Puppy Is Clingy! Suggestions Plz?

[kaaia]

hi hi. My staffy X is extremely clingy. Not to everyone in my family, just to me. Is this normal for a staffy, or for a puppy? I mean, she literally cant be more than 3 feet away from me. If I tie her up then walk to the kitchen (even though she can still see me) she freaks. jumps, whines, tries her best to get to me. Even though she is tied right next to my husband. And heaven forbid if I need to go out somewhere, she pines the whole time I am gone, even though she is not alone.

When I am just walking around the house I know she is with me because she keeps bashing into my legs every time I take a step. Is there a way to fix this, does anyone know please? Just the leg bashing thing drives me crazy.

She sleeps in the bathroom at night, is obedient only to me... maybe to someone else if she feels like it. I would guess she thinks she is 2nd in the pack, under me.. because she is a very dominant dog.. but I dont know how to fix this. Ive tried having others feed her, look after her etc.. she eats after everyone else has.

But could this dominance thing have anything to do with her crowding me like that?

If anyone has any suggestions, plz post. thanks

Edited July 8, 2008 by kaaia

[GSDhandler]

mine is the same. for me its a good thing, as i need that bond with her for when i start using her for work (if she makes the cut) but to remedy it a little, there will be times i will ignore her completely and make my partner be the owner, play feed and toilet her. she isnt as obedianet with him, but thats becuase ive taught her what she knows. its ok i guess. it is working.

part of that is also that after a certain point need my space, and so no matter what she does i wont put up with it.

[Kyra]

Apparently it's very common in Staffys.

My puppy is the same at the moment but she's slowly getting better, it's a pain but we're trying to lengthen the time she spends outside so she gets used to being on her own a bit more. She just wants to be everywhere we are and if she can't be, she kicks up a fuss. I don't really have any advice but just wanted to let you know you're not alone

[kaaia]

mine is the same. for me its a good thing, as i need that bond with her for when i start using her for work (if she makes the cut)

so from your name, I am assuming your pup would be a GSD.. what line of work needs that kind of bond?

And I have found that if I am tired, and going to bed early one night, she seems to prefer to be locked up in the bathroom early as well, rather than just tied to the couch in the lounge with the rest of the family. Which makes no sense to me either. She would rather be alone than with their company without me? I dont get it.

I did rescue her from what seems to have been an abusive family, and I have been her main carer from that point - maybe she thinks that she is safe now, but only if I am there with her. Does this sound feasible? And how could I start to remedy that so she is content with whoever is looking after her? Thanks

Edited July 8, 2008 by kaaia

[GSDhandler]

yeah, got a GSD. im in security.

as for introducing others as her handler, perhaps be present, while they train/play with her. that way you are still around, but you arent giving the stimulus. just a sug. wean it down to youre in the room and not paying her any attention, then slowly ave it that you leave the room. hopefully she is distracted enough not to care it you leave.

also if you all go out, make them come home and pay her attention first. that seems to be a bit effective here.

[Porsche]

I think it sounds like a text book case of separation anxiety. You can look it up and get all sorts of advice, but I think at the end of the day you're just stuck with it and have to manage it somehow.

[kaaia]

Thanks for the responses and the tips, I'll try them out. The whole bashing into my legs thing - is that normal for Sep Anx, part and parcel, or is that more (of what it feels like- ) no respect for my space?

Edited July 9, 2008 by kaaia

[GSDhandler]

i think she doesnt realise you arent a dog. what i do with mine is i walk a bit slower, and dont stop or go round koda. i just kep walking, and eventually my egs start sweeping her a little. she gets uncomfortable with ebing thrown off course, and stops.

[kaaia]

I've actually tried walking slower, faster, doesnt seem to matter. She used to run between my legs as I walked... she stopped that when she was being pushed around.. now she just runs into my still leg.

I've noticed the sep anx is so bad that she wont go in the other room to eat her food.. and that it's probably also the reason she is having so much trouble paper training. To go into another room to potty is a stretch for her sometimes. She does understand what is wanted of her; she runs around all spaz coz she knows she did good when she does something on the paper, and if it ends up elsewhere, she just goes back to sit on her couch. She just doesnt want to go all the way into the bathroom (maybe 4 foot out of sight of me.)

Okie, thanks for the replies.

[GSDhandler]

think you should speak with a behavioural therapist, or vet bout this, cause she may neeed light sedatives for the first few weeks.

[Flaves]

mine is the same. for me its a good thing, as i need that bond with her for when i start using her for work (if she makes the cut)

so from your name, I am assuming your pup would be a GSD.. what line of work needs that kind of bond?

And I have found that if I am tired, and going to bed early one night, she seems to prefer to be locked up in the bathroom early as well, rather than just tied to the couch in the lounge with the rest of the family. Which makes no sense to me either. She would rather be alone than with their company without me? I dont get it.

I did rescue her from what seems to have been an abusive family, and I have been her main carer from that point - maybe she thinks that she is safe now, but only if I am there with her. Does this sound feasible? And how could I start to remedy that so she is content with whoever is looking after her? Thanks

WHy are you tying up a pup?

WHy not use a crate instead? WIth a crate your pup has its own space and comfort area.

If you rescued her from an abusive family you are going ot have to expect some type of issue.

If she has bonded to you as you are her rescuer then you need to strengthen teh bond so she trusts you

At this stage her freaking out that you are leaving is more than likely because she associates you with her being safe.

Please don't tie her to the furniture, please get a crate or somethign similar so that she can sleep in it an dit can be her safe place.

Good luck with it. Would love to know how you get on.

I had a dog called Barker who i rescued.

He had been abused and it took me months to get him used to loud noises and voices.

It is about forming a bond and working with it so that the trust is there.

