Attention Seeking
Behaviour In Cocker Spaniels

"Is Your Dog Driving You Mad With His Attention Seeking Antics?"

Our Cocker Spaniels have many different ways of getting our attention, occasionally endearing but usually annoying, particularly when we're busy doing something else!

You dog's attention seeking behaviour may be seen as follows:

• He may bark to try and get your attention while you're chatting to a friend;
• He may be so pleased to see you that he forgets his manners and jumps up just as you're trying to get through the door with your weekly shopping;
• When you're relaxing, reading, or simply enjoying a leisurely cuppa, your dog saunters over and paws at you, demanding you give him some attention;
• Jumping on and off the furniture and running round in circles - now that would get my attention!

Does any of this sound familiar?

The above are just a few typical examples of attention seeking behaviour in dogs.

In the wild, dogs hunt in a pack, running and playing together and enjoying regular contact and interaction with their pack members.

They're fairly sociable animals and if they don't get the attention they want from their domestic pack (you and your family), they'll often demand it!

To us humans, however, this type of unwanted behaviour can be annoying and is exactly the kind of behaviour we want to discourage.

Typically, our response in any of the above circumstances may be to push our dog away, or shout at him to be quiet.

Unfortunately what we often don't realise is that by the very act of responding to this type behaviour, we're not only confirming to our dogs that their attention seeking behaviour works, we may also be inadvertently helping to increase our dog's dominance by following and not leading!

If you react to your Cocker Spaniel's 'demands' you are rewarding his (unwanted) behaviour. It won't be long before he learns that his attention seeking behavior will get him what he wants, so he'll misbehave each time he wants your undivided attention.

For example, you may have called him by his name (a big reward) and asked him to get down or be quiet, or you may have inadvertantly rewarded him with your touch as you gently pushed him away.

If you react to your dog's attention seeking behaviour, your dog is controlling you; he's calling the shots, and that's not good. You need to maintain your status as pack leader - you are the alpha dog - always.

Signs of Attention Seeking Behaviour

Your Cocker Spaniel may try many different ways to get your attention and we've listed a few of these behaviours below:

• he may bark at you for attention;
• your dog may paw or nudge you or he may place his head on your lap and look up at you appealingly with those big, brown, liquid eyes - who could resist?
• jumping up at you or onto your furniture is another favourite;
• he may steal a sock, or something else that doesn't belong to him, and run away with it or, he may simply run away from you, particularly if he's learned that you chase him every time!
• he may pick up a toy and circle just outside of reaching distance - he's trying to get your attention and hoping that you'll chase him;
• your dog may whine for your attention (our Cocker used to do this constantly, but by ignoring him, he soon learned that it didn't work!);
• I've even heard of dogs actually vomiting for attention!
• feigning lameness (Oh, they can be really devious!);
• he may bring you a toy and place it on your lap;
• he may bite his lead;
• in extreme cases, some dogs may resort to aggression to get the attention they want;
• your dog may pull at your clothes;
• biting and nipping may be another attention seeking behaviour;
• defecating and urinating in your home - now that's an attention seeking behaviour that definitely works!
• your dog may try licking you to get your attention;

Not all dogs are wired the same way; they will try and attract our attention in many different ways and, as we've seen, some can be quite imaginative!

If your dog's attention seeking behaviour turns to biting or he becomes aggressive, you may need to seek professional advice and assistance from your vet or an animal behaviourist to help you tackle the problem.

Never try to resolve any canine aggression problems on your own.

Causes Of Attention Seeking Behaviour In Dogs

There may be many reasons why your dog is constantly demanding your attention and, before you can begin to address the problem, you need to understand what it is that's causing your dog to behave in this way.

For example:

• Your Cocker Spaniel may not be getting enough exercise, leaving him with way too much energy;
• As well as physical exercise, dogs also need mental stimulation; he may be under-stimulated mentally;
• Your dog may be left alone for too long, causing excessive attention seeking behaviour when you return home;
• Your Cocker Spaniel may be bored!

Keep Boredom At Bay With Training, Exercise, & Play!

I recommend you establish a healthy routine of exercise, play, and training for your dog - regardless of whether or not he displays attention seeking behaviour.

Physical exercise and mental stimulation will have a calming effect on your Cocker Spaniel, making attention seeking behaviour less likely.

You might like to adopt a routine along the lines of the following:

• take your dog for a one-hour walk each day or walk him twice a day if you have the time;
• play puppy games with your dog for approximately 15-20 minutes each day; throw him a ball or a frisbee to help him to burn off all that excess engery;
• reinforce his basic obedience training for 15 minutes each day. This will not only help to reinforce your dog's good manners, but will help to give him the mental stimulation he needs;
• it's a good idea to practise puppy obedience training commands whenever your dog wants something from you. For example, ask your Cocker to sit before feeding him, putting on his collar, or before you open a door to let him in or out - in other words, make him work for the attention you give him! Stay in control;
• You will, no doubt, be feeding your Cocker healthy dog food, but you need to be certain that his diet is not causing hyperactivity. If you are at all concerned about your dog's diet, you should speak to your vet for advice.

