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Hi
I came across this site, not sure if this is an appropriate place to ask this? But I am wondering if anyone has any tips on how to stop my little girl from whining on the long sit and down in novice obedience. She is a 12 lb longhaired doxie and she is awesome, LOVES to work, she has been doing just great in the ring, very animated and happy. But on the long sits and downs she will whine. We have been in novice twice (she has her Rally title already) and she did great except the whining, she whined the whole 3 minutes on the down. In training she will do it at times, so far I've been dealing with it by ignoring it and then going up to give her a treat when she stops. But that isn't cutting it. I've trained her 100% positive she's never been corrected for anything really, she hasn't needed it she really tries to please. But I'm stumped with what to do with the whining, haven't been faced with this before. Any ideas?
Dachshund Art and Apparel

>>Hi
>>I came across this site, not sure if this is an appropriate place to ask this? But I am wondering if anyone has any tips on how to stop my little girl from whining on the long sit and down in novice obedience. She is a 12 lb longhaired doxie and she is awesome, LOVES to work, she has been doing just great in the ring, very animated and happy. But on the long sits and downs she will whine. We have been in novice twice (she has her Rally title already) and she did great except the whining, she whined the whole 3 minutes on the down. In training she will do it at times, so far I've been dealing with it by ignoring it and then going up to give her a treat when she stops. But that isn't cutting it. I've trained her 100% positive she's never been corrected for anything really, she hasn't needed it she really tries to please. But I'm stumped with what to do with the whining, haven't been faced with this before. Any ideas?
>>Dachshund Art and Apparel

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One thought for you would be to try doggy calisthenics in practice. If she starts to whine, go to her and have her Sit, Stand, Down, Sit, Stand, Down, and then Stay as you walk away again. No treats, but praise for each position. When she stays quiet on Down-Stay, come up and treat at random intervals. Count the seconds of quiet before you come up. I'd say the dog needs to be quiet at least 20 seconds. If the dog makes noise as you start in to give a treat--back up! Let the dog see clearly that noise turns off the treat machine.

If having her do the series twice doesn't stop the problem quickly, add another cycle of the three positions, for a total of three before you have her Stay and back away again. This exercise is tedious and boring to dogs, but not harsh. If she is quiet, you walk up and give a treat, and if she is whiney you walk up and have her work. No petting, by the way. Whining is an anxiety fault, and petting would be a reward.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

What a FABULOUS idea! I understand that totally, and could see how it would work great. I have not heard of this one. This is my first encounter with a pup that whines so I have no experience and everyone has been telling me to go up and squirt her in the mouth or face with bianca or bitter apple...which I just will not do. I got her from an animal shelter and she is just awesome, I have never once had to scold or correct her for anything and she's the most willing and best behaved little girl and a super happy worker. She gets points off because on the about turn, she does this really fast little "happy spin" and continues right on in heel position, staring up at me with her little front legs popping forward. I don't want to mess with her good attitude. So this solution is tailor made for us. I can't wait to try it thank you so much!
Dachshund Art and Apparel

enjoyed hearing about you & your pup, (loved the site too).

My first training experience was with a red longhair doxie, Astrid slept in my arms for 14 yrs. We got our Companion Dog title in 1977. She qualified in 4 trials in a row.

I was so proud. Once on the long downs, it began to drizzle & a woman standing just behind Astrid, let up her umbrella. Astrid turned her head & gave a little bark, but never moved.

I wonder if you could set up one of those sonic devises in your home & practice long downs there? I have only heard that they work well stopping barking. It'd be nice if you knew someone who had one to borrow.

You'd have to start the down training at the beginning, just right in front & for brief time & praise for the quiet.

Is it possible that the whining starts as you get beyond a specific distance?

If that was the case, you might use that info. Sorry, not much help.

Hi
Thank you so much for your reply. That is great you had a red long girl in obedience. Sounds like she was VERY rock solid if she didn't shy from that umbrella! They are such wonderful dogs. My last girl was a red longhair standard and she got her UD and 44 OTCH points...but at the age of 4 she had to have back surgery so I retired her immediately, and have now learned not to jump my current girl. I was very careful with my last one too other than the 8" jumps but I don't want to risk it.

Those are good ideas to try for the whining. She is not horrific with it...she rarely does it when I train her alone (at parks, etc) and she only does it once in a while when training in a group. She has only been entered in novice twice so far and that was this spring, and both times she whined the whole time mainly on the down. I can set it up to get her to whine in training sometimes, but not always and she has never whined as much in training as she did in the ring. It's not super loud it's just constant LOL. I love her way too much to ever be frustrated with her I would just like to find a way to help her not whine and not be anxious. She's not an anxious dog at all quite calm and happy but I guess in the ring it was enough to get her whining.

Yes you are right it does seem worse when I get farther away from her. So I have been trying it by staying up close which is usually100% ok, and back farther but the problem is I can't hear her whine when I'm too far away. So I need someone standing closer to her for that. You gave me good things to think about thank you again for replying!
Link

>>Hi
>>Thank you so much for your reply. That is great you had a red long girl in obedience. Sounds like she was VERY rock solid if she didn't shy from that umbrella! They are such wonderful dogs. My last girl was a red longhair standard and she got her UD and 44 OTCH points...but at the age of 4 she had to have back surgery so I retired her immediately, and have now learned not to jump my current girl. I was very careful with my last one too other than the 8" jumps but I don't want to risk it.
>>
>>Those are good ideas to try for the whining. She is not horrific with it...she rarely does it when I train her alone (at parks, etc) and she only does it once in a while when training in a group. She has only been entered in novice twice so far and that was this spring, and both times she whined the whole time mainly on the down. I can set it up to get her to whine in training sometimes, but not always and she has never whined as much in training as she did in the ring. It's not super loud it's just constant LOL. I love her way too much to ever be frustrated with her I would just like to find a way to help her not whine and not be anxious. She's not an anxious dog at all quite calm and happy but I guess in the ring it was enough to get her whining.
>>
>>Yes you are right it does seem worse when I get farther away from her. So I have been trying it by staying up close which is usually100% ok, and back farther but the problem is I can't hear her whine when I'm too far away. So I need someone standing closer to her for that. You gave me good things to think about thank you again for replying!
>>Link

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You could use a baby monitor, walkie talkies, etc. I had a dog who was a world champion whiner, a Lab/GSD cross who did it so loud in class and at the vet's office in the waiting room that I called it "yammering." He wasn't unhappy at the vet's--he loved the vet and was eager to get into the exam room! Working him was the solution. Give the dog a job, a responsibility, something to do. A dog with that much oomph is sure to be fun to train. Saint was not just a good dog, he was a truly great one.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47