How to train or help puppies stop whining when left outside

There are times when you can't bring your puppy inside. If left outside, they will whine incessantly, disturbing you and your neighbors. Puppies tend to want to be near their owners, so being separated from you by being left outdoors or alone can cause anxiety, resulting in continuous whining or howling. However, you can help your puppy learn to be on their own and prevent anxiety from developing into a condition that leads to nuisance behavior. Here are some steps to help your puppy calm down and learn to be quiet when left alone.

Take your puppy on regular walks. You should take your puppy for walks at least twice a day. They don’t need to walk for long periods, but you should ensure they have enough physical activity to tire them out. Depending on the puppy's size and energy, just make sure they get enough exercise every day.

• Always treat your puppy well and make sure they engage in active exercise each day.

Playing with a puppy is crucial for its development. When a dog gets bored, it may find alternative ways to burn off energy, such as whining, barking, or even destroying furniture. It's important to engage with your puppy twice a day through games like fetch, tug-of-war, or any activities that keep the puppy moving.

• Aside from physical exercise, puppies enjoy receiving attention from you. They typically can only play for short periods, so it's best to break up the activities into smaller sessions. However, you should gradually increase the frequency of play and walks as your dog grows older.

Give your puppy toys to keep it entertained when left alone outside. When you're not around, providing a variety of toys can help the dog forget it's by itself.

• Make sure to offer a range of toys. Puppies especially love balls, squeaky toys, and chewable items that mimic food. These toys not only distract the puppy but also stimulate its natural curiosity and chewing instincts.

Training your puppy to stay outside on its own should be done gradually. Only leave your puppy outside when there is a safe and secure fence. Start by letting it stay outside for just a few minutes—around 1 to 5 minutes—to help it get used to the situation. Be prepared for whining and barking when the dog is outside.

• It's essential to train your puppy that whining won't get it any attention. If you give in and bring the dog back inside when it cries, you're reinforcing undesirable behavior. Only allow the puppy back inside when it is calm and quiet.

Praise your dog for correct behavior. This is a key element in dog training. As the time your puppy spends outside increases (always do this gradually), reward it by showing affection and petting it. You can even offer it treats. Eventually, the dog will learn that staying quiet and behaving well outside leads to rewards.

Gradually increase the amount of time your puppy spends alone. Continue training by extending the time your puppy is left outside on its own until it can stay quiet for at least an hour (in good weather). At this point, the dog may have learned to manage the anxiety of being separated and left outside. As a result, the puppy will become calmer and more willing to rest quietly.

• Make sure fresh water is always available for your puppy.

Consider using products to help calm your puppy. Many available products can aid in keeping your puppy calm when left alone. Pheromones are chemicals naturally produced by a dog’s body that can soothe anxiety in puppies. Dog Appeasing Pheromone (D.A.P.) has been shown to calm puppies during training sessions. These pheromones are available in collars, sprays, wipes, or diffusers.

Start crate training for your puppy. Place the crate inside your house, your dog's room, a cozy tent, or an outdoor hut to create a safe and warm space where the dog can rest. You can also include the puppy's bed, blankets, and toys in the crate to help it feel like the space belongs to them.

• Keep in mind that it takes time for dogs to adjust to new places. Be patient and gentle as you train your puppy to get used to the crate.
• The crate should be large enough for your puppy to stand up without having to crouch or to turn around comfortably inside.

Teach your dog to enter the crate. Start by opening the crate door and placing some of your puppy's favorite treats deep inside the crate. Once the dog enters to eat, say "crate," and gently close the door behind them. After the puppy finishes eating, you can open the crate door and praise the dog for its good behavior.

Continue crate training with your puppy. It's important to practice several times over a few days and gradually increase the amount of time the puppy spends in the crate with the door closed. Never let your puppy out when it starts whining, as this can reinforce unwanted behavior. Wait for your puppy to be quiet before opening the crate door and allowing it to come out.

Don't worry too much about the crate when placing your puppy inside. When you leave the house and need to crate your puppy, just calmly give the command to enter the crate as usual and leave without hesitation. This approach will help prevent excessive barking when you're not around.

• When you return home, make sure to engage your puppy's attention so it can happily greet you with excitement.

Never use the crate as a form of punishment, as this can make your puppy develop a negative association with it. Puppies under 2 months old should not be kept in the crate for more than 4 hours at a time. Young puppies cannot hold their bladder for more than 4 hours. As your dog grows, you can increase the time spent in the crate, but it would be cruel to confine the dog for longer than 4 hours at a time.

• Provide your dog with chew toys, soft toys, fresh water, and food when it is crated outside for extended periods of time.
• Don't give up. Don't let your affection for the dog lead you to encourage unwanted behaviors. This will only teach your puppy bad habits and allow it to do things it shouldn't.
• If you're frustrated and just want the puppy to be quiet immediately (especially after repeated incidents), don't yell at the dog. Instead, try making a soft, sudden noise like a gentle "shh." This will help the puppy stop whining without causing emotional harm. This action simply shows the puppy that you're in control and it should remain quiet.
• If your puppy whines or howls through the night, you can use the Conair Sound Therapy pillow from Bed, Bath & Beyond to help soothe the puppy to sleep.

• Some dog breeds, like hounds and terriers, can be quite vocal. Therefore, you may have to tolerate a certain level of noise.
• If your puppy continues to be noisy and destructive despite trying the above methods, it's time to consult a professional animal behaviorist.
• Yelling when the dog barks or whines will only make things worse. The dog won’t understand your words—only the tone and intensity of your voice. To the dog, it's as if you're barking along with it, and it will see nothing wrong with continuing to bark.
• Never hit your dog, as this will only make it more aggressive and worsen the behavior.