Whining

[MichiH]

I know it’s a Doberman thing to whine. Well it has gotten so bad recently. I have no idea why and I ignore it and have taught a command to quiet, but she ignores it.

She is whining in her night crate while its bed time, she whines in her car crate which she has no problem getting in and never has had an issue, going outside alone and whining as soon as she goes out, whining all the time! Nothing is wrong with her she is still doing her normal routine, but increased whining.

Oh and in the car crate she has started to howl the entire car ride! I be made the crate fun and she happily gets into it and then snoopy howls…

Currently, she is outside howling and just asked to go out.

 

[MyBuddy]

Wow. That is a little unusual when all of those things she's been doing for a while with no whining. Why it would happen suddenly like that is kind of weird and I'm sure frustrating. If she can only tell you! I know the whining can really get on your nerves! Could it just be boredom?

 

[MichiH]

Wow. That is a little unusual when all of those things she's been doing for a while with no whining. Why it would happen suddenly like that is kind of weird and I'm sure frustrating. If she can only tell you! I know the whining can really get on your nerves! Could it just be boredom?

It is really odd and otherwise she’s acting fine, her normal self.
I assume outside may be boredom, but she is howling. Like today let her out she started howling at the door, I went out and said NO and she kept going so she went to her crate. When she came out of her crate she went outside again and I went with her she was asking to use the hose. I’m thinking that was her reason for initially howling.

The car crate makes no sense to me because she knows we are going to do something fun when she is in her car crate.

As for night time I think she wants to be in the bed with us to snuggle and when we deny that she whines. Moving forward no more snuggling in our bed.

I’m wondering if this is because she wants attention as she’s been very snuggly lately and always by my side. I do run errands, time for myself crate is used at home and she uses her crate for naps, so we aren’t always together. Therefore, I don’t think it’s a separation thing either.

I’m hoping this is some phase once again as it seems she’s learned to howl and keeps it going. The whining is what really frustrates us. I try to down command to stop it, but she’ll sneak a few whines in. Love her not the new found vocalizing.

Maybe she’s spoiled? She gets plenty of training, at least 2 walks a day, play time activities, and lots of love from us all. And naps at least 3-4 a day in her crate.

 

[Rits]

How long ago was her heat cycle? Maybe some residual hormones and false pregnancy. Ripley gets VERY whiny the months following her heat cycle.

 

[MichiH]

How long ago was her heat cycle? Maybe some residual hormones and false pregnancy. Ripley gets VERY whiny the months following her heat cycle.

She ended her heat August 30.
Turned 1 on 9/24.

Whining and howling increase about a week ago. Eating well, bms are normal, sleeping well. Just seems to be a lot more cuddly which maybe is a maturing thing?

 

[JanS]

Maybe some residual hormones and false pregnancy. Ripley gets VERY whiny the months following her heat cycle.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Olive ended her cycle in mid August and she's been showing some nesting behavior lately.

 

[MichiH]

That's exactly what I was thinking. Olive ended her cycle in mid August and she's been showing some nesting behavior lately.

Oh my could that be all the bed scratching too? Her nipples and vulva are still larger.
Is this related?

 

[JanS]

Oh my could that be all the bed scratching too? Her nipples and vulva are still larger.
Is this related?

Yes, it's possible on both counts. Some of them will even develop milk, even if there are no pups.

 

[MichiH]

Yes, it's possible on both counts. Some of them will even develop milk, even if there are no pups.

Wow ok did not even think of this. What is the time frame for false pregnancy to occur after they are done their heat?

She has been sleepy lately too within the past week.

That could also explain the ball she’s carrying around

 

[JanS]

What is the time frame for false pregnancy to occur after they are done their heat?

I think it varies, but normally around the time their pups would be due if they would have been bred.

