puppy whining

Question
I have a 6 month old American Bulldog and he really is well-behaved and exceptionally eager to please for a puppy. I'll take him out for a walk and will run upon another dog owner or a person and my dog will either get "bored" and start to whine by becoming anxious. Is there anyway to stop this behavior? I took him with me to the car dealership to get my car serviced one day for an HOUR... I found a large grassy area for him so that he could play and do his business if needed, but a few times I had to take him inside with me so I could do some paperwork and tho he was getting inconceivable amounts of attention, he would just whine when no one was touching him. In situations like that, not everyone wants to hear a dog whine, let alone a person yelling at their dog. Any suggestions?

Answer
Hi Jena,

The perfect solution to get control over your dog in situations where you want him to simply sit quietly, is to enroll in a dog obedience class. Your dog is the prefect age to start this kind of training.
You would see the best results, in the shortest amount of time by enrolling in a class because you'd be learning directly from an experienced person who can show you what you're doing wrong before an incorrect response can become a bad habit.

If you'd like to give it a try on your own, you'll want to teach your dog the "down" command, though knowing to sit, to be quiet, and to "drop it" are also very useful commands to have your dog know.

The down command is probably the most useful command that an owner can teach her dog. A dog that lies down on command to receive food and treats is showing a high level of respect for its owner. If a dog is fearful, teaching him to lie down and relax is a first and necessary step in desensitizing him to his fears. The Down command is a must, especially if behavior problems are arising or if you intend to take your dog out in public. Obeying the down command keeps your dog out of trouble and safe from harm.

You can read more about this commands here:
http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/down-command.html

You can get a recommendation on a local obedience class from your veterinarian, boarding kennel, or in your yellow pages.

Best of luck,

Patti