Saturday, April 13, 2024
HomeNewsWhy Does My German Shepherd Whine

Why Does My German Shepherd Whine

Some Interesting Facts About German Shepherd Dogs:

Vocal German Shepherd Demands Attention

There are many popular breeds of dogs. Some are strong; some are cute, while others are huge. Out of these breeds, the German Shepherd is one of the most popular breeds. In fact, this breed of dog is the 2nd most popular dog in the US. These particular reeds of dogs rely on their nose to explore the world. You may have seen them sniffing on your windows, walls, and whatever comes near them. This is why such breeds of dogs are kept for sniffing bombs and drugs by the police force as they are best in detecting things.

Another fact of a German shepherd dog is its smartness. It is also possible that they are far smarter than several human beings. These dogs are intelligent and are capable of learning new things easily. There are even such dogs who were not trained, but they learned the things just by looking. They also have a desire to help humans in their work. If you have or planning to keep a German Shepherd dog, make sure that they need plenty of toys and brain games to keep their mental state healthy. These dogs are confident and are not easily scared in any situation.

This is why this breed of dog is kept as a watchdog or as a guardian in fields and houses. He can forcefully attack any intruder who tries to enter their territory. German shepherd breeds of dogs have natural protective skills, which are not common in several other breeds of dogs. All you need to do is to train them and properly socialize them and let the dog use its natural instincts to make a decision.

Why Does My German Shepherd Whine

The German Shepherd can not be separated from whining, as it is very vocal. Listening ears are required. Many times, it results from excitement or fear. However, there are other reasons which may include:

Illness

When the German Shepherd is sick and in discomfort, he will not stop whining. You can easily detect this as he will also refuse food and stay lying alone.

Fear

The German Shepherd will not hesitate to whine when he is afraid. As a vigilant dog, the German Shepherd could hear sounds from a distance or see something around. If unable to confront such a thing, the German Shepherd could whine a lot.

Greeting

When you come around, your dog is excited and may whine and wag its tail to greet you. This rarely lasts so long, but you can train the German Shepherd to stop to prevent him from doing the same to strangers.

Appease;

The German Shepherd is a thoughtful companion, observant, and can tell the mood of the moment. This makes your dog appear sober and makes gestures to appease you while whining. Let him see that you appreciate his effort, hell be a little calmer;

Apologize

Your German Shepherd is smart enough to know when he is wrong. Especially when he is caught in the act. Hell hang his head low to avoid eye contact with you, tuck his ears backward and tuck his tail between his thighs. Dont keep your Shepherd in this position for too long. Of course, let him see you angry once in a while, but you should forgive him as quickly as you recognize he is sorry.

Attention;

Teach Them To Sit And Stay

Having your German Shepherds on your heels can end in accidents.

If you didnt see them behind you, you could trip on them. You could lose balance and hurt yourself.

Or they could be hurt when you accidentally step on their paws.

Before any of these happens, curb the behavior early on. The commands sit and stay come very handy in these situations.

Read Also: How Much Weight Can A Dog Carry

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?

The Root Of The Behavior

Why does my German Shepherd whine a lot?

As their name suggests, German Shepherds were bred in Germany to be working dogs. They spread to other countries from there, where in addition to guarding, they were used in organized professions such as police work and search and rescue missions. One of the qualities that made them desirable as working dogs was their sense of smell and protectiveness. Whenever they were out guarding and herding, they would smell predators from miles away and bark to signal their approach. They would also bark whenever sheep strayed from their flock. 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.;Besides his breeding, your German Shepherds wolf ancestry also has a part to play in his behavior, especially when it comes to sounds like howling.;

Recommended Reading: Who Would Win In A Fight German Shepherd Or Pitbull

They Are Initiating Play

If you tend to react to every one of their behaviors, German Shepherds may sit on you to simply get you to send them away and give them a chance to climb back and be sent away again a bit like kids do!;

If youre laughing or showing signs of enjoying this back-and-forth game, youve succeeded in rewarding your German Shepherd with some playtime. Expect them to climb on you the next time you lie down in a similar position!

Why Is My Dog Whining For No Reason

Whining can be your dogs way of saying that he is scared or anxious. If your dog is also pacing, trembling, or panting while whining, he is likely fearful or anxious about something. Perhaps there is a new guest or resident in the house making your dog nervous, or perhaps he is worried because someone is missing.

