The Art of "Having" Attention: A Deeper Look into Dog-Human Relationships
There is a critical difference between "getting" a dog's attention and "having" a dog's attention. Getting attention is an active, often reactive, process where you call your dog's name, make a sound, or use other cues to get them to focus on you for a specific command, like "sit" or "come." Having a dog's attention, however, is a passive state where the dog offers you their focus without being prompted. 🐾
The Two Types of Attention
Getting Attention: This happens when you need your dog to listen to you for a specific reason, like telling them to come inside. Some people often constantly say their dog's name or make noises to try to get them to pay attention, which can lead to the dog learning to ignore these cues. This is because people don't always follow through after getting the attention, or they immediately move on to the next command without rewarding the initial eye contact or acknowledgment.
Having Attention: This is the ideal state, where your dog is always aware of your presence and is prepared to listen. It's about a dog spontaneously checking in with you, whether it's a quick glance over their shoulder during a run or turning an ear back to listen. This shows they're engaged with you even when they aren't directly interacting. The speakers compare this to a parent watching a child on the playground—the child feels good knowing the parent is watching without being asked.
Building and Maintaining the Relationship
To develop this "having" attention, we highlight the importance of “reciprocal engagement”. When your dog checks in with you, even briefly, you should acknowledge it. This can be as simple as a smile, a nod, or a quiet "good dog." By rewarding these small acts of attention, you reinforce the behavior and make your dog feel that being aware of you is a worthwhile and positive experience.
Conversely, if a dog frequently checks in and is ignored, they learn that their owners are disengaged, leading the dog to disengage as well. This can be a major issue, especially in places like dog parks, where owners get distracted. When a dog then needs to be called, they've already learned to tune out their owner because they have usually checked in multiple times during play, and their owner has ignored them.
The core idea is to always be a part of your dog's world, not just when you need something from them. This consistent acknowledgment builds a strong, trusting relationship where the dog sees you as a reliable, influential, and rewarding part of their life.