Beagles/Whining

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Expert: - 8/27/2009


Question
I have a 9 month old Beagle who has the most wonderful temprament - one of the calmest Beagles ever, very sweet and well mannered. However, even while out with my husband and I and the cats he grew up with, he sits in the middle of the living room and starts to whine. We offer to play with him which seems to distract him but he's not alone, he's not being harmed, and nothing seems to be harming or bothering him. What could be the problem or is this normal and he will grow out of it?

Answer
Hi, sounds like he is wanting (and getting) attention,it most likely evolvedinadvertently from paying attention to it which without you meaning to has reinforced it. So every time you noticed it, said something to him about it and/or physically came to him and playedwith him or touched him it told him, Hey this works pretty good, I can get them to focus on me! So, the solution to this is doing the exact opposite. When he cries or whines do not look at him, do not acknowledge it in any way, do not make eye contact, in fact the best thing would be to get up and leave the room and ignore him. If you keep doing this he will eventually see this has no reward and stop.

Hope this is helpful and good luck. Feel free to check back anytime!

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Have4Paws

Expertise

I am happy to answer BEAGLE BREED SPECIFIC behavioral questions. Please DO NOT ask CRATE TRAINING OR MEDICAL questions! I am not a vet nor an expert in the use of crates.

Experience

I currently have one beagle, a male age 5, an 12 month old Pit Bull, and a 8 year old min. poodle. I have had to let go of three of my dogs, 2 beagles and 1 whippet/rat terrier mix in the past 5 years, most recently my whippet mix. The two beagles lived to 15 and the whippet mix to 13.5, it has been hard to say goodbye to them. I have done rescue work on and off for years as well as fund-raising for the local animal shelter. I worked for a dog magazine in the past (Southern California Dog Magazine). Being a psychotherapist has encouraged me to do in depth studying of animal behavior as well. I have worked with many people to help curb undesirable behaviors in their dogs (or them!) or to form good behaviors. My life is devoted to and surrounded by my dogs........The picture you see here is Zeppelin but we also call him the "miracle dog". He was hit by a car April 2010 while out with the dog walker and had very serious injuries... 4 surgeries and $17,000 later my boy is whole again and back to loving life. He is so special to me and he weathered a lot of pain and trauma yet is still the sweet boy he always was! I also work to stop Breed Specific Legislation and help to get pit bulls adopted.

Organizations
HSUS, PETA, SPCA DONT SHOP...ADOPT!!

Publications
Dog Fancy

Education/Credentials
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in the state of CA and am also credentialed as a Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist

Awards and Honors
Honored by the Agoura Animal Shelter for my volunteer work.

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