How to Stop a Chihuahua Whining Excessively
Dogs communicate with one another and their human families in a number of ways. When a young puppy whines he is telling his mother he is hungry, cold, in need of attention or afraid of being left behind. The mother responds to her puppy’s whine by supplying him with what he needs or wants, so it is only natural that when your Chihuahua moves in with your family that he will use the same method of communication to convey his wants and needs to you.
You can break your Chihuahua from whining first, by taking away many of the reasons for his whining and second, by refusing to give him what he wants when he whines. Here are a few tips that will help you to accomplish both of the goals.
Providing for Your Pets Needs
Most Chihuahua owners can begin to eliminate their dogs whining simply by providing adequately for their needs. Feeding your new pet at regular times with food that meets all their nutritional needs and seeing that they have adequate amounts of fresh water to drink at all times will help prevent them from whining because they are hungry. Keep in mind that if your dog’s feeding schedule is different in your home than in his previous home that it may take him a few days to adjust. However, do not give in and feed him whenever he begins to whine because this will only reinforce to him that whining works.
Spending adequate time playing and petting your Chihuahua throughout the day will eliminate his need to whine for your attention. In addition, by refusing to play with him when he whines and ignoring his whining will quickly teach him that if he wants you to play with him he must not whine for attention. If your Chihuahua does whine for attention wait until he stops before playing with him so that he understands that he will be played with when he is quiet.
Providing your pet with adequate toys to play with when you cannot play with him will keep him from being bored and whining to get attention. A wide variety of toys will help hold his interest and keep him from getting bored.
You may also need to train your Chihuahua to accept your leaving him alone without feeling abandoned. You can do this by providing him a room and toys in which to play. Spend some time in the room with him and then leave for a few minutes allowing him to play by himself. Come back and again sit quietly in the room. Slowly increase your time out of the room until your Chihuahua begins to understand that you will always come back for him and accept your absence.
Stopping your Chihuahua from whining is a simple matter of meeting his needs, and not giving in to his whines. He will soon learn that whining gets him nowhere but a quiet dog reaps many rewards.