How to train a puppy to sleep in his place alone at night

The character and behavior of a dog is directly related to its owner’s upbringing, especially if the pet came into the house as a small puppy. The reasons for this behavior are manifested in increased emotionality and nervousness of the animal. Whining is unpleasant not only for the owner, but also for the neighbors around him. So how to stop a dog from whining?

Why does my pet whine?

This question worries many breeders and dog owners. Why does a dog whine for no reason?

• Expression of animal emotions. Your furry pet cannot do this in any other way.
• The dog got sick. The cause may be injury or pathology of internal organs. With this behavior he attracts attention to himself or asks for help from the owner. It is worth paying attention if the pet is whining, and in addition, he has a bowel disorder, is shivering, the dog becomes lethargic, does not eat, or has a poor appetite.
• To attract attention. With such signs, the animal asks to take a walk or play with it or treat it with something tasty.
• The sadness of loneliness. If the owner is constantly traveling or at work, then the pet will often lack communication and affection.
• Wild joy or delight. The dog jumps, barks, whines, runs around the person, expressing its emotions in such an unrestrained way, and can uncontrollably grab everything from the floor or ground.
• Apology, guilt. Sometimes a pet may whine after doing something wrong or being caught doing something wrong. Often such whining is accompanied by flattening of the ears and drooping eyes.
• Nothing to occupy yourself with. Sometimes puppies and adult dogs are unable to entertain themselves on their own and, being confined to four walls for a long time, begin to whine and may even run away.
• Defecation. The dog hasn't been walked for a long time and his bladder is full, so he can't hold back and needs to go to the toilet (how to tame it).
• Fright. This reaction happens when meeting an aggressive animal on the street, going to the vet, traveling or changing the environment.

What should the owner do?

First of all, it is important to understand the reasons for your pet’s behavior, and only then take measures to correct the behavior. In most cases, it is enough to satisfy physiological or psychological needs. But sometimes pets begin to be cunning and get used to raising their voices without the slightest reason. In this case, it will be useful to apply the following recommendations:

• Never encourage or praise your dog while whining, so that he does not consider such behavior to be the norm.
• Ignore (do not look, do not talk) if there is no reason for whining, so that the pet understands that such behavior will not bring the desired result.
• Play. You can show your dog his favorite toy and turn his attention to it. Moreover, this method will evoke more positive emotions in the animal compared to the previous option.
• Distract. If the dog has mastered the commands, you can ask him to follow some of them so that he switches to a new activity.

Important! It is better to reward your dog for being quiet rather than punish or scold him for unwanted actions.

To prevent your pet from getting used to whining, dog breeders recommend:

• Gradually teach him to stay at home on his own.
• Feed him on time and take him for walks to burn off excess energy. To do this, you can create a schedule that will suit both the animal and the owner.
• Pay attention and play more often.
• Monitor your health and behavioral characteristics.
• Study the animal’s fears and try to limit their impact.
• Take into account the individual characteristics of the breed and the pet itself.

A dog's whining may only seem cute at first glance. If, without understanding its reasons, the owner immediately calms and caresses the pet, this will only worsen the situation. Therefore, it is important to carefully understand the reasons for whining in order to better understand your pet and prevent such behavior in the future.

If a funny puppy appears in the house, then in addition to joy and tenderness, this event will bring with it certain difficulties. The baby will need to be taught everything, in addition, the owners will have to learn to recognize when the puppy whines and what to do in this case. If the owners are not professional breeders, dog trainers or veterinarians, then most likely the whining of the pet will make them confused. Meanwhile, a lot depends on correct behavior in this case.

When answering the question why a puppy whines, you need to understand that dogs are very sociable animals. They communicate by barking, leaving marks on the territory, wagging their tail and even just looking into the eyes. These phenomena can tell a lot. So whining is one of the forms of communication, and also quite common. By whining, the puppy notifies others of its presence, attracts its mother, and protects itself from other dogs, since whining has a calming effect on them.

