Grim's Whining

jltracy

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#1
Hello all,

My little Grim didn't have this problem until last night. He woke us up at all hours of the night whining very loudly. When we took him outside to pee, he didn't go, just wandered around sniffing things. I put him back inside the bathroom (we have to keep him closed up in our large bathroom for now, for why, please see my first post in the introduction forum) and have since we got him on Sunday. He also peed on his bed for the first time; normally he goes only outside. I was beginning to think this morning of seperation anxiety, but this is something that just started last night, and we are always gone at the same tiems and home at the same times. Any ideas/advice? Thank you!!!

PS To really understand Grim first, again, please read my first post in the introduction forum, it explains where he came from, how we got him, and why he needs to stay in the bathroom for now.

>^..^<
 
R

RedyreRottweilers

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#2
Please get the little dog a crate so he can stay near you in your bedroom for sleeping time.

I prefer the wire ones in the house so the dog can see out. This will likely help your whining issue. Dogs hate to be confined away from people especially at night.

You can also use this crate so he can be with you in your common family area and not interfere with your kitties.
 

lizzybeth727

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#4
He's probably whining because he's scared and lonely being away from you. Many dogs are much more comfortable in the presence of people, and being separated makes them lonely. I understand that you want to keep him seperate from the cats in case he has a disease the cats might be able to catch..... But I don't know of anything that's contagious among cats and dogs, I could be wrong but I don't think so. I think you're pretty safe with crate training and keeping him in a crate in your bedroom at night.
 
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#5
Alright well you've had him for only a little while so I imagine that this will be the case for some time. What you have to do is make him more comfortable. Crate training won't make things worse, the problem gets worse if you pay attention to the whinning, he'll eventually figure out that this is what gets your attention and will continue doing it.

Putting the crate in a place where he can feel you are around will help with sepration anxiety whinning. Place a piece of cloth in his crate so that he has someone familiar's scent.

However this is just a quick solve. You have to target the underlying problem with your pooch, in the case of sep. anxiety its the lack of self confidence. Research ways that you can increase self esteem/confidence, the best way is to show him that he can do things without others being there. Letting someone else walk him, having him stay at friend's house for a short period of time, and then praising him for going through that alone. Of course you'll want to start with a small amount of time and slowly increase the time.

Wishing you and your pooch the best! All in all, if this isn't a physical ailment I think it will disspate with time the more he gets comfortable.
 
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#6
Well I was thinking that, but I have heard crating them makes it worse. Any other ideas/tips?
Not at all ... the point is so that he can see you at night instead of feeling so separated, such as in a closed-door bathroom.

Sometimes people who have never used crates tend to think of them as "mean" ... they say "but it's a cage". The first time they try crating their puppy or adopted dog and it cries, they immediately think it must be correct that this practice is "mean".

Not so ... dogs are naturally "den animals", but they do need to be trained that the crate you provide IS their den. Crate training does not take very long though, precisely because dogs naturally want to sleep in a den of some sort ... but one where they can see and smell their family.

Get a crate for overnight, a wire one that allows the dog to see you, and put it in your bedroom. Put soft bedding in it and maybe a chew toy or two. (Don't put water or a food bowl in the crate though ... unless you want to have to get up at night to provide potty breaks for the dog.) To crate train, lure the dog into the crate with a special treat. Leave the dog in the crate for a short time while you stay in the room quietly. Then remove the dog from the crate.

Keep doing this for increasing amounts of time in the crate .. make sure to give a treat only when the dog is getting IN to the crate .... and don't make a fuss with greetings when removing him. The point is to communicate to the dog that getting into the crate means something positive (a treat), but getting out is neutral ... nothing positive but nothing negative either.

Also agree with another poster's idea to put something that smells like you in with the crate bedding .... an old T-shirt that you have worn for a day but not washed is good. A lot of dogs find it very comforting to be able to sleep with something that smells like their owners.
 

jltracy

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#7
Wow, thank you everyone for all the wonderful advice! And guess who is sleeping through the night now? Not only Grim, but my boyfriend and I as well, hehe! Thanks again guys!
 

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