Mary Allen
Dogs generally like to be noticed and quickly learn how to get the attention of their favorite human. As long as your dog doesn’t overdo the attention-grabbing, it’s okay. Sometimes the four-legged friend wants to communicate something important with it. However, if the behavior gets out of hand, problems can arise because the pet is perceived as a nuisance.
Don’t underestimate the intelligence of dogs. If the dog grip is not challenged enough, boredom arises – and the four-legged friend demands too much attention to tell you that. Mistakes in training can also result in your dog constantly barking for attention. Only clear rules help here – however, your dog can only understand them if they are really “real” rules. That means they shouldn’t be diluted by exceptions and inconsistency.
If the dog is under-challenged or not well-trained, it can lead to exaggerated demands for attention from the pet. Here’s what you can do about it:
Resist the Beginnings Through Consistent Education
Dogs have a variety of ways to get your attention. The basis for undesirable, attention-seeking behavior is already laid in puppyhood. Then the bad manners of the four-legged friend are not so annoying and are actually quite cute. You stroke your little bundle of fur with delight when it jumps up on you? Then later it will most likely jump up on all sorts of people to be petted.
The puppy begs and perseveres at the dining table with his heart-rending dog look? If he actually gets a bite because of it, he’ll keep trying. If your dog is allowed to tear up the newspaper from the day before for fun and is rewarded for it with attention, he may not stop at important files or homework books.
These are examples of dog training inconsistencies that result in your dog not knowing what to do and what not to do. And finally, he just does what gets him the most attention, that is, what is most worthwhile for him. It doesn’t matter whether your reaction is friendly or angry. The main thing for the animals is that they are taken care of.
So that it doesn’t get that far in the first place, you should consistently enforce rules even with cute puppies and not allow any exceptions.
Find Causes: Why Does the Dog Want Attention All Day?
Sometimes dogs just want to get attention and the attention of their favorite human is reward enough for them. This is usually due to the above-mentioned educational mistakes. The behavior has taken on a life of its own. Nevertheless, it is advisable to pause for a moment and consider whether the dog might not have another reason to draw attention to itself.
For example, four-legged friends who feel under-challenged, bored, and not working to capacity often show destructive, undesirable behavior. This happens because they don’t have anything better to do and realize that they are causing a reaction on your part – which in turn breaks the boredom of the moment.
However, if your dog also seems very stressed and panicky, especially if you leave him alone, there may also be separation anxiety behind it, which he wants to draw attention to. In addition, sick or injured animals try to hide their pain, so that sometimes their suffering is only expressed as a change in behavior or character. If you have any doubts as to whether your four-legged friend is really just asking for attention or whether he wants to say something, go to the vet to be on the safe side and have him checked out.
Dog Constantly Wants Attention: Provide Alternatives for Unwanted Behavior
When teaching your dog what not to do, you should always provide an alternative for desired behavior. Otherwise, your four-legged friend will not know how to behave and will be unsettled. For example, teach him that he can chew on his chew bone and play with its toys , but leave paper, shoes, and furniture alone. Rewards him when he lies down in his basket to rest instead of jumping on the sofa.
Ignore Unwanted Behavior, Reward Good Behavior
You can teach your dog alternative behaviors by consistently ignoring any bad behavior and rewarding any good behavior. If your four-legged friend jumps up on you, turn away and ignore him, even with a small sideways glance. As soon as your four-legged friend stands still with all four paws on the ground or sits down, stroke and praise him. Maybe give him a treat too. He then gets attention for desired behavior and is punished – through negative reinforcement – with the withdrawal of attention if he does not follow the rules.
Here it is important that you remain really consistent and always. If you give in even once, your dog will learn that he only needs to pester long enough to get what he wants. His behavior may even worsen as a result. If you don’t feel like enforcing the rules so strictly on your own, get help from an experienced dog trainer or animal psychologist.
Keep the Dog Occupied & Avoid Boredom
If you have trained your dog consistently and it is in excellent health, boredom is probably to blame for the fact that it demands attention. The only thing that helps is to keep him busy so that he doesn’t get any stupid ideas.
For example, bring him food or an intelligence game, start a dog sport or teach him tricks. The activities should of course always be adapted to the nature, temperament, breed-typical characteristics, and preferences of your dog and be neither too strenuous nor too easy.