Your pup may always have a seperation issue but if you work with a behaviourist and trainers you can make a HUGE difference to how severe it is.

[kaaia]

WHy are you tying up a pup?

WHy not use a crate instead? WIth a crate your pup has its own space and comfort area.

If you rescued her from an abusive family you are going ot have to expect some type of issue.

If she has bonded to you as you are her rescuer then you need to strengthen teh bond so she trusts you

At this stage her freaking out that you are leaving is more than likely because she associates you with her being safe.

Please don't tie her to the furniture, please get a crate or somethign similar so that she can sleep in it an dit can be her safe place.

Good luck with it. Would love to know how you get on.

I had a dog called Barker who i rescued.

He had been abused and it took me months to get him used to loud noises and voices.

It is about forming a bond and working with it so that the trust is there.

Your pup may always have a seperation issue but if you work with a behaviourist and trainers you can make a HUGE difference to how severe it is.

Why tie her? What else am I gonna do with her? I can't give her free reign of the house for the entire day. She isnt fully toilet trained yet. I dont have a crate, and am not going to get one unless I see a need for it. For a number of reasons, one of which being it wouldnt fit so well in a small apartment.

Of course I am expecting issues. Never said otherwise. I am just trying to get an idea of how to work around them. And we are doing well so far, she is turning into a very well mannered little dog.

The bond is at full strength already, I would guess. It has been for a while now - Ive had her for about 4 months. She is about 8 months old.

Where she is tied, she has free run of a 2 seater sofa thing. You make it sound so crude. It's not like she is tied with a 1 foot lead. She has room to play comfortably up there when I cant watch her like a hawk.

And thanks GSD, I will talk to my vet next visit.

Edited July 10, 2008 by kaaia

[Paws4Thought]

If this is indeed a case of separation anxiety, the only suggestion I can offer is that you seek experienced advice and assistance to help your dog work through it. You sound like a dedicated owner and an observant one at that.

Just wondering, do you take your dog to any kind of obedience classes or something similar? Often I find the other people in these places can offer a wealth of information and support if you get an opportunity to talk to them. It can also help if they see the dog and know the dog from regular attendance/visits.

From my reading about separation anxiety, it can be a bit complex but people who are experienced in this area should be able to help you. It sounds like you have the patience and drive required to achieve this, so don't give up. :rolleyes:

[Flaves]

Why tie her? What else am I gonna do with her? I can't give her free reign of the house for the entire day. She isnt fully toilet trained yet. I dont have a crate, and am not going to get one unless I see a need for it. For a number of reasons, one of which being it wouldnt fit so well in a small apartment.

Of course I am expecting issues. Never said otherwise. I am just trying to get an idea of how to work around them. And we are doing well so far, she is turning into a very well mannered little dog.

The bond is at full strength already, I would guess. It has been for a while now - Ive had her for about 4 months. She is about 8 months old.

Where she is tied, she has free run of a 2 seater sofa thing. You make it sound so crude. It's not like she is tied with a 1 foot lead. She has room to play comfortably up there when I cant watch her like a hawk.

And thanks GSD, I will talk to my vet next visit.

From what i am reading i think that the tethering may be enforcing her seperation anxiety.

Do you know how she was abused in her last home?

Was she tethered at all?

That was why i asked.

As for what you can do instead of tethering her - no matter the length of the tether - can you block of an area with a pen or crate?

Can she be put in the laundry or bathroom when you cant watch her?

The reasons i suggested using a crate is that it creates their own space - a space in which they feel safe and secure.

I agree talk to your vet but you may find a behaviourist better as they are trained to deal with anxiety whereas a vet may not have the experience and may suggest drugs instead of working on the issue.

What state are you in as we may be able to point you in the direction of some well respected trainers.

[kaaia]

From what i am reading i think that the tethering may be enforcing her seperation anxiety.

Do you know how she was abused in her last home?

Was she tethered at all?

That was why i asked.

As for what you can do instead of tethering her - no matter the length of the tether - can you block of an area with a pen or crate?

Can she be put in the laundry or bathroom when you cant watch her?

The reasons i suggested using a crate is that it creates their own space - a space in which they feel safe and secure.

I agree talk to your vet but you may find a behaviourist better as they are trained to deal with anxiety whereas a vet may not have the experience and may suggest drugs instead of working on the issue.

What state are you in as we may be able to point you in the direction of some well respected trainers.

Tethering enforcing her SA? How so? Just by being there, preventing her from going where she wants to go? A crate would do the same thing. She has a little box she sleeps in at night, but she wont stay in there if I am not in the bathroom with her. I would imagine she would be just as stressed if I were to lock her in that, if I were able.

I dont know how she was abused, she doesnt seem to shy away from any objects.. she was semi - nervous when I put on her collar - but I had put that down to having never seen a collar before.. She wasnt running scared or anything, more like, whats that youre putting on me.

Nope, cant block an area off either. If I could though, I strongly doubt she would use it anyways, she tends to like being right in the middle of things, and the centre of everyones attention all day. She gets a little jealous of my 1 year old daughter. =)

But she isnt afraid of the leash tho, from what Ive seen. Indifferent to it. She just doesnt want to be far from me. It's okay though, I was thinking about it this morning, and it might be partly my fault, while she is potty training I dont want her far from me anyways.. it only takes her a seconds worth of being out of my sight and she will pee on the carpet.. so maybe I have been a little paranoid myself. It was just her bashing into my legs as I walked that I was so upset about, and it seems a short quick growl/grunt whenever she did it seems to have worked.. She is starting to understand what's going on. I am forever amazed at how fast she learns.

We will figure it out.. she is a smart dog, and we can generally find a way to communicate with her. Thanks for the replies.