7 Reasons Why Your Bulldog Whines So Much
Dogs can’t communicate with their humans in their language. We don’t speak dog and they don’t speak our languages. To communicate what they are feeling and what they need, dogs will use vocalizations to get our attention and direct us to what they need. Whining, while it may seem annoying to us, is one of their ways to express their feelings.
Why does my Bulldog whine so much?
A Bulldog will whine when they feel a negative emotion or when it needs something from you. If your Bulldog is scared, anxious, or feeling sick, then it will start whining. It is important to figure out what your Bulldog is whining about so you can help with what they need.
All dogs will whine from time to time to express what they are feeling. The different reasons why a Bulldog would whine are similar to the reasons that other breeds of dogs would whine. Whining is an instinctual behavior so you can expect your dog to whine at some point.
Your Bulldog is Anxious
Your Bulldog might be whining because it is anxious. A dog can get anxious when they hear thunder or other loud sounds. Bulldogs might also get anxious if they have separation anxiety and they realize that their owners are leaving.
If your Bulldog is anxious because of fear, it is best to provide them comfort until the stressor passes. However, if your Bulldog is anxious because of separation anxiety, they might need training to help them work past their anxiety. Training them to become comfortable with being away from you can ease a lot of their anxieties.
Your Bulldog is Sick
A Bulldog might whine when it isn’t feeling good. It might express that it is sick through whining. However, if your Bulldog is sick, you might also see other symptoms of sickness that your Bulldog expresses.
If you think that your Bulldog is sick, watch their other behaviors. A sick dog might show excessive panting, drooling, having digestive problems, fatigue, not wanting to drink water or eat food, and possibly itching. If your Bulldog is showing a combination of these symptoms, it is a good idea to take them to the vet so your Bulldog can get the help that it needs.
Your Bulldog Want Attention
Sometimes, your Bulldog whines because it feels lonely and wants attention. This can happen if they were alone all day and you have just come home or if they just spent a lot of time alone. You Bulldog might come up to you whining, communicating that they want attention from you.
There’s the possibility that your Bulldog isn’t feeling lonely but is just whining to get attention. This can happen through accidental training by giving your Bulldog pets and love when they start whining. However, it can be difficult to tell if this is the cause of their whining because whining often means that your Bulldog needs something from you.
Your Bulldog Needs a Need Fulfilled
A Bulldog might start to whine to show you that they need to go outside or that they need food. You might find your Bulldog whining near the door or near their food which is a pretty good indicator that they have a need that isn’t currently being met.
If you hear your Bulldog whining, take into consideration where they are whining. This can be the difference between whining because your Bulldog needs something or whining because of fear or anxiety.
Your Bulldog Is in Pain
Even though Bulldogs are typically covered in muscle, they can still get injured like any other dog. From the smallest of injuries to broken bones, the pain that comes from an injury can cause your Bulldog to start whining. This is both how they are expressing their pain to you, and whining is a way for them to cope with the pain.
When a Bulldog is whining from pain, there will usually be another indicator of pain that will alert you that your Bulldog is whining from pain and not for another reason. A Bulldog might limp, try to lick at the hurt area, or yelp when you try to touch them, they have an injury. Of course, if you see a wound on them then that’s an obvious indicator that there is an injury that needs to be treated.
If the pain that your Bulldog is facing is minor, you might be able to take care of their minor injury on your own. However, if you don’t know how long they’ve been hurt or if their injury looks more severe, they will need to go to the vet. A vet will be able to tell you what the issue is and if the injury has any infection with it. They will also be able to treat the problem.
Your Bulldog is Excited
Finally, your Bulldog might be whining out of excitement. If you have ever been so happy that you have cried, then this is a very similar situation. If your Bulldog is super happy about something, like you coming home from a long day of work, your Bulldog might start whining to show that they are happy that you’re home.
A Bulldog can also get super excited over the smaller things such as going for a walk or getting food. This is different from them whining because they need something because the whining will start when you are doing the action. For example, an excited Bulldog might start to whine once you grab its leash to take them for a walk.
Excited whining will usually be accompanied by jumping around, panting, or maybe tapping their paws.
Can I Make My Bulldog Stop Whining So Much?
With whining being an instinctual behavior, you won’t ever be able to fully stop your Bulldog from whining. They will still whine when they are in pain or desperately needs something. However, you can train your Bulldog to not whine as often in excitement or for attention.
Using a Command
An easy way to reduce the amount of whining that your Bulldog does is to teach them a command that tells them to be quiet. If your Bulldog starts to whine out of attention or excitement, tell them the command word that you have chosen (which can simply be the word “quiet.”)
Wait for your Bulldog to quiet down, and then give it a treat. Repeat this every time you notice the behavior until you decide to test their learning. Do this by trying to give the command and see if they follow instantly or not. If your Bulldog listens instantly, then they have learned the command.
Again, you won’t be able to stop your Bulldog from whining completely. Whining is a tool for communication, so it is still important to listen to what your Bulldog needs or wants from you. Always take into consideration what your Bulldog needs.
In cases where your Bulldog has separation anxiety, they will require different training than what is listed above.
How Can I Help My Bulldog That is Whining?
The best thing that you can do when your Bulldog starts to whine is to figure out why they are barking.
To figure this out, look at the other behaviors that your Bulldog is showing. If they are trying to hide, then they are whining out of fear, if they are by the food bowl, they are whining out of hunger, and so on… Looking at the other behaviors that your Bulldog is showing can be a perfect indicator of why.
Also, take into consideration what is happening around you and your Bulldog when it starts to whine. Is there thunder? Are you leaving the house? Surrounding stressors can be a good way to tell why your Bulldog is helping as well.
Once you know why your Bulldog is whining, you can then help. Sometimes, all your Bulldog needs are some comforting love and attention from you. Other times, they might need you to get them medical attention because they are sick or in a lot of pain.
Over time, you will be able to better tell why your Bulldog starts to whine. This shows that you better understand how your Bulldog communicates and this gives you a better bond with your dog. Your Bulldog appreciates it when you can understand what their needs are.
Final Thoughts
A Bulldog can whine for many reasons. The most common reasons for a Bulldog to start whining is because they feel a negative emotion such as fear and anxiety or they need something from you like food. To tell why your Bulldog is barking, pay attention to what is happening around them and what other behaviors they are doing.
Having a strong relationship with your Bulldog can look like you quickly figuring out why they are whining. With a strong relationship, you are then able to give your Bulldog a better life because you can fulfill their needs and wants so much better.
