Yep Loki is a whiner and always has been. The ONLY time he is allowed to whine is when his water is empty. He has a bell to ring when he wants to go outside so no whining then. All other whining/yipping is met with a solid stare at the cieling (ignoring him) until he stops. If it persists he gets a time out. He stops quickly and then he sits and stares at me. That is the polite way of saying please/begging that i taught him and I am OK with. Some people teach "go to your spot/rug/bed" instead. (Sitting for "please" is easy, just never give them what they want until they sit first - dinner, petting, throwing a ball, a new toy, a walk, etc.) Anyway, sometimes he does it when he's totally bored and just wants to play. In that case I feel it is my job to wear him out, so we go for a walk or whatever. The crying in the crate has mostly stopped. He's really good in his crate now. Basically he now only cries when he wants to play or wants whatever I'm eating. Barking at me when I'm eating gets him a time out, so he stops after a warning (yes like a toddler) and I just re-direct the barking when he wants to play. It takes a lot of management, but it does get better. Have you tried an obedience class?? |