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• Method 1 of 3: Train your dog not to howl for attention
• Method 2 of 3: Treating separation anxiety in your dog
• Method 3 of 3: Dealing with other causes of howling

Dogs howl for a variety of reasons. Many dogs howl because of separation anxiety, others because of something in the environment, such as a siren or thunderclap. Others just whine out of habit or to get attention. If your dog's howling is a problem, you can try reducing his anxiety or using techniques to break the conditioning.

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Method 1 of 3: Train your dog not to howl for attention

1. Ignore your dog's howling. Some dogs will howl to get your attention, or to "ask" for food, treats, toys, etc. To prevent this type of crying, first show your dog that howling is not getting attention.
   • Don't scold or punish your dog if he whines, as he may even see this kind of attention as a reward. When he whines to get your attention, just don't touch, talk to, or look at your dog.
2. Reward your dog when he's quiet. Rewarding your dog when he is quiet will help condition him to stop whining excessively. Keep a supply of kibble or toys on hand and try these techniques:
   • Do not give your dog anything (food, treats, toys, etc.) until it has been quiet for at least five seconds. This will condition your dog to associate silence with getting a reward. If your dog whines when he's waiting for something, ignore him until he's been quiet for at least five seconds.
   • Give treats to your dog at random times when he is quiet. The unexpected treat will help reinforce good behavior.
3. Train your dog to be quiet on command. Just as you can train a dog to "speak", you can also train it to stop howling or make other noises on command. Once you have trained your dog according to the following steps, simply give it the command "shht" when it starts howling:
   • Say "loud!" And try to get your dog to make noise (such as by clapping your hands).
   • Praise your dog when it makes a noise, but don't give it a treat.
   • Say "shht!" Or "hush!" And wait for your dog to stop making noise for a few seconds.
   • Praise your dog and give him a treat.
   • Repeat these steps several times. You can also try to lengthen the time your dog needs to be quiet before giving you a treat.

Method 2 of 3: Treating separation anxiety in your dog

1. Give a name to the behavior. If you discover that your dog is whining when you are away, the behavior may be caused by separation anxiety. Howling caused by separation anxiety is usually accompanied by other patterns of behavior, such as:
   • Strolling back and forth
   • Destroy things
   • Urinating and / or defecating
   • Drooling
2. Try counter-conditioning. If your dog has separation anxiety, you need to help him overcome it. In the simplest technique, counter-conditioning, you let your dog associate good things with abandonment. In dogs with moderate separation anxiety, this may be enough to stop the howling.
   • Every time you leave your house, give your dog a toy. The best choices are the ones that will keep your dog busy for a while; for example, there are toys where you can put food for your dog in and which he can spend 20-30 minutes on. Look for these types of toys at the pet store.
   • When you get home, take the toy away so that your dog only associates it with the times you are gone.
   • Repeat these steps consistently and over time, your dog's separation anxiety (and howling behavior) should lessen or disappear.
   • You can also crate train your dog in addition to counter-conditioning to stop howling.
   • Never punish your dog for separation anxiety. Rather than making your dog stop howling, it will only increase his anxiety.
3. Seek professional help if your dog's separation anxiety and howling continue. If your dog has a more severe degree of separation anxiety, he may need more extensive counter-conditioning and habituation - often starting with very short periods of abandonment and gradually lengthening them. Talk to a veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or certified professional dog trainer (CPDT) about training techniques, possible medications, and other options.
   • If you seek the assistance of a CPDT, make sure he or she is trained in counter-conditioning and habituation techniques, as training in these areas is not required for certification.
4. Spend quality time with your dog. Dogs need a lot of attention from their humans, especially if left alone for extended periods of time. Making time to play with your dog can also help reduce his separation anxiety and whining. Set aside time every day for games, treats, and exercise with your dog.
   • As long as your dog is healthy, he will benefit from regular play (retrieving, jumping, tug of war, etc.) and walks of at least half an hour every day. Discuss the amount of activity your dog has with your vet; if your dog is older, injured, or very young, he or she may have some more specific recommendations.

Method 3 of 3: Dealing with other causes of howling

1. Determine if there is anything in the environment that is causing your dog to howl. Many dogs howl in response to external stimuli, such as sirens, other dogs, or thunderstorms. Watch when your dog howls to see if the behavior follows a specific trigger.
   • If your dog's howling is caused by something in the environment, it will usually stop when the trigger ends or goes away. If the occasional short whine isn't a problem, you can just leave it that way.
2. Change how your dog responds to the trigger. If the whining caused by something in the environment is excessive or needs to stop (because the noise is disturbing the neighbors, for example), you may need to change your dog's behavior using habituation and counter-conditioning techniques.
   • If the environmental trigger can be controlled, you can try to get your dog used to it. For example, if your dog howls at the sound of your dryer, you can try to keep it quiet with the dryer on for no more than a minute and then give it a treat. Gradually increase the amount of time you leave the dryer on as long as your dog is calm. Hopefully, your dog will get used to the trigger and not howl.
   • If the environmental trigger cannot be controlled (such as a siren or thunder), you can still use counter-conditioning to stop your dog's howling. Try to keep your dog calm while the trigger is present, and give him a treat if he's not whining. Do this consistently and your dog may begin to associate the trigger with getting a reward, rather than the need to howl.
3. Take care of your dog if he is sick or injured. If you can't determine that your dog's howling is caused by an environmental trigger, separation anxiety, or some other obvious cause, the cause could be health-related. Have your vet examine your dog to determine if he is whining due to an illness or injury.