Chilli is 5 now and we haven't yet managed to stop him whinging completely. He's just very head strong and likes to get what he wants, when he wants. He goes back to the breeder every now and then and they have commented on how talkative he is. I think it's because we have always talked to him and trained him verbally from a young age (and our neighbours reinforcing the noisy behaviour with biscuits). He gets a lot of exercise and stimulation and goes to day care too and that doesn't help a great deal if I'm honest.
We had a session with a behaviourist who recommended 'disciplining' him for the behaviour by sending him to a safe place for a time out. He's only allowed to leave the place when he is calm and quiet. He did warn us though that he will seem more depressed and we would effectively be crushing his character to an extent. It has helped us with the worst of the behaviour and he has learned quite well. For instance, he cries for his food and he used to sit there and cry for over an hour but now he tries it on a bit then goes and lies in his bed and waits quietly (without us sending him there). He'll always be a whinger though. He grumbles and moans at things like having his paws dried, being told to move off the sofa, not getting attention at the end of Eastenders (he knows the duff, duffs). But that's part of why we love him so much.
