How to Stop A Labrador Retriever Whining
One of the ways that Labrador retrievers communicate their feelings is through whining. Unlike barking and growling, it is not an aggressive behavior on the part of the dog which is directed at humans. Instead, it is the Labrador’s way of expressing his feelings of abandonment, fright and pain in certain situations.
There are two general instances when Labradors whine – first, when they are in physical pain and second, when they are in emotional distress. Each one will require a different set of solutions. You have to ensure that your Labrador is physically healthy. As previously mentioned, dogs will most likely whine when in physical pain. So if you observe that your pet is whining even when obedience training has been successfully completed, ask your veterinarian to conduct a thorough physical check-up to rule out any disease that may be causing the pain and hence, the whining.
Also, your dog may be in emotional distress. In this case, you may have to adopt certain obedience training techniques to stop your dog from whining. Additionally, it may be that your dog is whining for two reasons – he misses you and he is whining to get your attention. In either case, the most important rule is never to punish your dog for whining just because he has feelings. Keep in mind that a whining dog is infinitely better than an aggressive dog.
Tips in Case of Emotional Distress
If you believe that your dog is whining because of separation anxiety, the best way to cope is to train your dog to accept your temporary absence. You will start by teaching the Labrador to accept your absence for short periods of time.
Play with him before leaving him, if necessary. The important thing is that he is comfortable in the room where you are leaving him, which often means his crate should be full of toys and food to attract his attention. If he starts whining, return to the room a few times until such time that you observe lesser whining. However, don’t overdo it since your Labrador will think that emotional blackmail is effective. Instead, tell him “No” in a firm voice after one too many returns and then only give rewards in the form of hugs and loving words when he does behave.
When your Labrador is whining to get your attention, you should ensure that you are spending more quality time with him. Keep in mind that Labradors are very playful and sociable dogs that whining is often a call for attention. You should also spend extra time with your Labrador when he is being quiet. This way, you are reinforcing his good behavior, which means that his whining to get your attention can be a thing of the past.
Labradors are among the most expressive dog breeds. It pays to pay attention to the causes behind their whining behavior and to take appropriate action. And when all else fails, help in the form of obedience training is always available.