These sounds do not always mean that the baby is in pain, since in most cases, animals endure illnesses silently with a certain degree of tolerance, or moaning weakly.

Also, dogs of one breed or another may differ in temperament. Some dogs are silent, while others are very “talkative”; the latter more often use various speech techniques, including whining.

If a puppy whines, then this can indicate completely different feelings - joy, boredom, melancholy, fear, panic, demand for something. It is worth taking a closer look at the condition of your small pet and, based on the accompanying behavior and condition, taking action. Moreover, pitiful whining does not always require immediate intervention...

When does a puppy need real help, and when is it just a whim that should be ignored?

If we talk about the behavior of an animal in the wild, then whining is an expression of humility and submission. Thus, the weaker member of the pack tells the stronger one that he is giving up. At the same time, the dog’s entire posture shows a willingness to obey: the ears are pressed tightly, the head is lowered to the ground, the tail is tucked. Often in such a situation the animal crouches to the ground with its whole body.

If your pet whines guiltily, then the correct thing to do would be to silently approve of such behavior and leave. The dog will understand that it has been forgiven.

In addition, it is quite normal for a dog to whine when greeting familiar people or returning owners. At the same time, the puppy can describe intense circles, jump high, and fall on its front paws. Moreover, violent delight can be caused not only by a long separation, but also by a half-hour separation.

If the owners don’t quite like this, or the stormy meeting lasts too long, then there is only one way to calm the dog - not to react to manifestations of feelings, not to stroke or look into the eyes. In most cases, this technique works and the puppy gradually calms down.

Dogs often use whining to get something they want. This is due to the fact that people react to such sounds in such a way that they are happy to fulfill their pet’s every whim, as long as it doesn’t whine. And therefore, even unintelligent puppies begin to take advantage of their advantage.

To stop a puppy from whining, you don't need to indulge the puppy's whims. And whether to give him what he wants or not should be decided only after he calms down and stops making a plaintive whine.

In addition to being happy, your puppy may whine when upset or scared. At the same time, the pet becomes noticeably nervous, lowers its tail, presses its ears to its head and constantly looks around.

If a puppy is very frightened, he may not just whine, but intensively scratch doors, trying to get out of the room, hide under furniture, tremble all over and not make contact.

The puppy may become frightened when traveling in public transport and begin to whine loudly. That is why it is better to transport your pet to so that it feels more or less protected and safe. You need to take your favorite toy or a new one that your pet has not yet explored with you on the road. Treats are also great for distracting your pet.

Like other newborn babies, puppies also require special attention. It is worth knowing that if they are healthy, well-fed and are close to a nursing mother, then they will not whine.

The cause of whining may be an illness acquired during childbirth. Most often, the first puppies suffer from intrauterine infection. Moving along the birth canal, they absorb all the infection into themselves, clearing the passage of it for subsequent carnivals. Sick puppies may whine, squeal, they are weakened, cannot suck on their own, do not gain weight and begin to lag behind in development. Often they die, and the last born puppies survive.

In this case, the litter is given to another dog for feeding, and the bitch that gave birth is prescribed treatment.

If a dog has numerous offspring (more than 6 puppies), then the owners will have to worry about feeding them, since in most cases, there is not enough mother’s milk for everyone. The weakest puppies may not receive enough nutrition, and this causes them to whine. In this same situation, another lactating bitch or bitch milk purchased at a veterinary pharmacy can help.

How to stop a dog from whining when alone

To prevent your dog from whining throughout its life, remember that it is much more difficult to retrain an adult pet. You need to start from puppyhood.

We lock the pet in one of the rooms and go out the door. The puppy must understand that the owner has left. The baby's first reaction: scratching the doors and light whining. Come back, scold him slightly, lifting him by the scruff of the neck, but don’t hit him or scare him with a loud scream. If he whines a little and calms down, then come back, praise him, and treat him with a treat.

