Mary Allen
Does your dog constantly demand your attention? It can be tiring and annoying, but it probably has a good reason. Your Pet Reader shows you what is behind the behavior and how you can interrupt it.
Does the dog jump on you when you are just sitting on the couch? Does the dog whine, push or touch you with his paw all the time? Does your dog put things at your feet? Is the pet barking at you? It is clear: your four-legged friend is trying with all his might to get your attention.
But why is this so? There can be many reasons for attracting attention – especially smart, energetic dogs require a lot of attention from their owners. To attract the attention of their owners, these four-legged friends love to try everything.
This can be very annoying. But owners often reinforce their dogs’ unwanted behavior. For example, many tend to automatically pet dogs that bounce or hug them. Or scold dogs for attention. Ultimately, your dog gets exactly the attention it needs.
But you can be sure that your dog doesn’t want to annoy you on purpose. Your dog needs attention for many different reasons, says your veterinarian. Including fears or insecurities.
What Can You Do About This Pet Behavior?
Many dogs also draw attention to themselves through boredom or jealousy. But here’s the good news: Your four-legged friend may be unlearning the habit again.
The expert provides the following tips to help your dog quickly get other behaviors:
- Reward your dog when he does what he is supposed to do.
- Make sure your dog is busy and has a varied environment.
- Make sure your dog knows what is expected of him.
In doing so, it is important to be patient and consistent. It is also important that the dogs get enough exercise. If your dog is tired, he is less likely to run after you. You should also mentally challenge the dog so that it does not look bored and does not occupy itself – what it can then bother you.
Don’t judge your dog’s behavior as negative across the board. In the first step, you should always check whether all his needs are met. It could also be that your dog, for example, is just hungry or thirsty. So make sure he has enough food and water, and whether he eats enough.
Pain or illness can also cause dogs to ask for their owners’ attention. So the dogs want to tell us, “There is something wrong with me. Therefore, you should also talk to your veterinarian about behavior changes and abnormalities to rule out any health cause.