One problem that many Doberman owners share is their frustration and annoyance with excessive whining. Often owners think this trait is cute when they first bring their pup home. They soon discover that it’s not that cute when their adult Doberman continues to whimper. In some cases the relationship between the owner and his dog can become stressful.
Most reach a stage where they will try anything to stop their dog’s constant whining. The good news is that you can train your dog not to whine. The bad news is that if you have waited until your dog is older and the habit is ingrained, it will take a lot of time and patience to break this habit that you helped foster.
Why did Dobermans come?
There are three basic causes of Doberman whining. Your dog is sick or in pain and whining is his way of telling you that he is in pain. He is bored and needs physical and mental stimulation. You have taught him by your actions that whining will get your attention, and he uses this whining to manipulate you into doing what he wants.
Behavior change
The first step in changing your Doberman’s behavior is to figure out why he’s complaining. The first thing you should do is visit the vet to do a full exam and rule out any health problems. Once he has a clean bill of health, you need to decide if he is lacking physical and mental stimulation or if his whining is to get your full attention or both.
Physical and Mental Stimulation
Dobermans are larger dogs and need a lot of physical exercise in order not to get bored. They may require as much as an hour of play two or three times a day, as well as some walking. A well-exercised dog should be slightly tired, calm and well-behaved in the house. Dobermans, being intelligent dogs, also need a lot of mental stimulation to prevent them from getting bored.
Obedience and other types of training, done daily, will help give him the mental stimulation he needs. You can also include puzzle balls among his toys and teach him some simple tricks. This should help reduce his whining.
Change Manipulative Behavior
If your Doberman whines to manipulate you into paying attention to him, chances are you’ve taught him that whining gets your attention. You will have to teach him that whining will not get him the attention he wants. You and everyone in your household will have to ignore him when he whines, unless he is doing it out of a need to relieve himself.
When he complains, ignore him and leave the room. Don’t look at him or talk to him until he stops whining, no matter how long it takes. As soon as he stops whining, pet him. Tell him what a nice guy he is and spend a couple of minutes getting his attention. Do this consistently and he’ll soon learn that whining won’t get your attention.
