What Is Attention Seeking?

Basically, attention seeking is when a dog attempts to get your attention or seeks for you to play with it or get you to do whatever the dog wants. Remember, having a dog is not solely about the dog, it’s about the life of the dog and what is best for that dog. Listen, if you took your child to a store and you are having a conversation with another adult and your child attempts on many occasions to interrupt you to divert your attention back to the child, would you accept that and do what your child wants totally ignoring the conversation with the adult? I know I wouldn’t on any terms! Now, if you are that parent perhaps you should continue reading or if you get offended easily, it might not be a bad idea to stop reading now. No child should ever be allowed to interrupt their parent or any adult while talking to someone else. Even if that adult is talking to another child, it is imperative to not allow your child to interrupt, but to learn to wait their turn. Once they have mastered that one rule, they can have your attention fully once your adult conversation is over. Now, I said that to make this point: If you are watching television and not engaging your dog, then why would you allow your dog to bring you a toy to play with or jump in your lap uninvited? Most people honestly don’t think anything of it. The problem with that is the dog is actually in control in the home, not the owner because the owner is allowing the dog to call the shots. When the dog is attention seeking and they come to you for that unwanted attention, gently move them away without saying a word. Dogs don’t need words to understand the gesture. There is no aggression in the moving them away, just gently. It will take several times generally, but your dog will get the message and go lay down somewhere. Now, if your dog lays on your feet, again that is attention seeking, gently move them away. Wait until your dog gets the message completely and then call them over for attention and affection. I promise if you practice this with your dog every day for the rest of his/her life, you will see a difference in their behavior regarding attention seeking. One thing you must know is there is more to this Dog Calming Code than just attention seeking. You need to know the entire content before your dog will make a complete turnaround. When put into practice for the life of your dog, I promise your dog will be a well behaved and calm dog around other animals, people, children and strangers!