Why Does My German Shepherd Puppy Whine So Much
So, why does my German Shepherd whine a lot? Common reasons include illness or injury, boredom, stress, fear, excitement and inadvertently reinforcing the behavior. There are actually a number of reasons why your German Shepherd might whine a lot and there are a number of things that you can do about it.
Why is my German Shepherd whining? The German Shepherd whines because it has an overwhelming need to protect the pack member, but it cannot do so in their absence. Whining for a reward. Your German Shepherd whines when it associates the behavior with a reward. For many people, the only way to make your dog stop whining is by giving it what it wants.
Why does my Shepherd make a whining noise? This could be because of the sound of the engine or the smells coming out of the truck. It is also possible that your German Shepherd is vocalizing because he is bored. As mentioned, German Shepherds are active dogs so if you dont provide your dog enough exercise, he will make all sorts of sounds including groaning and sighing.
Why do dogs whine? Dogs whine to show you what they feel the most at the moment. These are some of the most common reasons why do dogs whines: To get attention. Feeling stress. Has low self-confidence. Feeling pain or sick. 1. Attention-Seeking Whining Being a social animal, dogs love to gain as much attention as they can from their dog owners.
How Do I Get My German Shepherd To Sleep Through The Night
The Good Night Command Method Set up your German Shepherds crate and introduce it to your puppy. It should have soft, warm bedding and a toy or two for your pup to chew on while falling asleep. Tell your puppy it is time to go to bed. You can give him a command such as go night-night or its time to go good night.
Are German Shepherds Anxious
We all know that GSDs are very affectionate and loyal dogs. They love spending time with their owners and protect them from threats. However, a GSD becomes weak and shows signs of aggression and bad behavior when they are left alone. It gives them a feeling of anxiety and extreme stress.
Like many herding breeds, German Shepherds are barkers. Barking isn’t necessarily a problem, but it can be if the dog is bored. Learning the “Quiet” command should be part of every German Shepherd’s obedience training. German Shepherds like to chew, and their powerful jaws can destroy most materials.
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Should You Ignore A Whining German Shepherd Dog
Yes, you should ignore a whining German shepherd dog if he ONLY whines to get undeserved attention.
You can do this by walking away from him without turning your face towards him. Grab a remote and watch your TV. Or, just fold your hands, place your legs on the table and then take a small nap.
The aim is to make him know youre not bothered by his cry.
It can be irritating, I know. But have some self-control and ignore it for some days. Its for your own good, not unless if you want to reinforce the behavior and deal with the habit forever.
Its time to hear from you:
Why has your German shepherd been whining? Whats the strategy that works best in stopping him from whining?
Why Do German Shepherds Tilt Their Heads
There is nothing cuter than a German Shepherd head-tilt and you will find tons of pictures and videos of dogs tilting their heads on all social media platforms. Many owners will make plenty of strange sounds just to see their pup perform an adorable head tilt. So, why do German Shepherds tilt their heads?
German Shepherds tilt their heads when they become interested in something different. They use the position of their head, and more specifically, their ears to learn the direction of the new sound. They also tilt their head when trying to understand what youre saying and to increase visual cues.
There are a lot of other behaviors that German Shepherd Dogs portray. You can read about problematic behaviors in this breed and their solutions from my article on German Shepherd Behavior Problems.
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Top 10 Claims For German Shepherds
Like all dogs, German Shepherds can get sick or injured unexpectedly. The top 10 accident and illness claims received by ASPCA Pet Health Insurance^ for this breed are:
- Allergies*
- Lamenesswhich could indicate hip or elbow dysplasia
- Arthritis
*Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits and exclusions may apply. For all terms and conditions visit www.aspcapetinsurance.com/terms. Preventive and Wellness Care reimbursements are based on a schedule. Complete Coverage reimbursements are based on the invoice. Levels 1-4 reimbursements are based on usual and customary eligible costs. Products, schedules, and rates may vary and are subject to change. Discounts may vary and are subject to change. More information available at checkout.
The ASPCA® is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance. Products are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company , produced and administered by C& F Insurance Agency, Inc. , a Crum & Forster company. Through a licensing agreement, the ASPCA receives a royalty fee that is in exchange for use of the ASPCAs marks and is not a charitable contribution. C& F and Crum & Forster are registered trademarks of United States Fire Insurance Company. Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group is a trademark of United States Fire Insurance Company. The Crum & Forster group of companies is rated A by AM Best Company 2020.
