The key to resolving pet attention seeking behavior is to be sure the pet receives no reward or attention for any unwanted behaviors, and plenty of rewards for desirable behaviors.

Dogs and cats have been bred selectively to enjoy human companionship and attention. Furthermore, pet parents typically like it when the pet muzzles or paws them for attention until the pet does this behavior to the extreme! Then, the pet's desire for attention becomes problematic.

In many cases, the pet parent did not teach the pet a cue to stop and start this behavior to help the pet parent communicate to the pet when enough is enough! 

The pet parent may not realize that the pet has learned this is the only way to get attention. The pet parent must begin to give the pet more attention for acceptable behaviors when phasing out an unacceptable behavior.

Identify Pet Attention Seeking Behaviors

Attention seeking behaviors are anything the pet does to get the pet parent's attention such as nudging, pawing, leaning, vocalizing, running around in circles - you name it!

Remember this rule of thumb: Anything that gets attention (rewarded) gets repeated (because it gets the pet what is wanted).