Recommended Reading: How To Entertain German Shepherd

Reasons Why Your German Shepherd Whines So Much + 7 Tips

Your German Shepherd is a big whiner.;

They whine day in, day out. Happy or sad.;

And now your eyes are like a pandas due to sleepless nights

Is this normal?;

In this article, youll discover:

  • 7 tips to stop your dog from whining.
  • How to comfort your dog with the anxiety wrap.
  • 11 reasons why your German Shepherd whines so much.
  • Whether your dog shows their love for you through whining.
  • And much, much more

Howling In Response To A Sound

Why Does My German Shepherd Stretch So Much? 5 Different Types of GSD Stretches and Their Meanings

You may have found that your GSD often howls in response to another sound. While it is amusing to watch and listen to, you dog isnt doing this just to be cute.

You know how it goes with German Shepherds they will begin with their famous head tilt, followed by that look in their eyes, you will then notice their lips began to quiver a bit and you know whats coming next!

While you do is indeed enjoying himself, there are actually reasons why your dog will howl. Lets take a look at a few below.

Also Check: German Shepherd Heat Cycle Stages

Signs Your Dog Is Stressed

Before you can help your dog coping with his stress, you need to be able to recognize stress signs in dog first. Here are seven common signs of stress and anxiety in dogs.

  • Barking. Excessive barking can be due to confinement, lack of exercise or separation anxiety, which are three major causes of stress in dogs.
  • Trembling/shaking. If your dog is suddenly trembling and shaking, your dog might get stressed.
  • A decrease in appetite. If you see a decrease in your dogs appetite or if your dog suddenly stops eating altogether, there is a good chance your dog is stressed or getting sick.
  • Increased sleeping. You should be worried if your dog is sleeping more than the usual or seemly overly lethargic. Sleeping more is often a symptom of many dogs health problems such as diabetes, diarrhea, dehydration, tumor, anemia, and poisoning.
  • Hiding. As a social animal, dogs like to stay in a group. But what if your dog suddenly hiding from other pets or people without any reason? Then, you could be suspicious that your dog might feel stressed.
  • Panting. Panting in dogs is a normal activity when they feel hot. However, excessive panting without any apparent cause can become the symptoms of other worst-case scenarios, such as poisoning, chronic illness, injury, and stress.
  • Your German Shepherd Has Ascites

    Another similar condition is called ascites, which is fluid buildup inside the abdominal area that is abnormal.

    As Care Animal Hospital explains, ascites can occur for several reasons, including failure of the liver, intestinal disease, tumors, kidney malfunction, or heart failure.

    You should always rush your dog to the veterinarian if you suspect ascites.

    Read Also: Belgian Malinois German Shepherd Mix Temperament

    Why Your German Shepherd Whines A Lot

    Each of the different reasons why your German Shepherd whines a lot will likely come with a number of clues in the way that it does it.

    Below, I will mention a number of reasons why your German Shepherd might whine a lot and the clues to look for.

    It is ill or injured

    The reason why your German Shepherd whines a lot could be that it is ill or injured.

    This would be more likely if it only started to whine recently and if something recently happened that might have caused it to become ill or injured. For example, it might recently have eaten something it shouldnt have or gotten hit by something.

    If you think that it might be whining due to being ill or injured then the best option for you would be to take it to a vet.

    Boredom

    Another reason that it tends to whine could be that it is bored.

    This would be more likely if it tends to whine more when it is not doing anything and if it tends to whine at around the time that it usually gets to do something.

    German Shepherds are meant to be very active dogs and it is generally recommended that they get at least an hour of exercise per day. If your German Shepherd is not getting an hour of exercise per day then making sure that it does would likely be a good start.

    It wants attention

    It could be the case that it whines a lot because it wants to get attention from you.

    It wants something

    If this is the case then it would be more likely that it would only whine in specific situations where it would normally get something.

    Stress

    Fear

    Your German Shepherd Is Anxious Or Afraid

    Why does my German Shepherd whine a lot? (With images ...

    A German Shepherd that feels anxious or afraid may act out in any number of ways, including by groaning.

    The best way to figure out if this is why your dog is groaning is to look for other situational triggers.

    Some things to look for may include a thunderstorm that is brewing, holiday fireworks going off, a strange person or dog in the vicinity, or something else that might be frightening your dog.

    Read Also: Can German Shepherds Handle Cold Weather

    Teaching Your German Shepherd Hand Targetting

    Hand targetting is where you get your german shepherd to focus most of their attention on your hand. Rather than whining. Its most effective in german shepherds that cant control themselves and get excited or scared when they meet new people.

    Heres how you should train your dog to hand target.