Repeat your “care” several times; the amplitude should increase over time. If your dog whines, don't run to it and don't come back. She is waiting for a similar reaction from the owner and next time the reward simply won’t work.

This is a great way to stop your puppy from whining at night. Teach your pet to the “Place” command from an early age. He should sit or lie in a specially designated place waiting for you. If the dog gets tired and starts moving around the room, it’s not a big deal, as long as it doesn’t bark or whine.

If an animal walks around you and whines, ignore it. This is a provocation and manipulation to attract attention. Do not lose your authority, the owner should communicate with the pet when he wants it, and not vice versa. This is the most correct answer to the question of how to stop a puppy from whining.

Train your puppy while walking. He must receive the maximum load during the walk so that the pet does his best physically.

How to make a dog fall asleep

If proper preparation for bed is carried out, the puppy will not bother the owner until the morning. Before going to bed, it is important to give your pet the opportunity to relieve itself.

For better absorption of food, it should be fed several hours before bedtime. If anxiety arises and to show concern, you can give your pet a massage with light strokes. Before you put the puppy to sleep, you need to give him a good walk with the maximum expenditure of his strength.

If you don’t know how to put your dog to sleep, you can consult a veterinarian. Experts sometimes recommend taking antihistamines to help the dog calm down for the first time before he gets used to the new regime.

What to do if your puppy whines at night

A dog is, first and foremost, a pack animal by nature. If a young puppy begins to whine, bark or make some other sounds at night, this only indicates that in this way he attracts the attention of his relatives. He was used to sleeping near the warm body of the female who gave birth to him, and not being in splendid isolation, albeit on a bedding, but also in love. He may be scared and cold. It is easier to solve this problem by moving the puppy to the owner overnight.

You can also use the "fu" command. It must be pronounced quite firmly and confidently. The first time the dog does not always understand what they want from him, but by the third or fourth time he gradually stops making sounds. When this happens, you should definitely praise your pet for it.

The “fu” command shows that the owner is the boss in the house. From a young age, the dog needs to realize this. The animal is educated only by voice, and not by physical beatings. In this case, the animal can be psychologically traumatized.

Often, if a puppy whines at night, he receives little attention during the day. Often it is not possible to spend much time with him due to work or other matters, but it is still better to compensate for this shortcoming in some way. First of all, this concerns walks. If the puppy becomes physically developed and a little tired, he will need to pay less attention. As a result, he will have less reason to whine or make other sounds at night.

Proper nutrition should also be ensured. It must occur in accordance with the regime. This also applies to access to water when using dry food. This type of food dehydrates the body quite strongly, so the animal will always require the proper level of fluid. If it is not there, it will begin to make sounds or get nervous.

In addition, the puppy should always have his favorite toys and a teeth sharpener in his field of vision. They can help redirect his attention so that he stops whining.

It is important to understand that the effectiveness of all of the above methods can only be achieved with an integrated approach to raising your little pet. All the factors described above in one way or another affect his physical and psychological state. He should be as comfortable as possible with his owner, so that the thought of living with other animals does not even occur to him.

Prohibited Methods

A dog's howling is annoying and infuriating. Adds to the anger and complaints of neighbors who are tired of listening to loud overflows. Trying to wean a dog from whining, owners resort to radical measures. However, they don't work and only make the situation worse. Among them:

1. Beating. An absolutely useless activity. The dog will not understand why it is treated so rudely. But he will become embittered and afraid of people.
2. Trimming the vocal cords. It really deprives the dog of his voice - he can only wheeze. But the operation is dangerous and there is a high risk of complications or death. Plus it won't solve the problem. Yes, the neighbors will get rid of the howling. But the pet’s behavioral problems will remain, and the inability to express them out loud will provoke a psychological disorder.
3. Electroshock collar (ESH). Every time the dog howls, barks or whines, the accessory sends a light shock. The trick is that the dogs are smart - as soon as the ammunition is removed from them, they will scream at the top of their lungs. Or they will find another outlet for their emotions - they will start gnawing things and furniture. Plus, the EShO does not always work correctly - it can strike when the pet yawns, drinks, swallows, or growls while playing. Sudden pain for unknown reasons will lead to a breakdown of the nervous system.