How To Get Your Dog Used To Isolation
If you cant help but be away, you should get your dog used to being alone. Start while you are in the house. First, get your German Shepherd acclimated to the idea of being in a different room for increasingly long periods.
Once they are comfortable with this, you can move on to leaving the house for longer periods. In the beginning, leave for fifteen minutes and come back. Do this until your German Shepherd no longer shows signs of anxiety. Gradually increase the periods you are away for.
In case you will be away for most of the day, it is best to organize a dog walker to take your German Shepherd out for exercise. The combination of exercise and human interaction can help calm their separation anxiety.
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Why Is Your German Shepherd Whining
Remember, dogs cant communicate with us like we can to each other. But they do have different forms of communication . Here are the most common motives behind whining.
They Want Something
One of the most common reasons your german shepherd is going to whine is because they want something. It could be some attention, a walk, or food and water. Whatever it is theyre letting you know they want it.
Remember, sometimes you should listen to them . Other times, youll need to take the time to teach them that whining isnt a good way for them to get what they want. Like if they want attention or to play.
Lastly, whining that they want something could indicate a problem. For example, if you notice them whining for food after theyve eaten they may still be hungry .
Theyre Trying To Alert You
German shepherds are bred to be herders. Part of their built-in instinct is to whine when theres something that could be a threat.
The only issue is that what you see as a threat and what they see as a threat are completely different. For example, they may whine when they see a cat or person outside your house or when a car drives past.
And while this is good behavior in a sense, it still good to only train your german shepherd to whine at things you actually need to be alerted too. Or in most cases, not at all.
To Try And Get Your Attention
Similar to when they want something, sometimes a german shepherd whining can be because they want your attention.
Theyre Greeting You
Theyre Scared
Does Putting A Blanket Over A Dog Crate Help
To put it simply, draping a blanket over a dog crate can provide some dogs with an additional measure of security and serenity, making their den cozy and complete. Think of it like closing the bathroom door just before you step into a relaxing hot bath peace, privacy, and security go a long way for dogs too.
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Whining Because Of Excitement
As we mentioned earlier, a German Shepherd whine as a way of communicating. When a German Shepherd is excited, it may also whine to express its joy and happiness.
Some instance where a German Shepherd whines from excitement include:
- When someone comes home
- When it is about to go for a walk
- When playing with you, or other dogs
- When it is being served food
Should I Train My German Shepherd To Stop Barking
Theres no need to stop your German Shepherd from barking unless it becomes excessive or its related to a behavioral problem. For example, if your German Shepherd barks constantly during play and doesnt respond to cues to stop, or their barking makes it difficult to concentrate on household tasks and neighbors have commented on the noise.
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Why Is My German Shepherd So Needy
Your German Shepherd is so needy because they crave attention and you unwittingly reinforce it. Owners are at fault when they pet or give praises when their dog follows them around. In some cases, boredom and lack of mental stimulation make dogs needy.
German Shepherds are adorable and make great family pets. Theyre extremely loyal and can be strongly bonded with their owners.
But sometimes they take this to the extreme. To the point that they become clingy and needy. Its like they dont want you to get out of their sight.
Heres a list of the possible reasons why:
They Are Showing Remorse
Well, your dog cant say sorry. So their whining may be their way of saying sorry. If accompanied by a droopy tail and ears, theyve likely picked up on your anger. If youve not been very pleased with them for something, then it is likely that they are showing that they are sorry. Although you should never hit or yell at your dog for mistakes, it is a very good sign if they have picked up on your stern behavior or displeasure and are apologizing. Once your pup knows its done something wrong and is trying to say sorry, make amends and pat them.
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They Need Or Want Something
Typically, if dogs whine because they want or need something, theyll make an effort to let you know exactly what that is.
For example, if they need to go out to potty, they might take their leash, stand by your front door, and whine until you let them out. If their toy is stuck somewhere and they cant get it out themselves, they could take you there and keep whining until you realize the problem and help them out.
Cases like this are normal dog behavior. It is simply a means for your dog to communicate with you. Nothing is wrong with this behavior, but you can also teach your dog alternative behaviors if you prefer.
