Extreme Whining

[DexterAbby]

Hey guys,
So my 2 year old, Dexter, has always been extremely vocal. However, lately he is driving me nuts by waking me up with whining and then high pitch bark/whining at the door while I get my coat on etc. before we go out for a walk.
EVERY morning, he whines and barks so obnoxiously when he wants me to wake up. I COMPLETELY ignore him, and continue to sleep until I want to get up ( my husband lets him out at 6 am for a pee). I usually get up at 8, so it's not like I sleep all day.
The same thing happens when we get ready to go out for a walk. I swear my neighbors are going to call by-law soon, it is highly annoying.
It seems that ignoring him does nothing. Any other suggestions? I have tried doing a sit stay to give him a job to do while I get ready, but he will sit and stay but continue whining.

PS- we walk 4.4 KM a day and train for 30 min. He is a very good dog besides the whole vocal issue.

Thanks!!

[onyx'girl]

Does he like balls? Pop a ball in his mouth as a pacifier??
When do you feed him breakfast? My dogs will whine until they are fed. Maybe scatter Dexter some food while you get ready to go out.

[llombardo]

I have had a couple whiners and depending on the dog two things might work...get a squirt bottle, fill it up with water and squirt him when he barks and say NO or get a can and put small pebbles in it, tape the top and shake it when he barks--it distracts them and hopefully long enough for him to forget he was barking.