 

[Ravenbird]

Yep. I think before her heat we discussed this in one of your threads. Pups are about 63 days after breeding, so we'll just say end of October. I personally take ALL the toys away as they can get obsessed with it. I try to keep up the training/walks/fun stuff up or a little more than usual just to keep her mind busy and hopefully settle into sleep faster. Actually Asha will sleep more and more in this 60 day period. She usually "snaps out of it" about two weeks after "due date". All these intact girls will have their own pattern & habits, but Ashas first heat was the worst for false pregnancy, enlarged teats and a little milk and obsessed with a toy. Since then she's toned down several notches on physical and mental behavior, all that's left is nesting and sleeping more. If I was you, I'd still reinforce NO when she whines or howls - because for whatever her reason is, that's pretty unacceptable behavior and you def don't want it to become a habit. Also, @Rits suggests Raspberry Leaves to help mute these symptoms - I ordered some for Ashas November heat coming up to see if it helps, then she came in heat early, so I'll be a little late starting that supplement, but I'll let you know if it helps for her next 60 days of symptoms.

 

[Gelcoater]

I know it’s a Doberman thing to whine. Well it has gotten so bad recently. I have no idea why and I ignore it and have taught a command to quiet, but she ignores it.

She is whining in her night crate while its bed time, she whines in her car crate which she has no problem getting in and never has had an issue, going outside alone and whining as soon as she goes out, whining all the time! Nothing is wrong with her she is still doing her normal routine, but increased whining.

Oh and in the car crate she has started to howl the entire car ride! I be made the crate fun and she happily gets into it and then snoopy howls…

Currently, she is outside howling and just asked to go out.

So a thought here.
The last 8 plus months now old boy Rocky has been whining while outside, bitching, barking and whining.
the reason being, a new male Doberman { of all breeds he could be} living in a yard behind us and over a yard.
The new dog doesnt make any noise but Rocky can smell him because the way the wind blows.
he smells the competition and it pisses him off.

Posible theres a new intact female nearby she can smell?
Sure the whining in the car is probably hormones but? Just a thought.

 

[Kaiser2016]

The whining

It's the worst isn't it. Somehow, Kaiser managed to get his under control, but do whatever you can to keep it under control now so it doesn't escalate. The hard part is to tell them 'no' without reinforcing the whining by having given it the attention of saying no. What I have done is to reward the quiet times.

 

[MichiH]

The whining

It's the worst isn't it. Somehow, Kaiser managed to get his under control, but do whatever you can to keep it under control now so it doesn't escalate. The hard part is to tell them 'no' without reinforcing the whining by having given it the attention of saying no. What I have done is to reward the quiet times.

It’s terrible. I can’t stand human whining and animal whining, no whining at all!

Yes, I was worried when I say NO it’s regarding her annoying behavior. I have started to really amp up my rewarding quiet times.

Let’s hope this passes quickly. The howling is pretty cute, but when it’s an entire car ride I want to pull my hair out.

 

[Ravenbird]

The howling is pretty cute, but when it’s an entire car ride I want to pull my hair out.

Sorry, had to put the laugh on that.

The only person I know that says they stopped whining is @Ddski5 and I'm not sure what method he used (Tips, tutorial please? We'll pay you!). I have used the e-collar to try to stop it on training long downs at a distance for IGP work. It did nothing except make her flatten down more. I honestly believe some of these dogs don't even realize they are doing it. It's like breathing & they don't get what they're being told NO about. I hate it, but I have never figured out an answer. I don't understand how rewarding not-whining connects in their brain that not-whining is why they got a reward. How do they connect the dots to not-whining as compared to just hanging out or 20 seconds of forgetting about their pity party because they were day dreaming about a squirrel?

 

[Ddski5]

The only person I know that says they stopped whining is @Ddski5 and I'm not sure what method he used (Tips, tutorial please? We'll pay you!).

Ragnar whined at first but I trained it out. Freyja also started to whine at a young age but I pretty much trained it out.

Freyja does not casually whine. Freyja will only and only time it’s accepted- if she really needs to go outside and nobody notices her, if she doesn’t feel well, family says she whines and paces at 3:30 because I get home about 3:45. Outside of that, whining is just not accepted and I’ve made sure she knew it is not a pleasurable trait. I cannot tell you the last time I heard her whine.