For example, you can teach your dog to use a potty bell instead of whining whenever they want to be taken out.
Most Common German Shepherd Behavioral Problems
Before we dive into the most common behavioral problems associated with German shepherds, I think its important to look at where the breed has actually come from.
Over the last century, German shepherds have been used for tracking, search and rescueespecially for the police and protection and guarding. So, its no surprise that a lot of the issues are in this exact area.
They have been intentionally bred for traits such as fierce loyalty, intelligence, and strength.
This leads to one of the first common problems for German shepherds, which revolves around aggression and the need to protect. Its very possible that an untrained German shepherd would be likely to bark or lunge at other dogs or people, especially on his own property.
Its not at all that this type of dog is being mean or nasty. In fact, from the dogs point of view, he believes hes just doing his job of protecting his family or territory.
Its a very, very common problem, and, at the end of the day, it is what the German shepherd has been bred to do a lot of the time.
The good newsthis behavior can be untrained. Or even better yet, if youre working with a German shepherd puppy or a young German shepherd, you can easily avoid this behavioral problem. And in case you are wondering, this does not automatically mean, that if you ever really do need help, that they wont rise to the occasion!
Once again, with some basic training and a good sturdy harness, this behavior can be easily prevented.
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Dog Diabetes Makes It Skinny
If your dog has diabetes, you might not be too surprised at all when you learn that why is my German Shepherd so skinny. It usually begins with a lack of insulin, which is a hormone made by the pancreas. It is produced to deal with glucose, which is a sugar found in the blood.
When a dogs pancreas does not make enough, cells in the dog body cannot work properly, and glucose isnt transported to all the cells as it is needed. When diabetes in dogs is not treated promptly, the cells often begin to die, which means that the dog will lose weight.
Your German Shepherd Wants Something Specific
Your German Shepherd could likely want your attention for reasons other than being pet. They may also need your attention if
- Their mealtime is being delayed
- They need help with something that they cant do themselves
- Their food does not taste fine
- They need to go potty
- They are hurting
Due to all the above possibilities, it is advised to not dismiss whining as mere attention-seeking. If they are whining for any of the above reasons, dismissing them is not going to solve the problem. Heres what you can do:
Firstly, pay attention to which specific scenario theyre whining in, and try to discern the reason then fix the problem.
Since this is simply a way your dog communicates, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Although, if you wish to know more specifically what your dog needs, you could train them to use other specific cues to notify you about a certain issue or need. For instance, using a bell to indicate something, or bringing a specific item to you when they need something.
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Assess Their Laying Spot
It seems that your German Shepherd doesnt trust the safety of his bed or lying spot. It will also circle the spot to ensure there are no vermin or harmful objects that will make your pets rest uncomfortable.
There is little scientific data to prove the above 3 examples except for the idea that dogs circle before lying down to make a nest. This small study of 62 dogs implied that dogs are more likely to circle before lying down when given a soft, uneven surface to make a temporary nest to sleep in.
Why Does My German Shepherd Whine A Lot
If your German Shepherd whines a lot then you are probably wondering why and what you can do about it.
This post will show you why your German Shepherd might be whining a lot and a number of things that you can do about it.
So, why does my German Shepherd whine a lot? Common reasons include illness or injury, boredom, stress, fear, excitement and inadvertently reinforcing the behavior.
There are actually a number of reasons why your German Shepherd might whine a lot and there are a number of things that you can do about it.
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Why Are German Shepherds So Chatty
As their name suggests, German Shepherds were bred in Germany to be working dogs. This brings us to one of the reasons why your German Shepherd is very vocal he smells people and animals from afar and barks to warn you and to keep them off. His loud voice is his weapon and it works very well to keep away intruders.
German Shepherds Are Strong
German Shepherds are the second most popular dogs and are favored for their power, intelligence and strength.
They are ranked number three in the world for their intelligence and are easily trained. They are used by police and military for their speed, strength and sensitive noses to track explosives, drugs and criminals.
Dog bite force is the level of pressure in a dogs bite. Its the strength inflicted on its victim. The more pressure, the more injury or damage to something or someone. Its measured by pounds per square inch . This method is used to determine force that a dog puts forth with his bite. Its the pressure released over a square inch of a pound.
The German Shepherds psi is 238. They rank 12th in the top 20 dogs with the strongest bite.
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