--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dogs seek attention from you. But by…" description: "\"Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that attention when they want it, you're reinforcing the bad or hyperactive or anxious behavior that y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/cesar-millan-3383_animal_dogs-seek-attention-from-you-but-by-payi_23055.png" --- # Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that… ![“Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that attention when they want it, you're reinforcing the bad or hyperactive or anxious behavior that you're trying to avoid. Practice - no touch, no talk, no eye contact - and see how you fare. You might be surprised at how quickly the dog settles…” quote by Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/cesar-millan-3383_animal_dogs-seek-attention-from-you-but-by-payi_23055.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/cesar-millan-3383_animal_dogs-seek-attention-from-you-but-by-payi_23055.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/cesar-millan-3383_animal_dogs-seek-attention-from-you-but-by-payi_23055.png) > “Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that attention when they want it, you're reinforcing the bad or hyperactive or anxious behavior that you're trying to avoid. Practice - no touch, no talk, no eye contact - and see how you fare. You might be surprised at how quickly the dog settles down and looks to you as his pack leader for direction.” [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rewarding a dog for seeking attention can unintentionally strengthen undesirable behaviors; instead, withholding attention teaches the dog to look to its leader for guidance. **In simple terms:** Withhold attention to curb unwanted dog behavior. Key Takeaway Consistent non‑reinforcement reshapes behavior. Themes behavioral conditioning leadership dynamics dog psychology training methodology reinforcement theory Mood patient assertive observant Type instructional advice behavioral insight When to use this quote - when a dog barks excessively - during frantic play - if the dog seeks constant petting - in anxious situations Key Concepts attention reinforcement pack hierarchy anxiety mitigation hyperactivity control Practical Applications - training dogs to be calm - establishing clear leadership Questions to Reflect On - How does withholding attention change a dog's perception of its role? - What signals indicate the dog is responding to pack‑leader cues? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Anxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Behavior Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior-trying-403268/) [Contact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contact/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Dogs Seek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogs-seek-403267/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eye contact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye-contact/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Packs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/packs/) [Paying Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-attention/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Seek Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek-attention-379690/) [Settling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settling/) [Settling down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settling-down/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [What is human behavior, except trying to prove that we're not animals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/what-is-human-behavior-except-trying-to-prove-that-we-re-not-animals/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Being myself includes taking risks with myself, taking risks on new behavior, trying new ways of 'being myself', so that I can see who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/being-myself-includes-taking-risks-with-myself-taking-risks-on-new/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [“Interviews seem like such artificial situations, everyone on their best behavior trying desperately to hide behind a professional facade. Did my face fit? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/interviews-seem-like-such-artificial-situations-everyone-on-their/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [Everyone's constantly scrambling around trying to justify their own cruel behavior, trying to come up with psychological tricks to make themselves not feel bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/everyone-s-constantly-scrambling-around-trying-to-justify-their-own/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [I'm not an extrovert, I don't seek attention. I've always been that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-m-not-an-extrovert-i-don-t-seek-attention-i-ve-always-been-that-way/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [“Boys seek attention, men demand respect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/boys-seek-attention-men-demand-respect/) [Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/) > [The girls who don't seek attention are usually the girls you need to be giving your attention to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-girls-who-don-t-seek-attention-are-usually-the-girls-you-need-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take time to see the quiet miracles that seek no attention”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-donohue/take-time-to-see-the-quiet-miracles-that-seek-no-attention/) [John O'Donohue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-donohue/) > [I think that you should just create if you have the urge to create. There's a lot of other careers you can pursue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-hart/i-think-that-you-should-just-create-if-you-have-the-urge-to-create/) [Hannah Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-hart/) > [“when these little ones don’t receive the love, they need in their homes, they seek attention outside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/when-these-little-ones-don-t-receive-the-love-they-need-in-their/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [That's the motivation of an artist - to seek attention of some kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taylor/that-s-the-motivation-of-an-artist-to-seek-attention-of-some-kind/) [James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) > [I didn't really seek attention. I just wanted to play the game well and go home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-didn-t-really-seek-attention-i-just-wanted-to-play-the-game-well/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [Narcissists - people with an inflated self-concept and a strong sense of uniqueness and superiority - seek attention and affirmation on Facebook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/narcissists-people-with-an-inflated-self-concept-and-a-strong-sense/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [“The most sensual people don't seek attention, they seek intimacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/the-most-sensual-people-don-t-seek-attention-they-seek-intimacy/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [The women who don't seek attention are usually the women you need to be giving our attention to...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-women-who-don-t-seek-attention-are-usually-the-women-you-need-to/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) ## More by Cesar Millan > [Birth, life, death is a cycle. And they're all beautiful, you celebrate all of them. Animals do grieve, but they move on. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/birth-life-death-is-a-cycle-and-they-re-all-beautiful-you-celebrate/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [I want people to understand there is a such a thing as creating a harmonious experience between the dogs and the humans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/i-want-people-to-understand-there-is-a-such-a-thing-as-creating-a/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [Aggression is not a breed thing. Its a state of mind, and it comes from how the human is with the dog. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/aggression-is-not-a-breed-thing-its-a-state-of-mind-and-it-comes-from/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [The pack is very important for a dog. Once you give him the right pack and the right energy, you look at him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/the-pack-is-very-important-for-a-dog-once-you-give-him-the-right-pack/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [There are cases where the dog is not compatible to the house. There are people that don't have the strength. There are people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/there-are-cases-where-the-dog-is-not-compatible-to-the-house-there/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [There are two schools. The school where you go and open a book, and then there's the school of life. When you learn hands-on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/there-are-two-schools-the-school-where-you-go-and-open-a-book-and/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [People with strong breeds are trying to be in control because their dog is labeled as aggressive or dangerous. That tells us how ignorant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/people-with-strong-breeds-are-trying-to-be-in-control-because-their/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [Breed is among the least important things about a dog. It's more important to find a dog with compatible energy and needs that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/breed-is-among-the-least-important-things-about-a-dog-it-s-more/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [I do think there are some dogs - although it's very, very rare - that do have to be kept away from all other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/i-do-think-there-are-some-dogs-although-it-s-very-very-rare-that-do/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [I don't believe in ever putting a dog down for behavior issues, because that's just punishing the dog for something wrong that humans did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/i-don-t-believe-in-ever-putting-a-dog-down-for-behavior-issues/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [A lot of times in parks the large dogs and little dogs separate. That creates the opposite of social. Sometimes dogs run back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/a-lot-of-times-in-parks-the-large-dogs-and-little-dogs-separate-that/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [I have two kids and they have the same rules. We have to do this as a community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/i-have-two-kids-and-they-have-the-same-rules-we-have-to-do-this-as-a/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [Whenever I've been bitten, it's because I made a mistake. I either misread the dog's body language or let my guard down at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/whenever-i-ve-been-bitten-it-s-because-i-made-a-mistake-i-either/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [Homeless people's dogs are more knowledgeable than dogs in Beverly Hills. Why? Because they explore, they move forward, they go through the ups and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/homeless-people-s-dogs-are-more-knowledgeable-than-dogs-in-beverly/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [There are a lot of things that people are doing unconsciously wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-people-are-doing-unconsciously-wrong/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) [Explore all 132 Cesar Millan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that attention when they want it, you're reinforcing the bad or hyperactive or anxious behavior that you're trying to avoid. Practice - no touch, no talk, no eye contact - and see how you fare. 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