Whimpering and crying

Question
QUESTION: Hi, i have 7month old pug and he whines all the time, he even cries and howels for no reason, i will let him out to go bathroom then check his water and food?? He is kenneled for 8 hours during the day but out of his kennel from 4:30pm to 10pm? He is not nutered yet, why is he so aggressive and whiney? He bites, cries and whines, why? Please help if possible. Thank you

ANSWER: Seven-month-old puppies are generally very active, depending on their temperament. My youngsters here spend much of their time running and playing, and are often thrown outside for a couple hours a day, weather-permitting, to get rid of some of their excess energy; they are crated at night.

According to what you told me, your youngster is crated something like 18.5 hours a day. How much time do you spend playing with him when he is loose? Is he getting any quality time at all, or are you busy with household things and/or private time when you get home? Having a puppy is a great commitment, and it requires training time, play time, and simply "loving" time. A tired dog is a good dog (and a quiet one, too!)

Is there a neighbor who can come over during the day to let him out for a bit, take him for a walk, or play with him? Some people will do that for a fee.

Get your puppy a metal exercise pen, or some sort of play pen (if he isn't a chewer), and have him in that during the day rather than in a crate. He needs to be able to move around more than he is currently. Give him some toys to play with and things to chew on to keep him busy. Try putting some treats in a Kong toy and some other things to keep him active. Put a dog bed or a door-less crate in there for him to sleep in. Water, of course, should always be available.

As to the biting, he apparently never learned to inhibit his bite from his mother and littermates. He was either removed from the litter too soon, and/or you and his breeder did not reinforce bite inhibition with him. Get him into obedience classes for a few months and work with him every single day. Also start practicing "Nothing in Life is Free" with him. http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm You need to learn to assert yourself with him and teach him that you are Alpha.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the helpful tips. Dexter is my 7month old pug. He is crated during the day and some nights he is and some nights he sleeps with us. He wont wear dog booties and he can only walk two blocks until his paws are too cold. What can I do with him for excersie in the home? I thorw the ball inside and play tug-a-war but its not enough? He will whine almost all night off and on?? Is the whyining for attention or should I take him to a vet? He has no signs of illness just begging? Any last tips??
Thank you, you have been a big help for me and Dexter.

Answer
First of all, I don't think one can have a dog crated one night and then loose another. What dog wouldn't prefer to sleep in a bed rather than in a crate? (However, not all youngsters this age are well-behaved enough to sleep loose, and you don't want him to be forming any bad habits.) It would be a rather natural thing for him to start whining in the crate as he let you know that he is not happy in there. And if you ever went and let him out (to sleep with you) when he was whining, you have insured that he will whine even worse the next time he is in his crate and wanting out. NEVER let a dog out of a crate when he is doing a behavior that is unwanted (barking, whining, clawing at crate door) as that will just magnify that particular problem. After all, if it worked once to get him what he wanted, it will surely work again!

You really should teach him to wear those booties. Are you telling me that someplace in this country is colder than the weather Minnesota has been experiencing? *grin* Hard to believe.... easier to believe, however, that salt on the roadway/sidewalks could be more what is bothering his feet as salt will burn his pads. Booties are a absolute necessity in areas where salt is put down for ice/snow in the winter.

As to indoor playing, stick to throwing his ball for him to chase and retrieve. That is GREAT exercise for him! When he gets a bit older and is done maturing, you can start working him on the stairs to help build up muscle. You want him to go UP quickly, and go DOWN slower.

Tug-of-war? No way! I am a firm believer in NOT playing tug-of-war with a dog. I feel that it teaches them to learn to use their mouth too much and can encourage biting... particularly if the dog has any oral tendencies at all. Since you say your dog is aggressive, this is only going to encourage that behavior.

To repeat from my first response: Get him into obedience classes for a few months and work with him every single day. Also start practicing "Nothing in Life is Free" with him. http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm You need to learn to assert yourself with him and teach him that you are Alpha.

Your dog seems to be learning how to manipulate you.