why is my dog acting weird?

Question

he was fine, but now, he keeps whining. he whines at the door, and looks out the window and whines, but there is nothing there!
my dad just brought him from a walk, so he was already outside.
he went into my living room and stopped, and whined again.
why is this happening/?
im starting to get freaked out
i brought him upstairs with me and he wanted to sit on my lap. and then he was all fidgety. when i let him down, he ran down the stairs (he usually likes being upstairs now)
hes not a puppy, ive had him for almost 2 years now.
any explanations?

he's never whined like this before, except the first night we brought him home from his mom (when he was a puppy).

Answer 1

He trying to get your attention. And it sounds like it's working. It's the same reason babies cry. To get their parents to pay attention to them. Even telling him to be quiet is enough attention for him to become positive reinforcement. You need to eliminate all positive reinforcement and add some environmental negative reinforcement if it continues out of your presence.

Step 1) Ignore him. It's gonna take a bit to break him of this habit as you've been positively reinforcing him with attention all this time. You'll have to put up with it for an hour minimally. It will decrease over time but you must not give in to giving him attention. This means completely ignoring him and the strict silent treatment. It's hell in the beginning but if I can do it with each of the rescues when they come in, you can do it with a single dog. Take plenty of Tylenol before starting this. :^)

Step 2) If you absolutely can't take it anymore, do the opposite of what he wants. He wants attention from you directly so remove him from your presence. Take him to another room and crate him (if necessary).

Step 3) I guarantee he'll continue to whine from the other room, this time even louder and more prolonged. Don't fear. Now you need to add some negative environmental reinforcement. Stand by the door or just behind the crate and employ the "loud noise" routine or the "earthquake" routine. When the dog whines, slam your hand on the door to the room, bang the wall or pound on the back of the crate. One loud rap in direct response to her whine. He whines, you pound. (Take plenty of Tyenol for this one too :^) They hate the loud noise and pretty soon they get the idea that whining results in a really loud obnoxious sound. If you do it right, you may only have to do this for 15 minutes or so maximum. DO NOT go into the room (or go to the front of the crate - make sure he can't see you out the back either) when the dog is whining, as he will then associate whining with your reappearance. Once he stops for a while, go back and sit down and wait until he does it again. Once he has stopped for 15 minutes in a stretch, THEN go back in the room, take him out of the crate, praise him, and bring him back in the room with you. The earthquake method is the same thing except to lift the back of the crate up and let it drop back down, creating a mini-earthquake inside. Same principle - same result.

This also works for barking too. And if the dog is doing it after you leave the house, simply pick a time when you're not busy, leave the house, and pound on the front door instead of the door to the room. Same principle at work here. Do not reenter the house until the dog is quiet for a 15 minute stretch.

It works. It just takes a bit of patience and a firm hand (literally :-).

About the harmonica - This is no comment on your harmonica skills here but in essence you're howling too. Pack animals like wolves and dogs will howl in harmony as a form of staying in touch over distances and communicating between packs. You begin to "howl" and your packmate simply joins in. It's the reason all those dogs howl on the video shows when their owners play the clarinet, howl, sing, or play songs on the radio. It's an instinctive wolf behavior. Cute but predictable.

Hoe this helps

Answer 2

I would try the vet first. Even if he is not acting out tomorrow. If you have had him 2 years, he will not all of a sudden develop a behavior problem. Even if he is not nuetered, he would have acted before this if that was bothering him. I had a 3 year old Yorkie that did that out of the blue on day. I thought he was just excited and wanted to be outside. He would go out and actlike he had to potty and then come in and whine so he coiuld go back out. The next day he just kinda layed around. the third day he seemed to feel fine. Then the forth day he wouldnt drink. We took him to the vet and it was his kidneys. Had we went the first day he may have lived. He could not potty from a kidney stone. He tried to pass it and it wouldnt pass. Please take him to the vet. Anytime your loved pet acts out, there is a reason. Dogs dont jsut wake up one day with a behavior issues after 2 years.

Answer 3

Is he neutered? If he is, he isn't interested in a female. He wouldn't whine anyway, he would act excited.

He could be in pain. If he has never done this before and there is nothing outside bothering him, then he is distress over something. A dog doesn't just start whining which is why I am saying he is in pain.

If he is still doing it tomorrow I would call the Vet..

Answer 4

Perhaps your dog seen a nice other dog on the walk, your dog longs to play with another dog.
Let the dog play outdoors and make the dog happy.

Answer 5

MAYBE HE GOT A WHIFF OF A FEMALE IN HEAT OUTSIDE , WHEN HE WENT FOR A WALK.