If your dog has been whining when you eat, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my dog whine when I eat? Likely reasons why your dog whines when you eat are that your dog is hungry, the behavior is rewarded, or that your dog simply likes whatever you are eating.
There are a number of possible reasons why your dog whines when you eat and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my dog whine or cry when I eat?
Below are likely reasons why your dog whines when you eat and what would make each of them more likely.
Hunger
The cause could be that your dog is hungry themselves. This would be more likely if they whine more before they have been fed such as if you eat breakfast before feeding them. In this case, it could help to feed them sooner.
Encouraging the behavior
It could also be the case that your dog has learned that the behavior is rewarded. If you or someone else has given your dog food after whining in the past, your dog will likely do it more in order to get more food.
Nature
The cause could also be that your dog naturally tries to get food whenever they can. Food, in the wild, would have been hard to come by for dogs. So, it would have been necessary for them to take whatever they could get. This is likely to be a significant reason why your dog whines while you are eating.
Your dog likes what you are eating
It could also be the case that your dog likes the particular food that you are eating. This would be more likely if your dog only does it when you eat certain food that you know they like such as fish.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your dog whines while you eat.
If your dog has always whined while you eat
If your dog did not always whine while you used to eat, it would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started doing it. If your dog started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as learning that the behavior is rewarded, you started feeding your dog less and they started getting hungrier or because you started feed your dog after you eat.
The timing of when your dog whines while you eat
If your dog does not always whine when you eat, it would also help to consider what is different when your dog does not whine while you eat. For example, if your dog only does it when you are eating certain food, it would be more likely that your dog likes what you are eating.
How to get my dog to stop crying while I eat?
Below are things you can do to discourage the behavior.
Avoid encouraging the behavior
As mentioned above, it might be the case that your dog has learned that the behavior is rewarded. Instead, it would help to avoid giving them any of your food.
Give your dog food before you eat
If you currently feed your dog after you eat yourself, it could help to feed your dog before you eat so that your dog is not as hungry.
Get your dog to stay elsewhere while you eat
Another option would be to distract your dog or to get your dog to stay elsewhere, in the house, while you eat.