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Dogs can be real gluttons for attention. This often means they're a bit
anxious and fearful and in frequent need of reassurance. Or they may
simply be accustomed to getting a lot of attention, and the more they
get, the more they want. It's gratifying when your dog pushes his head
against your hand for the occasional rub or lies close to you when
you're relaxing, but no one enjoys being hounded by a canine "shadow"
who can't bear to be alone even for a minute.
 It's not difficult to teach dogs to be less demanding, but first you
need to understand what they're telling you with all their clinging.
"I'm insecure." Even the most self-sufficient dog has certain fears --
of thunderstorms, for example, or the sound of firecrackers -- that will
send her in search of attention. There's nothing wrong with giving a
frightened dog a little reassurance, but you don't want to make too big
a deal of it. If you do, she may get the idea that there really is
something to be afraid of -- or at least she'll get in the habit of
turning to you whenever she gets nervous.
"Don't go overboard with affection because that tells your dog it's okay
to be scared," . "You're reinforcing her fear."
Rather than just giving comfort, she recommends a more proactive
approach. Think about the things that scare your dog silly. It may be
thunderstorms or fireworks, or even the sound of a newspaper rattling.
Whatever it is, think about ways to expose her to small doses.
Dogs who are afraid of thunderstorms, for example, can learn to cope
with them when their owners make tape recordings of storms and play them
back at very low volumes, rewarding their dogs as long as they stay calm
and relaxed. The idea is to gradually decrease the "fear factor" by
playing the recording a little bit louder every day. If your dog starts
getting nervous, reduce the volume. But as long as she stays relaxed,
keep giving her praise and treats. If you do this slowly -- and it may
take months of daily "exposure" -- she'll probably get a little better,
and less demanding of your attention.
"I want to be in charge." "If a dog tends to be pushy in all sorts of
situations, demands for attention may indicate that she wants to be in
control" . Your dog needs to be taught to earn any attention
you give her. For example, if she's demanding to be petted, she should
be told to sit or lie down before she gets those loving strokes. It's
also better to keep the petting session brief. That way, she learns to
relax and be less controlling.
"I'm bored." Dogs who don't have a lot to do will sometimes beg for
attention merely because they can't think of anything else to do. For
example, if you're working on a computer project at home, and your dog
begins to nudge you persistently after several hours, she may be saying
that she's tired of just lying around while you're crunching
spreadsheets.
You really can't expect dogs to entertain themselves all the time. Dogs are social creatures and they want to spend time with
you more than anything else. This doesn't mean you should give in to
their every demand, but you will have to remember to schedule some time
when they can have your undivided attention. As long as you take them
for walks or play with them for 30 to 40 minutes a day, and don't let
them con you into giving them attention in between, they'll learn to
wait for "their" time. |
