My Pet World: How to train and build confidence with a clingy dog?
Dear Cathy,
Recently I adopted a seven-year-old yellow lab who led quite a precarious life. When his original owner died, he remained with the body for three days. He was placed at the animal shelter, and I responded to an ad for adoption.
He jumped into my car. He is a great dog, but is incredibly needy. He follows me wherever I go, from room to room, inside and outside. I must be in his sight and cannot leave him alone for fear he will hurt himself (I either get a pet sitter or leave him with my wife.)
He is very loving, gets along with people, and literally pays no attention to other dogs. I know he loves to stay in the yard, but comes inside whenever I do. How do I make him less dependent on me? He's been with us for 11 months.
— John, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Dear John,
Your dog has already proven to be an exceptionally loyal friend. As such, his grief may have manifested into anxiety and a genuine fear of losing you, since he lost his previous owner. But the clinginess is not good since it likely increases his anxiety when you are away from home.
The goal is to build his confidence and reward him for self-soothing or spending time apart from you. To start, get him a pheromone collar to wear for the next 60 to 90 days while you try the following suggestions.
Begin working on his "stay" command. Be sure to praise him each time he “stays.” Build the distance and time in a “stay” position gradually, so his confidence grows with each success. You also can introduce games, like fetch and hide and seek, that encourage him to be comfortable at being a little distant from you.
Next, teach him, "Go to your place," which can be an open kennel, floor mat, or dog bed. You need a successful "stay" command to make this work. Initially, give him treats for staying on the mat with you in the room.
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