Dogs communicate with humans using body language or vocalization. A whine is a high-pitched sound typically produced nasally to pass a crucial message to you. When you notice such sounds from your female dog, the first question that comes to mind is, “Why is my female dog whining so much?”
Your female dog is whining so much because it wants something, it’s on heat, or is experiencing a sudden increase in stress levels. Solutions for behavioral whining include getting your dog spayed and checked for health concerns or using positive reinforcement training to address unwanted behavior.
Read on as we dive into the details of why your female dog is whining so much. We will discuss common causes of excessive whining and the best way to address the issue to ensure your furry companion is happy and comfortable. Let’s begin!
So, Why Is My Female Dog Whining So Much? 8 Main Reasons
If your female dog is whining excessively, here are the contributing factors:
1. Your Female Dog Is on Heat
Has your female dog undergone ovariohysterectomy or spaying? If not, there is a good chance it is on heat.
Intact bitches go into heat once they are sexually mature at six months. The length of their heat cycles ranges between two and four weeks, depending on a dog’s size and breed.
Whining is a common breeding instinct-related behavior typically triggered by hormonal changes. Your dog can also experience painful cramps as its body prepares to mate. Some dogs feel irritable, emotional, or uncomfortable hence the endless whines.
What to Do
If you don’t intend to breed your female dog, it is best to have it spayed. The procedure has numerous health benefits and also eliminates heat cycles and breeding-related hormonal and behavioral changes.
Do you prefer keeping your dog intact? In this case, some extra love and attention during its heat cycles can go a long way in helping it feel more relaxed.
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2. Your Doggo Wants Something From You
It is common for dogs to whine when they want something. After all, they cannot talk and use different forms of vocalization to communicate their needs. Depending on what your pet wants, it could shift its eyes between you and the desired object, such as its bowl of food or the door.
An attention-seeking whine can occur because you have not met an essential need, like providing food or a potty break. It can also happen because of other emotions, including jealousy. For instance, some dogs can’t stand seeing their owners spending more than a few seconds petting another pet.
What to Do
When was the last time your furry friend had a potty break? Could it be hungry or thirsty? Is it time for your afternoon walks or play sessions?
Generally, it’s easier to decipher the precise meaning of an attention-seeking whine based on immediate contexts. First, ensure you have met your pet’s basic needs. They include the following:
- At least two quality meals daily
- Constant supply of safe drinking water
- Potty breaks after every four hours or so
- At least one hour of physical and mental stimulation
Moreover, use positive reinforcement training to address whining caused by behavioral problems. Ignore baseless whines and reward your dog with treats, praise, and petting when it acts desirably.
Also Read: Yellow Balls in Dog Poop: 4 Causes and Solutions
3. Your Pet Is in Pain or Discomfort
If your furry friend whines while assuming a submissive posture, ensure it’s not in pain or physical distress.
Most dogs, irrespective of gender, vocalize and whine when sick or in pain. It’s their way of getting your attention or calming themselves down.
What to Do
If your dog suddenly picks up the whining behavior, study its body language to get cues of what it could be communicating. Here is how to examine your dog at home for possible health concerns.
- Check the eyes for abnormalities like redness and tearing
- Part the fur and look for lumps, patches, or discoloration
- Look for any significant changes in your dog’s weight and belly size
- Peep inside the ears and rule out ear mites and infections
- Get your dog to open its mouth and check for cavities and mouth sores
Do not substitute home checks for regular vet visits. Even if nothing seems amiss but the whining persists, consult your vet to rule out any health concerns that can cause pain or discomfort.
4. Your Dog Feels Threatened or Insecure
Dogs typically direct appeasement or submission whines at people or other pets perceived as threats. In this case, you’ll also notice a change in your dog’s body language when whining. It will have its tail tucked, its head bowed, its ears turned toward the back of the head, and its body turned away from the perceived threat.
Sometimes, a perceived threat is not an actual cause for alarm. If your bitch keeps making appeasement whines for no solid reason, you should consider helping it build its confidence.
What to Do
The first step is to ensure your female dog is safe from people or other pets that can cause actual physical or emotional harm. Next, consider enrolling it in obedience classes that employ reward-based training techniques.
Your furry friend will enjoy an all-rounded confidence boost as it learns new commands, tricks, and games within a safe and fun environment.
You can also build self-assurance and reduce appeasement whines by avoiding verbal or physical punishments.
