On-lead whinging

[notjustme]

One of our dogs has, in the last two days, decided that whenever he is on lead he's going to whinge, constantly. And I mean, constantly. He whines and yelps like he has been shot, and has done this right from the moment the lead goes on, till the lead comes off again.

I don't know what's started it - as I say it's only been yesterday and today, and there's just nothing different about the walks, his harness is comfortable and he is fit and healthy.

He's walking with our two other dogs, and hates to be left behind, but he carries on whether he is at the front of the pack, the back of the pack, the middle of the pack, or whether he can't see them at all. And he winds the other two up until they begin to whine too, so then that's three whinging dogs instead!

I immediately clicked into 'when you whine, we stop walking until you're quiet' mode but it makes not one jot of difference, and in fact, often made it worse as the others were leaving him behind. Trying to distract him with treats - the same, not really any interest. It's almost like he's going into some sort of ear-plugged whinging frenzy as he won't even respond to you talking to him.

The only thing that stops him whinging is letting him off lead which is obviously the easy way out, and not an option on roads! I am also concerned that he will just learn that whinging = free run with no lead = more whinging until he gets his run.

Any ideas on how to curb this? Aside from being extremely annoying, and possibly a cause for complaint whilst we are walking through residential areas, he is also just not enjoying any time he spends on the lead as he's just so intent on the vocalising.

[RedwingWinter]

I think he's trying to train you to let him be off-lead all the time! I would have done the same as you and decided that whinging meant not walking, and waited for him to stop. Maybe you just need to persist with this? I'm not a dog trainer though so I'll wait for someone who is to give their advice. Good luck with it.