    Step 1

    First of all, hold your hand out in front of your german shepherd. Every time they touch their nose to your palm give them a treat.

    However, when youre doing this dont say anything. Just keep your palm outstretched to them and let them touch it with their nose.

    And make sure you dont bring your hand to them if they arent going for your hand. Instead, try moving it from side to side in front of them.

    If they still dont move towards it, then rub a treat on it so they can smell it. That will definitely get them to bring their nose to it.

    Give them a treat and congratulate them every time they do this successfully.

    Step 2

    Once your german shepherd realizes they get a treat every time they touch your hand with their nose, its time to kick it up a notch.

    Start putting your hand to the left and right of your dog, or a few inches back. Every time they touch it with their nose, give them another treat.

    Do this 20-30 times.

    Step 3

    Now things are getting interesting. Each time you hold your hand out say a command, like calmly or hello and then proceed to let them touch your hand.

    Once again, every time they do this give them the treat to let it sink in.

    Step 4

    German Shepherd Whine When They Cannot See You

    German Shepherds have very strong guarding and herding instincts; this is why they are the official guard, guide, search and rescue, and military dog. While at home, German Shepherds are very territorial.

    It will follow its owner around the house and when it is locked in a room, the German Shepherd whines until it is opened for.

    This is because it has an overwhelming urge to protect its owners. Hence, another reason your German Shepherd whines is when they cannot see you.;

    You may have noticed this behavior in public. Your German Shepherd may turn and discover you are no longer in their line of sight; this may be very distressing for the dog as it cannot protect you. The dog may vocalize this distress by continuously whining.;

    Also Check: What Age Can A German Shepherd Get Pregnant

    Give Them Plenty Of Exercise:

    Exercise is a must for the high energy of a German Shepherd. Feeding them a high quality diet and keeping them active daily will keep them healthy and satisfied. This should help reduce some of the whining although some dogs just love to be very vocal.

    Two hours of exercise a day including one or two walks should be sufficient for your German Shepherd and hopefully curb some of their whining.

    They Want More Attention

    Why Do German Shepherds Groan: GSD Vocalizations and What They Mean

    Do you have an attention-hungry German Shepherd?

    They couldnt get enough of your time. The rough houses, the play times, the training Those are simply not enough for them.

    And so they follow you from room to room, hoping to get your attention. They would get any chance to be petted or snuggled.

    Note:;Do not give them what they want. Otherwise, theyll get used to it and continue asking for more.

    Also Check: How Many Puppies Can A German Shepherd Have First Litter

    Why Does Your German Shepherd Groan

    It should be reassuring to know that your German Shepherd dog likely is not groaning because they are in any pain or discomfort.although you should not rule this out, either.

    The most common reasons that a German Shepherd will groan are emotional reasons. Groaning can happen for all of the following emotional reasons:

    Whining To Get Attention

    In a scenario where the dog wants something, it may whine to get your attention.;German Shepherds are very active and friendly dogs. With their owners, they crave a lot of love, care, and attention throughout the day.

    If you have not been giving it any attention, you may find the German Shepherd whining more than usual. However, if the dog has associated whining with attention, then it may end up whining to get the attention that it wants.;;

    Recommended Reading: When Does A German Shepherd Ears Stand Up

    Spend At Least One Hour A Day With Them

    Not everyone has all day to spend around with their dogs.

    Youve got work, house chores, errands. And you also have to take care of the kids .

    Totally understandable! But remember

    You have all those things. While your dog only has you.

    Yes, you may be overwhelmed by all those things. But the highlight of your dogs day is the one they get to spend time with you.;

    They depend on you for their everything.;

    If your German Shepherd constantly whines for your attention, maybe they just really miss you.

    Believe me, keeping that in mind makes me stop from whatever that Im doing and spend quality time with my pooch.;

    It doesnt have to be a few hours. Sometimes, even an hour is enough.;

    And if youre not around, you can still keep them entertained.;

    Give them toys and puzzles that will stimulate their mind and keep them busy at the same time.;

    Theyre Always Happy To See You

    Why does my German Shepherd whine or cry when I leave ...

    Most dogs youve formed a bond with will show excitement when seeing you after a while of being apart. German Shepherds are especially known for this.

    They may jump up at you, lick your face, and run around aimlessly at your presence. They may even whine from their inability to contain their excitement. No matter the temperament of your GSD, theyll surely have their own way of telling you how happy they are to see you, even if youve only been away for a few minutes.

    You May Like: Names For A German Shepherd

    RELATED ARTICLES

    Most Popular