Whats causing this behavior ?

D3V!L

Our Dachshund cross has started this continuous whining. Some days he'll do it incessantly and others not a sound, but its more common than not.

I posted about it here before and got no replies but after a visit to the vets to see if he was physically ok we're at our wits end.

He's well looked after and has plenty of play time and walks , usually for an hour at least once a day. He started this about 2 - 3 months ago just before his 1st Birthday.

bigpoppa

Did you google it?

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090304090104AAP73Vq

VonVix

Assuming it's an all clear from the vet as you said you brought him... is he inclined to get pets/cuddled when this happens? Is he usually looking at you as he whimpers? Or could be looking at nothing in particular? Does it happen when he is up and about, say, standing in the living room? Or just in his bed? Is there a chance you have reinforced the whimpering by giving him some kind of attention for it?

D3V!L

bigpoppa wrote: »

Did you google it?

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090304090104AAP73Vq

Thanks for the link

D3V!L

VonVix wrote: »

Assuming it's an all clear from the vet as you said you brought him... is he inclined to get pets/cuddled when this happens? Is he usually looking at you as he whimpers? Or could be looking at nothing in particular? Does it happen when he is up and about, say, standing in the living room? Or just in his bed? Is there a chance you have reinforced the whimpering by giving him some kind of attention for it?

Actually quite the opposite, both myself and my partner just ignore him. There doesn't seem to be a pattern to it at all. This evening when that video was taken he was in the living room with us. He was half dosing off and started whimpering again. We've made it a point of not giving any attention when he starts.

DBB

D3V!L wrote: »

Actually quite the opposite, both myself and my partner just ignore him. There doesn't seem to be a pattern to it at all. This evening when that video was taken he was in the living room with us. He was half dosing off and started whimpering again. We've made it a point of not giving any attention when he starts.

Since the very first time he did it?
Just bear in mind, just giving the dog eye contact a few times can be reinforcing enough for dogs to repeat the behaviours that "caused" it.

D3V!L

DBB wrote: »

Since the very first time he did it?
Just bear in mind, just giving the dog eye contact a few times can be reinforcing enough for dogs to repeat the behaviours that "caused" it.

There may be eye contact but no interaction. Do you think the eye contact could do it ?

DBB

D3V!L wrote: »

There may be eye contact but no interaction. Do you think the eye contact could do it ?

It's not beyond possibility... If his body language and general demeanour are usually the same as in the video, he doesn't look agitated or upset... Does he always look towards you like he does in the video? He just looks like he's chatting!
You could try upping the ante a bit in how you deal with it, if it is a case that he's inclined to look at you when he does it (suggesting he's awaiting something from you)... The second he starts, give him a verbal marker such as "ah ah", then get up/turn your back, and leave the area.
It takes you out of the equation, which is possibly the opposite effect he's looking for
Make sure to give him attention when he's quiet too

D3V!L

A little update ....

We changed his food from Pedigree Chum dry kibble to some other locally produced brand from Dundalk ( got in equipet) and this behaviour stopped, his dandruff problem also went on his hind quarters.

So in a matter of a week he's settled down and become quite a nice little fella 😊

aonb

Interesting - so the poor quality food (Pedigree = poor quality) was probably causing stomach discomfort... thus the whining. The skin condition would be a very common reaction to food. He may have an allergy (the skin issue, and the whining/stomach discomford) to certain ingredients in the food - also very common. Glad hes a happy little dog again - decent quality food is always worth it...