April 24, 2026, 4:13 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Many dog owners are familiar with these situations: The ball is under the sofa, the treat is out of reach–and suddenly the dog looks expectantly at its owner. But can dogs really ask for help? And how can you tell if they need assistance or just want attention? PETBOOK spoke with dog trainer Katharina Marioth about how dogs request help–in training, daily life, and even when in pain.
Dogs Already Ask for Help During Training
For dog trainer Katharina Marioth, it’s clear: Yes, dogs can ask for help. This behavior is particularly observable during training, such as in dummy training or scent work. Here, you can easily test how persistently a dog sticks to a task–and when it reaches the point of asking for help.
According to Marioth, it becomes especially interesting when you move the exercise into the “third dimension.” While search objects are usually hidden on the ground, you can place them higher up, such as in a tree fork, so the dog can no longer reach them.
How to Recognize When Your Dog Is Asking for Help
Many dogs initially try to solve the problem on their own by jumping up or scratching the tree. But eventually, they clearly show that they need support. Some animals develop a so-called signaling behavior: They sit down, look at their human, bark, or deliberately turn to them. This clearly signals: “I’ve found the target, but I can’t reach it–help me.” Other dogs simply stay in front of the object, lie down, and watch it–often with an expectant look toward their human.
Such situations are also known from everyday life. If a toy slips under the cabinet, many dogs first try to retrieve it themselves. If that doesn’t work, they wait and look at the person–expecting them to intervene. Dogs also ask for support in social contexts, Marioth explains.
Some actively approach their caregiver, nudge them, or even lead them to a spot where “something is happening,” such as conflicts with other dogs or unrest in the household. In stressful situations, like unpleasant encounters with other dogs, many dogs specifically seek the proximity of their human, sit next to them, or stand between their legs–a clear signal that they want support.
In These Situations, Dogs Ask for Help
But dogs don’t only show a need for help with tasks or social challenges. They also often draw attention to themselves when experiencing physical discomfort. According to Marioth, with paw injuries, it’s common for dogs to actively present their paw, as if to say: “Look here.” This behavior is especially noticeable after road salt or grit on the streets.
Dogs can also indicate other pains by deliberately turning certain body parts toward their human. Some, for example, turn their hip to signal that something is bothering them there. With stomach pain, some dogs consciously lie on their side because they’ve learned that gentle touches there feel good.
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Recognizing and taking such signals seriously is crucial. At the same time, there’s a flip side: Dogs are very quick learners and can quickly understand how to get attention. Marioth reports about a dog that learned it received a lot of attention for a supposed paw injury. The dog eventually started limping without any actual issue–just to get attention.
Therefore, it’s important to first rule out any real pain or injury when noticing unusual behavior. Especially with paws, it’s essential to look closely for possible foreign objects like awns, which can quickly cause problems.
What if Dogs Never Ask for Help?
Besides this “feigning” of needing help, according to Marioth, there’s also the opposite: Dogs that have learned their human solves every challenge for them may develop a kind of learned helplessness. They then offer no solutions of their own because they rely on the human to intervene anyway.
It’s all the more important to find a healthy balance. Dogs should receive support when they truly need it–for instance, when they can’t reach an object or feel overwhelmed in a situation.
At the same time, it’s sensible to give them time in training to find solutions themselves, rather than intervening immediately. Ultimately, it’s about looking closely and weighing the situation: Is it a genuine help signal, or has the dog learned it can avoid tasks? Common sense plays a crucial role, says Marioth.
You can watch the full interview with dog trainer Katharina Marioth on the topic in the video.
About the Expert
Katharina Marioth is the founder of the Stadthundetraining brand and the KEML principle. She is an IHK- and government-certified dog trainer and behavioral assessor for dangerous dogs in the state of Berlin. In her daily business, she works closely with veterinarians, scientists, and other specialists on dog-related topics. With her knowledge and skills, she secured the title of Dog Trainer of the Year 2023 in the Sat.1 show “The Dog Trainer Champion.”