How do I teach my puppy not to whine?

I want to teach my puppy that whining is not the solution to get attention. How would I go about teaching him this without yelling at him. Something with positive reinforcement would be nice. Thank you.
I know that I must ignore him when he is whining, but I don't think that the spray bottle is the answer. That's a punishment, and dogs always learn better when rewarded properly. People tend to learn better when rewarded properly as well. Once again, I'm hoping to find a positive reinforcement kind of training.
Okay, so I wasn't specific enough about the whining. The whining is for attention. He's pretty much forgotten about the rest of his litter... or that's what the impression is. He has plenty of food, and he has his own little water bottle. Thanks
 
Try to determine what sets off the whining. Sometimes when they want to go out and urinate or defecate, they whine. Sometimes they want water, so whining is a way for them to ask for things. Pay attention to their behavior. Watch their head and eye movements. If they want something try by process of elimination to see what it is they want. Also contact a dog trainer or there are many dog training books that can give you some ideas what the whining is about. After all, it is a puppy, and sometimes the whining is the result of being taken from his litter.
 
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