Whining is one of the most frustrating behaviours gundog owners encounter. Whether it’s out of impatience, excitement or frustration a whining dog can quickly disrupt training sessions and even affect their performance in the field and competition be being an eliminating fault
The good news? Whining can be addressed with consistent training, clear communication and a better understanding of why your dog is vocalising in the first place. In this blog we will dive into why dogs whine, how to stop it and how to encourage a calm and focused mindset during training.
Why Does Your Dog Whine?
Understanding the root cause of whining is the first step in addressing it. Gundogs often whine for the following reasons:
Frustration
Your dog may whine when they’re restrained or unable to reach something they want, like game or a retrieve. This frustration often stems from a lack of impulse control and steadiness
Anticipation
Many gundogs whine when they know something exciting is about to happen such as a retrieve or going out into the field. The build up of excitement can cause them to vocalise in anticipation of what’s to come.
Stress or Anxiety
Some dogs whine when they’re uncertain or nervous, such as during training exercises they don’t fully understand.
Reinforcement
If whining has worked in the past (e.g., gaining your attention or being allowed to retrieve) your dog may have learned that vocalising gets results and it becomes a learnt behaviour
Once you identify the cause of the whining you can start working on implementing strategies to address it.
Teach Calmness
Teaching your dog to remain calm is the foundation of addressing whining. A calm dog is less likely to vocalise out of frustration or anticipation.
How to Teach Calmness
Reward quiet behaviour. Pay attention to moments when your dog is quiet and calm then reward them with treats or praise. This reinforces the behaviour you want.
Ignore whining. Avoid responding to your dog when they whine. Any reaction even scolding can reinforce the behaviour. Wait for them to stop before giving attention or going ahead with the activity.
Use a place command. Teach your dog to settle in a designated spot (like a bed or mat). Start with short periods of time then build up duration until your dog can sit in place for periods of time. This helps them associate stillness and quietness with positive outcomes.
Practice Impulse Control
Impulse control is crucial for gundogs and a lack of it is a common reason for whining. Exercises that teach your dog patience and steadiness can reduce frustration and excitement driven vocalisations.
Impulse Control Exercises
Sit and Wait: Have your dog sit and wait for your release command before they retrieve or perform an activity. Gradually increase the waiting time to build patience.
Delayed Retrieves/Memories/Blinds
Place a dummy in front of your dog and make them wait before giving the release command. Set up blinds and memories instead of marked retrieves. On occasion place out a dummy and the handler then picks it instead of the dog.
Break Anticipation
Whining often occurs when a dog anticipates something exciting. Breaking this cycle of anticipation can help eliminate the vocalisation.
Tips for Breaking Anticipation
Mix up your routine, If your dog whines during a specific part of training (e.g., before a retrieve) change the order of exercises or the handler collects he dummy. This keeps them from predicting what’s coming next.
Randomise periods before release commands. Avoid using predictable patterns. Vary the length of time your dog waits before they’re allowed to retrieve or proceed with an activity.
Walk away if they whine, when your dog whines while waiting for a retrieve or command, calmly walk away and reset. Continue with something else while the dog sits and does nothing. Only proceed when they’re quiet.
Address Frustration
Dogs often whine out of frustration when they’re unsure of what’s expected or if they feel restrained. Providing clear guidance and structure can alleviate this. Ensure commands and expectations are clear and consistent. Confusion can lead to whining.
Manage Your Reaction
Your response to whining plays a significant role in either reinforcing or extinguishing the behaviour. Avoid reinforcing the whining, even unintentionally.
What to Do
Stay calm: Frustration on your part can escalate the whining. Take a deep breath and focus on calmly resetting the situation.
Don’t give in: If your dog whines for attention, a retrieve or anything else, ignore them until they’re quiet. Reward only calm, quiet behaviour.
Be patient: Addressing whining takes time. Consistency is key to helping your dog develop new habits.
Focus on Quiet Training Sessions
Training sessions should prioritise calmness and focus. If your dog is prone to whining, structure your sessions to prevent overstimulation.
Quiet Training Tips
Short, focused sessions: Keep sessions brief and engaging to prevent frustration from building.
Low-pressure environments: Train in a calm, distraction free area until your dog builds confidence and focus.
Reward engagement: Make it clear that working with you leads to rewards, not vocalising or acting independently.
Final Thoughts
Whining can be a challenging behaviour to manage but it’s not insurmountable. By teaching calmness, reinforcing impulse control and breaking cycles of anticipation you can help your gundog develop the focus and patience needed for success in training, the field and even competition
The key is to remain consistent, patient and proactive. With time and effort your dog will learn that quiet, focused behaviour is the quickest path to rewards and success. Happy training!