A couple weeks ago my friend Jody sent me a video of her dog, Scout, pawing her for attention. She explained that specifically when she’s in a certain chair at her computer he will climb up next to her and do this. She asked me if there is a specific reason he does this and how to make him stop. Many of you are working from home right now and your dog is loving having you around. However, if this is a bad habit your dog is developing as well, now is the time to stop it! To watch the video of her dog and my assessment, check out the video here.
First, let’s talk about the behavior to begin with. Some people think it’s cute when their dog tells them to not stop petting. This post is not for those people, this is for those of you who know it’s a bad habit and want to stop it. Think of a pack of dogs. Do you think a dog would ever approach an alpha and paw them without there being repercussions? The answer is, no. So it’s okay for you to not tolerate this behavior as well.
Now the question is, how do you stop it? Frankly, it depends on your dog. Think about other habits and behaviors your dog has. Are they also climbing onto you when you are sitting on the floor, or on the couch? Are they running you over to get out of the door first? Jumping on you? The list of behaviors that are subtle signs of lack of respect goes on and on. If this sounds like your dog, you need to be addressing each one of these behaviors. Establishing your position as the leader will actually help to curb all of these behaviors. How do we do this?
By requiring your dog to earn everything with the ‘Nothing in Life is Free’ training philosophy. Require your dog to sit before you feed them, have them wait at doors, and never reward jumping or sitting on you with affection.
It’s likely pawing at you isn’t the only thing your dog is doing, so really take a look at your dog’s overall behavior. Be willing to address everything. If this truly is the only thing your dog is doing here’s what to do:
- When your dog first paws you give them a correction, such as a verbal ‘eh eh’ or ‘no’.
- Then immediately remove your dog from the couch/chair or wherever they are sitting that is allowing them access to you like this. Pair removing them with a command such as ‘off’.
- Once your dog is off, tell them ‘place’ and show them where you want them to be- like on their bed.
- Then go back to where you were and expect/require your dog to stay on their bed. This may take a lot of repetition in the beginning, but stay firm and make sure you follow through.
Requiring your dog to maintain a distance from you not only automatically stops the behavior, but also requires your dog to have discipline. Dogs truly thrive on direction and structure. Even though they may seem pitiful in the beginning, stay strong; your dog will thank you for it!
If you enjoy your dog sharing the couch/chair with you just make sure it is on your terms and they are respecting your boundaries. Only allow them up when they have been invited and you’ve given them a verbal command such as ‘okay’. Then expect them to lay nicely. As soon as they break the rules by getting into your face or pawing you, refer back to the steps above. Dogs are incredibly intelligent and will figure out quickly what it takes for them to be in their favorite spot- next to you!
I’d love to hear of any other ‘why does my dog do this’ moments! Please share in the comments below or e-mail them to me for a chance to be featured in an upcoming video!