5. Your Pet Is Anxious or Fearful
Whining can also be your dog’s way of telling you about its emotional state. You can tell if it is anxious or afraid by checking its body language and energy.
An anxiety whine tags along with uncertain body language, like pacing and constantly looking around.
On the other hand, a terrified dog will whine while showing submissive behavior, like keeping its ears and tail down. Whether your pet is experiencing anxiety or is frightened, it is best to address the concern immediately.
What to Do
To address anxiety whines, you must first understand the root cause of the emotion.
For instance, up to 14% of dogs experience separation anxiety, typically triggered by limited social contact or an underlying fear of abandonment.
You can address the issue by getting your pet into a predictable routine and providing a safe and quiet place it can retreat to when overwhelmed by emotions.
If your furry friend is whining nonstop because of fear, start by employing strategies to make it feel safe. A petting session can do to provide temporary relief from intense anxiety.
You’ll also need to progressively desensitize your pet from what frightens it.
6. Your Dog Is Stressed or Bored
Stress is the general term used to describe feelings of frustration, strain, or pressure.
Among the most common causes of stress is inconsistent behavior from a pet parent. Generally, dogs love routines, and any disruptions in their internal clocks throw off their sense of stability.
Apart from excessive whining and barking, other common signs of stress or frustration include dilated pupils, pacing, yawning, drooling, and panting. Some dogs also find a sudden interest in diversion activities like digging.
What to Do
So, why is my female dog whining so much? Could it be stressed?
If you suspect your furry friend is stressed, identify and remove the stressor.
Provide healthy diversions like rewarding your pet for responding to a command. The idea is to offer a sense of normalcy instead of dishing out “free” treats, petting, and pampering sessions.
Like humans, dogs find physical workouts a great stress reducer and boredom buster. Playing a game of fetch for at least half an hour can help your furry companion release tension and feel more relaxed. Consider consulting your vet or an animal behaviorist if nothing works.
7. Your Furry Companion Is Excited
Dogs are sensitive creatures capable of deep emotions.
It’s common for those that have bonded with their owners to whine and even shed happy tears when they see their person. The whine is a way for your dog to express how happy it feels in your presence.
Again, you must check your pet’s body language to tell whether the whining is its way of communicating feelings of excitement. An excited dog will jump around, circle you and show high activity and energy levels. Sometimes, this also means it wants something from you, like a high five or a good round of petting.
What to Do
Merely because your dog sees you as the highlight of its day doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll enjoy its whines. There is an easy way to address the concern without dishonoring your pet’s emotions.
The best strategy is to teach your dog how to greet with its paw. Here is what to do.
- Hold a treat in a closed fist.
- Let your dog sniff your hand and paw at it.
- Offer the treat when your dog paws your hand.
- Mark the action by saying “high five.”
- Raise your hand with a closed fist.
- Open it when your dog is about to paw it and mark the action by saying “high five.”
- Repeat until your dog masters the skill and offer a reward.
Also, downplay greetings to prevent your furry companion from getting overly excited. Keep the hellos short and simple, and don’t forget to maintain a calm tone and slow movements.
8. Your Naughty Pet Is Trying to Soothe You
Dogs are capable of understanding and expressing basic emotions like love and sadness. However, they cannot process complex feelings of guilt and shame. While they don’t rationalize to determine what to feel when they break the rules, they can read into their owner’s tones of voice and body language.
If you call out your naughty furry friend for demolishing your pillow, it could respond with a submissive whine and body language. The whine, a bowed head, and soft eyes are your dog’s way of acknowledging that it upset you.
What to Do
If your dog constantly whines to apologize for breaking the rules, obedience training can help. The idea is to give it a rough understanding of what is right or wrong.
Also, you can address the immediate whining by changing your body language and tone. For instance, speaking softly and changing your facial expression will send the message that you have accepted your pet’s apology.
Final Thoughts
If the question, “Why is my female dog whining so much?” was common for you, now you know the underlying causes.
Generally, whining is normal for dogs and offers a way for them to communicate and express different emotions. Still, an incessant whiner can drive you up the wall.
If you can’t tolerate your dog’s uncontrolled and persistent whines, train it to whine less. First, resist the urge to stop the noise by offering immediate attention or affection. This will only encourage unwanted behavior and turn your once calm doggo into a constant whiner.
To address whining:
- Find out what your pet is trying to communicate and ensure it’s not informing you of a health problem or demanding a basic need.
- Look at the concern objectively, and if it’s nothing major, ignore the whines.
- Only address the issue once your pet is calm and quiet.
