Improper Attention Seeking

Dogs and cats are social animals who like our company. They are also pretty smart. Put those two facts together and you have a pet who learns quickly how to make you heed his call. Responding to your pet’s pleas for attention isn’t always a bad thing – taking your dog outside to eliminate when he barks at the door, for instance. However, if your cat decides that 4:00 am is the best time for cuddling or your dog always seems to want to play when you are on the phone, you probably need some help.

If your pet is engaging in an undesirable behavior to get your attention the best thing to do is ignore him. This teaches him that his behavior has the opposite effect of his intentions. Yes, this can be difficult to achieve, especially if your cat tries to get your attention by standing on your head. Move away from your pet or put him in another room for a minute or two if you feel yourself losing patience. Again, dogs and cats are pretty smart; your pet will learn soon that the behavior doesn’t work. To make sure that your buddy doesn’t run the gamut of “naughty” behaviors to get your attention (raiding the trash, meowing or barking, pulling your pant legs, scratching the furniture, etc.) be diligent about giving attention to your pet when he does something that you approve of (sitting, rubbing against your leg, lying on his bed, scratching the scratching post). You will have a courteous canine or kitty in no time.

Finally, should you find that your pet is seeking your attention several times a day or in increasingly mischievous ways, the answer isn’t necessarily more attention but rather structured attention. Schedule two or three play sessions a day (to total about 45 minutes for pets under two years of age and about 30 minutes for most over two years) and a couple of short “quiet-attention” times for cuddling, petting, massage, grooming (if your pet enjoys it), etc. Your dog or cat will be less likely to demand your time if he knows that he will be getting it at regular times each day.