All the methods listed above will not help. They only eliminate the consequence - the howling. But they do not affect the cause - intolerance of loneliness and fear.

To stop your dog from whining, you need to be patient and repeat the lessons day after day. It will take 2-3 weeks to digest. It is taken into account that after 6-8 months the dog may return to a bad habit and the classes will have to be repeated. But 3-4 days are enough for re-correction.

Whining is an unpleasant phenomenon not only for the breeders themselves, but also for the people around them, in particular neighbors if you live in a multi-story building. Therefore, let’s look at how to quickly stop a dog or small puppy from whining.

Working with an adult pet

Often a dog comes into the home as an adult, fully formed individual, be it a dog adopted from a shelter, a foundling, or a pet of friends or acquaintances.

If a dog loses sight of its owner on the street and whines or makes these sounds in anticipation of some event, then such a pet should be taught to concentrate with the help of praise and goodies.

To train a dog to stop whining or howling indoors, use the same method as for a puppy. But remember that the process will take longer due to the age of the pet.

You cannot calm an animal down or praise it if it whines. She will take this as approval and will repeat this action over and over again. The owner should not aggravate the problem, but behave as if the owner of the pack is tough and fair.

You should not hit your pet; in rare cases, the strict command “Fu!”, spoken in a stern voice, is allowed. This way, the dog will feel inner strength and will probably obey. When obedient, grab your dog.

Another important point is not to let your pet out for a walk or to open the door when she barks or whines. Say “Ugh!”, wait until she stops making these sounds and only then release her. If the animal is kept in an enclosure, then accustom it to the place. You should only pet and encourage her when she calms down and becomes silent.

If your dog whines while driving, as soon as he starts doing this, close the curtains to prevent him from looking out the window. Don't get distracted and don't shout, you can command “Ugh!” or “Place!”

Recommendations

If your pet howls or whines from loneliness, then take her for a good walk before work in the morning. A fed and tired dog will rest and sleep longer, and therefore whine less.

Don't forget to leave toys for your animal to chew on. This will calm her nerves, strengthen her gums, and occupy her free time. And besides, you will protect yourself from torn slippers, chewed wires, etc.

Organization of a sleeping place

It is important that the place of sleep evokes positive emotions and attracts the puppy. There is no need to take your pet to a bed or send it to bed as punishment. This will cause stress when trying to put your puppy down. Make this place cozy, it should be comfortable, not cold and not hot. In winter, provide a warm soft blanket, in summer - dense cool material, set the optimal temperature in the room where the puppy sleeps. Allow him to take some kind of toy. Perhaps a softly turned on radio or a ticking clock nearby will help put the baby to sleep.

At first, if the puppy is overly anxious and does not want to be left alone, place his bed next to the bed where you sleep. Go to bed together and put your hand down, let it calm the puppy. Usually after 10 minutes he falls asleep. It is forbidden to take an animal into bed to calm it down! It will be difficult to wean him off in the future. Gradually move the couch further and further from the bed and move it closer to its permanent location. The pet will gradually get used to the changes and will soon begin to rest peacefully until the morning.

Sometimes dogs wake up at night to check that their owner is okay. This phenomenon is observed in both puppies and adult guard breeds. Having arrived in the master bedroom and making sure that he is sleeping peacefully, the dog will go on to sleep. If your pet has this habit, do not leave it indoors overnight.

Breed selection

The choice of breed when purchasing a pet is also important. Remember that mixtures of breeds behave unpredictably and it is almost impossible to predict their future character. The quietest breeds, according to breeders and owners, are the Irish Setter and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

But the beautiful and imposing husky loves to howl, pugs and sharpeis will not bark much, but they grunt and snore.

