Understanding Dog Behavior: How Much Does He Really Think about You?

You put a lot of work into understanding dog behavior so that you can train your dog to be a good obedient pet. Do you realize just how much time you commit to your dog?

Would it surprise you to know that you think about your dog all the time? You probably don't realize just how much you do spend on him. You aren't consciously thinking about him. A lot of it is subconscious.

But how much is your dog thinking about you? You can be sure it is not nearly as much as you think about him.

All day long, you think about what your dog might need at any given moment. Does he need feeding? Does he need water? Does he want to play? Does he need to go outside? Is it time for his brushing?

You are always conscious of where he is so that you will not trip over him. You like to know what he is doing and that he is not getting himself into trouble.

When you aren't thinking about his presence in the house, you're thinking about what you might need to get for him as you're going out the door. Does he have enough food? Should I get him a new toy? Does he deserve more treats?

Any time he changes his behavior, you immediately begin to question his health. Should I take him to the vet? Or is he going to recover on his own?

All of this thinking about your dog is why that huge silence left when he or she goes is so... loud.

Your dog, on the other hand, is mostly focused on things that serve his immediate needs. Remember, dogs think in the moment. They do not care when their next meal will arrive or if you will be going out soon or what you did together 10 minutes ago.

The truth of the matter is that your dog only thinks about you when he wants something.

He will think about you when he gets hungry or thirsty or needs to go outside. He will think about you when he wants some social interaction. And he might think about you if he suspects he has done something bad.

The rest of the time he is thinking about protecting his home and his pack. In other words, his attention is focused on the outside world. He is constantly on the alert for different sounds and smells that pass down the street. He is on the lookout for intruders who could decide to challenge him.

This is why dog training can be difficult. Your dog is quick to change his focus away from you and onto other things that are more important to him. You have probably noticed how much of a challenge it can be to hold your dog's attention, especially early in your relationship.

Knowing why your dog is so easily distracted will help you in your training efforts. It will enable you to provide your dog with the things he needs so that he is ready to put his attention on you.

Make sure he has been fed, watered and exercised before you begin your training. Find a place that is free of distractions. Hold his attention by working with his need for socialization and rewards.

You won't likely get him to think about you as often as you think about him, but catering to his needs will certainly help.

In the end, understanding dog behavior takes a lot of your time, but the rewards are well worth it.

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