Some folks will prob disagree with my philosophy/methods but it is just not accepted, period…Just like any other undesirable behavior, it was verbally reprimanded and then a physical punishment. At a young age if they whined, they are told a stern no multiple times and if needed an ECollar stim is rendered. Just like anything else, you must be persistent, consistent and immediately spot on with the correction. It is something that I corrected what??? 100 times everyday for days??? No way you can overlook this and let it slide a day or two…it has to be immediate and consistent. As they start to correlate whining with correction then it decreases and eventually stops. I don’t think I have ever done positive reinforcement for not whining. I don’t know how they would understand- oh I get a treat for not whining…but they do understand if I whine then something negative will follow. I think it would be extremely hard to negative condition whining on a training field all “Asha jacked up and wired”. It would have to start at home where I know they understand the perceived correction is from the action of whining.

I would say riding in the truck was the hardest. Ragnar was most definitely harder than Freyja. Either Freyja is a lot more in-sync to request and commands or I just got better on my second Doberman. There is no doubt that I learned a lot from Ragnar. I have learned the hardest thing with training is not necessarily because Freyja is not doing it correctly- it’s that I am not communicating correctly what I want her to do. Once she understands what I am asking, it’s easy.

Not quite for sure if it can be trained out of an adult Doberman. Behaviors and thinking have become ingrained for such a long time that it may be instinctual. If one can get them to understand the undesirable behavior is whining, then it’s doable.

 

[MyBuddy]

Some folks will prob disagree with my philosophy/methods but it is just not accepted, period…Just like any other undesirable behavior, it was verbally reprimanded and then a physical punishment. At a young age if they whined, they are told a stern no multiple times

I agree! Annie has not done a lot of whining at all. But the few times she has, it's an immediate verbal reprimand. My thought was to nip that in the bud! So far so good.

 

[Kswoodssue]

Hormones was the first thing I thought of too, but I agree with @Ddski5 . Zero tolerance for excessive whining and/or licking. That doesn’t mean one should not try to treat the cause, but it is our experience with Sasha that she becomes obsessed with licking or temper tantrum style whining. That does not mean we never have a problem, but you give an inch, they take a mile. She is happily curled up on our bed right now, but she knows that if she misbehaves, she can’t stay there. At this point, just asking her if we need to get the ecollar out is enough for her to plop down, sigh, and go to sleep They are way too smart! A car ride might be a good time for a frozen peanut butter Kong, or a chew treat to distract her and change the habit.

 

[MichiH]

Thank you all! It’s a recent occurrence with her and I have been on top of it because it’s not desirable. Plus, nothing is wrong with her so she’s doing it because she’s picking up a bad behavior.

Last night no bedtime whining and that’s a win, she did what she used to do, went to her crate and fell asleep. Also, we had 2 car rides no crate howling!

@Ravenbird lol it is funny I picture snoopy howling when she does it, yet after a few minutes of it I’m crazy

I’m leaning towards false pregnancy with her as she has many signs of it. Still we are working on her whining and howling as it is unacceptable. I thought her carrying her ball was cute, but now it’s not! I’m having to take it away because its becoming an obsession.

 

[Ravenbird]

ust like anything else, you must be persistent, consistent and immediately spot on with the correction. It is something that I corrected what??? 100 times everyday for days??? No way you can overlook this and let it slide a day or two…it has to be immediate and consistent. As they start to correlate whining with correction then it decreases and eventually stops

Not quite for sure if it can be trained out of an adult Doberman. Behaviors and thinking have become ingrained for such a long time that it may be instinctual.

I totally agree with your method and I'm sure my consistent/persistent was the major fail during her first year. I can't recall when I introduced the e-collar but by the time I did she was at least 8 - 9 months old I think and the whining had been going on since day one - mostly for being confined, whether the crate, x-pen, even the fenced yard if I went outside the yard to the big acres to do chores without her she'd whine big time. I went by the ol' rules of not giving in/waiting it out for the most part, which I think probably enhanced the self-rewarding behavior. When she was older, pressure from the e-collar did nothing and I finally quit trying because I think I was sending confusing message that her down was being punished. I felt like I could never make it clear what she was doing wrong! I also worked on pairing it with "quiet" like I did with explosive barking, which did stop the barking, but never worked for the whining.... All in all I think the critical time is the first year and as you say extremely consistent, every time, every day, which admittedly I failed to do. Thanks for your input!