The most silent breeds

If you do not like noisy dogs or those prone to howling and barking, then before choosing a pet you should choose a more silent breed.

1. Basenji. These animals do not bark, but may purr when unhappy or howl slightly.
2. Bullmastiff. A large, beautiful animal, it can be a protector for families and children; it prefers to snort and sniffle.
3. Deerhound. This breed is perfect for indoors and will not bother you with barking, whining or howling.
4. Afghan Hound. An elegant pet with high intelligence, attached to its owners.
5. Shar Pei. It is distinguished by high devotion to its owners, barks and whines little. Mostly barks when playing or in danger.
6. Ridgeback. A strong, powerful animal that is perfect as a protector. Characterized by silence. They need long walks and fresh air.
7. Akita Inu. A dog with a powerful physique, silent until she is in danger.
8. Greyhound. A companion pet with great speed and energy. Silent.
9. Russian greyhound. The dog is graceful and not lacking in grace, moves a lot, makes little noise.

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Which breeds are prone to whining?

Busy people should not take as a pet a representative of the following breeds, which are highly human-oriented and cannot be alone:

• basset hound;
• Bernese Mountain Dog;
• bichon frize;
• boxer;
• Beauceron;
• bulldog - American, French;
• Brussels Griffon;
• bull terrier;
• Irish Setter;
• Golden retriever;
• Yorkshire Terrier;
• Cane Corso;
• Spaniel – King Charles, English Cocker;
• Maltese;
• pug;
• Continental Toy Spaniel (Papillon, Phalene);
• spaniel;
• poodles;
• Toy Terrier;
• Saint Bernard;
• chihuahua;
• Chowchow.

When purchasing such a pet, the owner, who does not have enough time to communicate with him, will encounter not only whining. In addition, whining may turn out to be the “lesser evil”, since bored dogs can cause harm, and large dogs do this on a grand scale.

Whining at night may be a sign that the dog is not getting proper exercise. This applies to young, energetic and efficient dogs with an active psyche. Active working breeds include all service dogs, sled dogs, sports dogs, hunting dogs, and some herding dogs.

Cowardly four-legged animals can also whine if it seems to them that the people or relatives around them pose a threat. Usually this quality is not associated with the breed of the pet, but most often owners cultivate it in decorative, miniature pets - caring for, protecting and in every possible way protecting from external irritants, often doing a “disservice” to the dog.

In addition, dogs that in the past had to wander or endure beatings and humiliation from the owner can be cowardly. Pets that lack the owner’s attention can also whine, and thus they attract the owner.

Factors influencing the sleep duration of a four-legged animal

Age

Puppies and older dogs spend much more time sleeping than healthy and young dogs. Puppies need more time to sleep because they grow while they sleep. For example, three-month-old babies can sleep up to 20 hours a day. Older dogs need more time to recuperate.

Puppies - Chihuahua puppies sleep a lot, and when they are awake they are often very active and even hyper. It's like two sides of a coin: the puppy will push away so much that owners wonder if Chi sleeps too much, but then when he wakes up he has a huge amount of energy.

From 2 to 6 months, a Chihuahua puppy can sleep up to 18 hours. From 6 months to the 1 year mark, an hour or two may be deducted from this. Your Chihuahua puppy's sleeping habits will be scattered. He may nod mid-game as he pushes himself to stay awake and enjoy what he's doing until his body just gives up and he walks away.

Breed

Representatives of large breeds also require more time to recuperate.

Weather

Just like people, weather conditions also affect our dogs. Probably every owner of a four-legged dog has noticed that on a cloudy and rainy day his pet becomes lethargic, sleepy and prefers to curl up, lie in a soft bed and snore quietly and peacefully in two holes.

Of course, the goal is for owners to try to make the most of this sleep at night, when owners want to be undisturbed in bed, and we'll go ahead. Adults - Canine breeds such as Chihuahuas that are adults at 1 year of age will sleep approximately 12 to 15 hours. This includes both at night and during sleep. Each dog will vary in how much wood he takes and for how long.

