Attention seeking spoilt dog..

[Freya15]

My 16 month old male Masstif has taught himself a new trick!
Sitting in front of the TV and barking until he gets more play time.
He's walked twice a day, and given lots of play time in home as well.
Seems for our big lad it isn't enough.
Anyone suggest a solution? Doggy naughty step maybe.

[ownerofagingerfurball]

I have a collie x rescue who arrived with this rather irritating habit. Sadly my only advice is to absolutely ignore it, if he is barking avoid eye contact, dont distract using treats/toys/play as you've now trained him that barking=attention! It should begin to work within a day or 2 if you can stick to it. Took 5 days here, and it was a very ingrained habit...I was ready to crack by day 4, as were my neighbours I imagine. But she soon learnt that 'sit' at my feet = fuss, and that barking = nothing.

Find ways to tire his brain - puzzle ball, agility, new tricks (paw, roll over, play dead etc) scatter feeding, hide and seek?

[Freya15]

Thank you for your advice, I will try ignoring. It is very hard with his cute expressive face.
In hindsight it is probably me who needs to be trained. I'm soft with him.

We spend allot of time with him giving him stimulating games in doors and out.
My fav is find the treat. Which we hide under a one of three plastic tubs. Cheap to make and enjoying for both.
Also use the tubs stacked..with treats in.

[ChairRider4]

Freya make sure he is not over stimulated and can learn to settle himself as well

My boy would keep going for hours on walks etc if I let him then could happily come home and start playing .I ended up having to teach him calm time and touch wood it is working and he can and does chill out

[Freya15]

ChairRider4

I never thought about that, much like quiet time before bed for toddlers.

May I ask, what technique did you use to learn your lad to quieten down?

[LeaveMyWingsBehindMe]

Do you have a crate? I'd crate him when he does this, for about 20 minutes, and as soon as he starts up again crate him again, and keep doing it until he learns that the barking just gets him crated. Make sure the crate is away from the rest of you and covered with a blanket so he can't make eye contact with you.

[AnotherDame]

Our Ddog is a year old now and thankfully we knew about teaching calm time from the start, however we never actively taught the behaviour. I just made sure to fuss him a bit when he was chilled out at my feet or by himself. Also if he wandered over and settle down by himself I would say "settle down, good boy" now I can mostly get him to settle using that cue unless it's walkies or dinner time!

[AnotherDame]

LeaveMyWings doesn't that associate crate time with punishment? ie not a nice place to be so not great if you want to leave him in it when you go out?

[LeaveMyWingsBehindMe]

well my dog loves her crate, its her bed and she sleeps in it through choice but I only shut the door on her and cover the grill if she is being to noisy and over stimulated for any reason and it does work, she quietens down straight away. It is a bit like putting a tantrumming toddler down for a nap!

I dont crate her when I go out though, although she will often lay in their out of choice. If it attention the OPs dog is after then he will learn that he doesn't get it by demanding it at inappropriate times and by being a pain in the neck. But crating is not punishing, at least not in my house.

[Freya15]

I used a crete whilst my lad was young. He like yours loved his den. He out grew it eventually, considered getting another but opted for a wicker basket instead.
He's in all ways very good in and out of the home. Bar the attention seeking

Think diff techniques work for diff owners and dogs.
I have been completely turning my back on him when he starts his silly behaviour. To which atm he's playing up. But does eventually calm down. Rewarding him when he does, with his fav treats. Along with saying "good boy quiet time".
Think it's persistence now on my behalf.