Give Your Cocker Spaniel A Job To Do - Work Him!

Our dogs need something to do in order to satisfy their basic hunting instincts.

Cocker Spaniels love to sniff out a hidden object - especially if it turns out to be a biscuit! Hide a few treats around the house or in the garden and watch that tail wag!

Cockers also enjoy chasing a ball or a frisbee.

Our Cocker, Max, will carry a stick or a ball in his mouth for miles! I'm not sure how much physical exercise this gives him, but at least he feels like he's working!

Plenty of physical and mental stimulation will not only ensure that your dog is healthy and obedient, but will also burn off his energy and tire him out. This, in turn, may help to curb your dog's constant attention seeking behaviour and you could see an improvement within a week or so!

If you follow the above advice, your Cocker Spaniel is unlikely to demand your attention because you will have satisfied his mental and physical needs.

However, if your Cocker Spaniel behaviour doesn't improve as much as you'd like.......read on for more help and advice!

Ignore Your Dog's Attention Seeking Behaviour!

Always ignore your dog's attention seeking behaviour and reward him only when he's well behaved, or when he's quiet.

Ironically, we very often ignore our dogs when they're quiet, and (unwittingly) reward them when they're displaying annoying attention seeking behaviour - the exact opposite of what we should be doing!

When your dog is behaving well, or resting quietly, go over to him and stroke him gently.

Make a quiet fuss over him and if, like our Cocker Spaniel Max, he rolls over onto his back, rub his belly and tell him he's a 'Good quiet boy'.

Rewarding your dog when he's quiet will teach him that only good behaviour will get him attention.

The objective is to give your dog lots of attention on your terms; in fact, the same attention as he gets now, but only for his good behaviour.

How To Stop Your Dog's Attention Seeking Behaviour

The worst punishment you can give an attention seeking dog is to deprive him of your attention and affection, so the next time your dog demands your attention, the best thing you can do is ignore him, as follows:

• Don't react to your dog's demands - remain calm, don't speak to him, don't touch him, and don't make eye contact;
• Continue with what you were doing - for example, unpacking the shopping. Whilst it doesn't make us feel good to ignore our dogs, we must teach them to wait quietly until we are ready to give them our attention;
• If your dog becomes quiet and sits down, praise him and give him your attention;
• If he continues his attention seeking behaviour, or if he jumps up at you, turn away and continue to ignore him;
• If that doesn't work - and let's face it, some dogs can be very persistent! - move away from him and continue to ignore him;
• When it's convenient to give him your attention, make eye contact and put your dog in the submissive, 'Down-Stay' position;
• If he persists, or becomes boisterous, take your dog into another room and leave him until he's calmed down. Remain in control and stay calm and unemotional. If he's barking, don't allow him back into the room until he's quiet for at least 10-20 seconds (the trick is to wait for a lull in the barking and only let him into the room when he's stopped) otherwise he'll learn that barking for attention eventually works!
• Put your dog into the 'Down-Stay' position for a few seconds before letting him back into the room.

If moving him to another room fails, and he continues barking, you may want to consider using a stronger barking deterrent, such as a water pistol or an air spray (this is compressed air used to clean computers and cameras).

Either of these may be used each time he displays barking as an attention seeking behaviour to startle him into silence; your dog's attention seeking will be interrupted, allowing you to manage him.

If you'd like more information on how to stop your dog barking, you'll find lots of help and advice here.

When your Cocker Spaniel responds in the way that you want him to, you can then give him what he was asking for (food, affection, etc.) as you are rewarding him for following your commands - rewarding good behaviour NOT rewarding attention seeking behaviour!

Attention Seeking Behaviour - Summary

There's no such thing as a free lunch - make your dog work for your attention!

• Ignore your dog's demands for attention.
• Make sure he has plenty of exercise.
• Organise daily play sessions with your dog.
• Practice basic puppy obedience training commands regularly, and reward him each time he gets it right.
• Reinforce your dog's good behaviour by rewarding him for it - don't reward attention seeking behaviour.

If you dog wants constant attention - give it to him - but do so on your terms - not his!

If, after following the advice given here, you still have a problem with your dog's attention seeking behaviour, we recommend you consult your vet for advice.

He may be able to offer assistance, or he may refer you to a behavioural therapist.

If your dog continues to bark excessively, and you think it may be something other than attention seeking behaviour, you might find some useful information in the articles listed below.

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More titles in the "Stop Barking" series:

How to Stop Your Dog Barking

Why Do Dogs Bark?

Methods To Stop Barking Dogs

How To Stop Dog Barking With The "Be Quiet" Command

How To Stop Your Puppy Barking

How To Stop Dogs Barking At Visitors

Barking Mad In The Garden?

Barking - Typical Attention Seeking Behaviour In Dogs

Stop Dogs From Barking Using A Correction Collar

A Water Pistol Is An Effective Barking Deterrent

A Rattle Bottle Can Be Used To Stop Dogs Barking