By the 1-year mark, most have learned to snooze all night and have more control over when they take naps. The young adult Chi is accustomed to his schedule now and knows when to expect walks, feeding, playtime and grooming. He can sleep between these events and usually settles down at night without much prompting.

Stress

Stress often has a big impact on how much dogs sleep. After the experience, the dog can sleep for a whole day. For example, our Jack, after exciting trips to the veterinary clinic, even for the usual annual vaccination, sleeps for half a day and comes to his senses.

Disease

Very often, when a dog is unwell, he may sleep longer than usual. Watch your pet. If, in addition to lethargy and weakness, other symptoms are observed (such as diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite, and so on), then in this case you need to seek help from a veterinarian.

Dogs left alone for most of the day may nap out of sheer boredom, while those who engage in interaction and activity may remain alert for much longer periods of time. Seniors - like the era of Chi, there is a gradual slowing down of the body.

You may not notice much of a difference with a 9 or 10 year old Chi, however, when the dog enters adolescence, he will sleep much more than his younger counterpart. An older Chihuahua will sleep for about 16-17 hours unless medical problems or discomfort prevent him from doing so.

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If household members are at work all day, and the four-legged one is left at home alone, then he simply has nothing left to do but sleep.

It’s another matter if the dog lives in the yard or when the family is full of children, a cat and other animals. There's no time for sleep here anymore. There's a whole bunch of things to do. Chase a cat, run after a ball with children, bark at neighbors or other people's dogs passing by. What fun! How boring it is!

Besides raising a puppy at home, training your puppy to sleep at night is the biggest challenge most owners face. Owners wonder if the puppy was waiting for a nap because he needed a bath or simply because he wanted attention.

Since you don't want to ignore the cue to go potty, how can you avoid running over to him every time he wakes up? This can actually cause sleep deprivation for many new owners, and it can be quite a drag. It can cause fatigue, affect cognitive functioning and cause headaches. It can also cause irritability and decreased stress tolerance, which can make caring for your puppy more difficult.

During estrus, the duration of sleep for young ladies increases. They become calm and even a little sad.

How to help a puppy or teach him not to cry when he's locked up or outside

I've encountered this. It's been a long time, really. The puppy cried terribly the first day, I gave him my old rabbit fur hat. He probably thought it was still a puppy and didn’t cry anymore. Maybe I should give him something fur too? :))

Let's try to find some kind of fur trap.

You can also try leaving for a few minutes and returning, each time increasing the time of absence - so that he understands that you are not leaving him and will definitely come soon. Absolutely right. Or - get dressed and NOT leave. Lock yourself away from him in the room/kitchen, scold him if he cries, scratch him, praise him if he was silent and didn’t ask. Praise + treat if you were silent for at least a minute or two. Then increase the time. Everything else is also an option, try it.

Puppy whining at night

It often happens that a puppy behaves quite peacefully during the day, but at night begins his pitiful concerts, preventing not only the owners from sleeping, but also the residents of neighboring apartments. If your puppy whines at night, you need to immediately deal with this phenomenon.

The only correct solution in this case is to completely ignore the pet. If you start to feel sorry, the puppy will take it as encouragement and understand that in this way you can always achieve what you want. Later he will whine even more protractedly and pitifully, begging for increased attention.

If the puppy does not calm down for a long time, then you can use the well-known command “fu!” You need to open the door and say the command in a stern tone, loud and clear. This will have to be done for a long time until the dog calms down. If the baby stops whining, even for 15-20 seconds, then he must be praised for this. Gradually, receiving timely commands and well-deserved praise, he will learn to do without whining for a longer period of time.

Whining is not the most pleasant sound to the human ear, but you have to be patient. It is worth remembering that physical punishment is not the right solution; it will lead to much worse results, since the pet’s behavior will only worsen after beatings and other influences.