Is Your Dog Attention seeking?

Is Your Dog Exhibiting Annoying Unwanted Behaviours?

 

Does your dog do behaviour which at times feels annoying, that gets your attention? For example; vocalise, jump up, chew up items, paw you, nudge your hand, jump on your lap, destroy items, steal things, parading with toys or perhaps a stolen items. Is your dog unsettle and active near meal time, mouthing your hands, or other?

Often the dog may display passive, or active behaviour in the presence of the owner. Perhaps your dog interrupts what you are trying to do. An owner may report a problem when they settle down to work, are busy, relax in front of the TV, when dog dinner time is delayed, the dog wants play, or their phone rings. Anytime their focus not on their dog but on other matters. 

A frustrated owner may report that they push their dog away, tell it off, reassure their dog, or provide what their dog is seeking. The dog will repeat the behaviour again. Perhaps your dog is getting more anxious and the attention seeking, or unwanted behaviour is becoming more frequent. This is a behaviour that many owners, just like you have experienced. A good history from you about your dog, is most useful for the Clinical Behaviourist to help you change your dogs unwanted behaviour problem J Heath S (2005), Overall K (1997). 

It is important to understand the dog as an individual to establish cause and solution. If it is more extreme the attention seeking may be part of an anxiety problem. Or it could be a factor that is part of a more complex problem. The cause may, or may not be attention seeking, Canine Whispers can help to discern the cause.  For example a destructive dog may not understand appropriate play, perhaps it is related to separation, fear, phobia, teething, or boredom. Canine Whispers is here to help ascertain cause and give you guidance to resolve the unwanted behaviours Overall K (1997). 

You are not alone in experiencing attention seeking from your dog. It can feel stressful and annoying. Why continue to live with the problem? Join the band of great owners who put the necessary work in, with guidance, to get results. Canine Whispers can design a plan to help you change your dogs behaviour problem. We are there to support progress with support too.

References: Bowen  J Heath S (2005) Behaviour Problems in Small Animals. Elsevier, Overall K (1997) Clinical Behavioural Medicine for Small Animals.