How to Train a Labrador Puppy to Not Whine

For this method to work, everyone in your house needs to understand that they can't reward puppy whining. While you shouldn't ignore signals that your puppy is uncomfortable or needs to go outside, rushing to their side every time they whine will only make the problem worse. Be strong and get ready to ignore the whining.

Put your Labrador in a puppy-proofed room and leave them alone. Stand around the corner or outside the door. Your puppy will probably start whining, unhappy to be left alone.

The goal is to wait for a break in the whining to reward your puppy. If your puppy gets really worked up when left alone, wait for any pause and then click or say "good." Your puppy should already associate the clicker or the word "good" with a positive result.

Return to the room and give your Labrador puppy a treat or their preferred reward. Make a big fuss over how great they are for being quiet.

As your puppy learns to stay alone without fussing, require longer and longer periods of quiet before they get a reward. Over time, your Labrador will learn that being alone is no big deal and that whining doesn't give them what they want anyway.

In nature, dogs build comfortable dens to leave their puppies in. These dens represent a safe space where puppies do not need to worry about being left alone. Put your puppy's crate or a sturdy box near your bed and fill it with comfy bedding.

Help your Labrador puppy become accustomed to their crate by associating it with good things. Give your puppy treats or their meals in the crate. Pet them when they are inside. Keep it clean and comfortable inside.

Place your puppy inside the crate and then leave the room for a few seconds. Your puppy will likely begin crying as soon as you do so. Resist the urge to rush back in and show them everything is okay.

Stay out of the room until you hear a break in your puppy's crying. Say "good" or click the clicker and then come back into the room. Repeat this action a few times and then let your Lab out of their crate. Over time, require longer and longer periods of quiet before coming back so your puppy feels comfortable being alone in their crate.

Hang out nearby the crate for a few minutes a day while your puppy is inside. You can sit on the ground near the crate and read or do some other activity. Your puppy doesn't necessarily need to be able to see you, but it may help. Give them a toy or a bone to entertain themselves. The idea is to ensure your puppy doesn't associate the crate with being abandoned.

The 'Squirt Bottle' method should only be used with very persistent whiners. First, try other methods of reducing your Labrador's whining habits. Make sure they are not whining because of some other health or comfort issue.

Fill a water pistol or squirt bottle with water and keep it on hand. Make sure it won't spray the water too forcefully. Keep in mind your Lab puppy is small and a strong blast of water may hurt them.

When your puppy whines, squirt a little water at them. It's best to do this from an angle where your puppy doesn't see you. Otherwise, they connect you to a negative sensation. The water should seem like a bolt from nowhere that hits when they whine.

If your puppy stops whining after the water, say "good" or click the clicker and give them a treat. This lets your puppy know what you want instead of the whining.

Your timing will need to be very good with this method. With both the water and the treat, you need the response to come as closely to the action as possible. With good timing, you should see results in just a couple of days. If this method doesn't show results after a week, try something else.