touch or speak to her, and that includes no scolding — she just sees that as a form of attention.
The Root of the Behavior
Whining is one of the most common forms of communication for all dogs and most times, it is their way of crying. Whether your dog is excited, anxious, seeking attention, or just greeting you, he will whine. Dogs will cry to communicate the emotional state they are in to us.
Your dog is excited.
Whining can be a result of “high arousal,” or a high level of excitement. Many dogs get amped up when they greet people they love or when they anticipate a fun activity. It's hard to not vocalize for some dogs when they're super excited, and often this whining is punctuated by barking.
If your dog follows you everywhere then it's most likely a sign that they love and adore you. When dogs interact with someone they like, the hormone oxytocin is released. Oxytocin is often referred to as the 'love hormone' and makes you feel that warm glow when you're around someone you like.
Yes, your dog knows how much you love him! Dogs and humans have a very special relationship, where dogs have hijacked the human oxytocin bonding pathway normally reserved for our babies. When you stare at your dog, both your oxytocin levels go up, the same as when you pet them and play with them.
Experts in dog behavior believe that, in general, dogs do not like being embraced. However, every dog has a unique personality. Some may dislike hugs more strongly than others, and some may actually adore them. The closest thing our furry family members do to a hug is something referred to as 'standing over'.
Use dramatic body language such as turning away from your dog or folding your arms across your chest and completely ignore her to indicate to your dog that her attention-seeking whining won't work. In addition to not reinforcing whining behavior, you need to reward your dog for being quiet.
Licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour to dogs. For them it's a way of grooming, bonding, and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get your attention, to help soothe themselves if they're stressed, to show empathy or because you taste good to them!
Loneliness or Insecurity
A lonely dog will whine any time that you're not in the same room with them, such as when you put them in their crate for the night if crate trained or when you leave the house in the morning for work. The best way to approach these forms of whining is to tackle the cause.
Your dog rounds the corner with his favorite toy in his mouth. So why the toy? Simply put, it is because he is happy and wants to share his joy with you, his human. There may also be a bit of submission, a plea for goodwill, and a need to calm her excitement.
They Have a Protective or Anxious Nature
It is typical for some dogs to act protective and be wary when somebody approaches their owner. Generally, this results in barking, growling, and perhaps even some snarling. Oftentimes, however, dogs that are perceived as protective are simply insecure and anxious.
Don't pick up a dog by the scruff of the neck. Don't pick them up by the front legs (or “underarms”) like a baby—it can strain their ligaments.
Like humans, dogs are especially impressionable as their brains develop, so puppies up to 6 months old are in their key socialization period. Like their human counterparts, dogs develop favorite people over time based on positive experiences and positive associations with that person.
Dogs who follow you to the bathroom
As their owner, you are the one who meets most of their needs, including for affection, so following is a sign of this attachment. They may also be waiting for routines they enjoy such as a walk or dinner time.
One of the common ways your dog will try to say sorry is by making “puppy eyes” or tucking its tail between its legs. Avoiding eye contact and lowering their ears are also common ways for dogs to apologize.
Dogs spend much of their day snoozing, but in the hours they're awake, they probably spend time thinking about some of the same things that a 2- or 3-year-old child would: “Solving problems, what's for dinner, what's that over there?” Hare says.
According to Animal Behaviorists, 'dogs don't understand human kisses the same way that humans do. ' When kissing a young puppy, you may not notice any signs of recognition at all because they have yet to associate kisses with affection.
According to Coren, when sounds are between 3,000 and 12,000 Hz in frequency, dogs' ears are far more sensitive than ours. They can hear those sounds when they are between -5 dB and -15 dB on average. That means dogs can hear sounds that are not loud enough for our ears.
Reggae and soft rock are the most relaxing music for dogs in shelters, and classical music also helps calm down dogs in stressful environments.