I know mine pretends to be deaf when he’s outside
All of us dog owners know how clever our dogs can be, whether it’s learning how to do lots of fun tricks, or sneakily figuring out how to get into the closet where we keep the treats. Many people have even said that their dog will pretend to be sick just so they’ll get more attention. But is that really something dogs are capable of?
First off, if your dog is displaying signs of illness or injury, it’s important to take the situation seriously and seek help promptly. Dogs instinctively try to hide signs of weakness, so it’s better to be safe then sorry and approach these situations cautiously.
With that being said, some dogs have been known to fake an injury or illness, adopting a minor limp or a cough, seemingly to garner more attention from their owners. You’ve probably heard this story, seen videos, or experienced this situation first hand: a dog is limping in pain or acting lethargic and not eating, then brought to the veterinarian, who says there’s nothing wrong, and you get stuck with an $800 bill.
So are our dogs lying to manipulate us? It may seem that way, but that’s projecting a human perspective into the situation. The real story is about how dogs learn new behaviors.
Faking sickness to garner attention is a learned behavior, no different than running to the place they’re fed at the same time every day. Dr. Richard Pitcairn, veterinarian and author, explains that this behavior often is a sign of a smart dog putting two and two together:
“Say your dog is feeling lonely because you went back to work and just don’t have as much time for him as you used to. Before long, he develops a minor symptom – a cough – that worries you. Every time he coughs you rush over, pet him, and murmur comforting words… Pretty soon the dog gets the idea that every time he coughs he gets what he wants – your loving attention. What incentive is there for him to get well and stop coughing?”
Dogs are very perceptive creatures, and they’re good at learning which behaviors get which responses from their owners. If your dog suddenly gets lots of attention when it is limping or coughing, they learn to associate that action with getting love and affection. Then they may mimic those behaviors in order to get that attention again.
Animal behaviorist Mia Bonaddona refers to a small study from 2017 published in Animal Cognition, which suggests that dogs may knowingly deceive uncooperative human competitors for high-value treats. The findings of this study, highlighted by sources like Smithsonian, provide intriguing insights into canine cognition.
Bonadonna argues that animals aren’t necessarily being malicious or willfully deceptive. Instead, they are active learners that mimic behavior that leads to rewards essential to their survival. Dogs aren’t lying in the way that humans do—they’ve simply learned that certain actions get favorable reactions from people, so they repeat them in an attempt to get that reaction again.
That’s why your dog might ignore you when you call them to come in—until you go get the treats. Or bark at the door like they have to go out to relieve themselves, only to then start playing in the yard instead. Or limp and act lethargic so that they’ll get showered with attention.
If you think your dog is doing this, it may be an easy issue to resolve. Instead of giving them the usual attention right away, rule out any actual medical issues, and then ignore the behavior. Of course, if you notice any significant changes in your dog’s behavior, it’s important to consult a veterinarian to rule out medical issues. Ignoring potential health concerns could jeopardize your dog’s well-being. But if it’s something that seems to come and go and the vet hasn’t found anything, they might just have found a way to get your attention and love.
If you’re trying to train your dog out of this kind of behavior, be sure that you’re paying plenty of attention to them at other times, so they don’t have to resort to “tricking” you! And remember that our dogs are always learning from how we react to them, so try to be aware of what behaviors you might be teaching your pet.
