Easy guide for needy dog owners
Although most dog owners love spending time with their canine companion, if you have an extremely needy dog it can be difficult to manage.
Some dog owners love it when they have a clingy pet, and if you're one of these then you aren't alone. This blog is designed to help those where a dog being clingy causes stress or unhappiness for either the owner or the dog themself.
How do I know if my dog is needy?
There’s nothing needy about your dog loving being in your presence. And the sight of your treasured pet happily wagging its tail or rushing to see you when you get home are some of the best parts of being a dog owner.
However, there is a line where your loyal and devoted pet can become heavily dependent on you.
It’s important for both you and your pet to make sure your dog is independent enough to be fine when you’re not there.
Working to make your puppy confident and independent can significantly improve both your and your pet’s life.
Signs of a clingy dog:
Pawing at you when you’re involved in a task- Whining a lot to get your attention
- Following you around your home
- Excessive barking whenever you focus on something else
- They’re following you around the room
- Watching your every move as if trying to anticipate your next move
Now you know how to recognise a needy dog, let’s look next at what causes this behaviour.
What causes a dog to be needy?
A needy dog is often nicknamed a ‘Velcro dog’ as they are stuck at your side.
But what contributes to a dog being clingy toward its owners.
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A change to one of their senses
It can be scary for your dog to go through a vision or auditory change so naturally, they start relying on their owners for more support.
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Lack of mental stimulation or boredom
Your dog might turn to you for entertainment if they don’t have sufficient things to keep them busy during the day.
Using things like food puzzles or toys designed to mentally entertain your pet are good choices.
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Positive reinforcement
If you are the type of dog owner who will stop what they’re doing to pet their pooch, then your dog will learn that being close to you leads to positive things.
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They suffer from separation anxiety
Naturally, you’ll find that there is a big crossover between the behaviour a needy dog displays as one who is suffering from separation anxiety.
Although you can definitely have a clingy pooch that doesn’t suffer from anxiety when they’re away from you.
Tips for helping your dog with separation anxiety
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Some dog breeds are more likely to become needy
You might be surprised to find that some dogs are more likely to become needy, simply because of their breed.
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Letting your dog share your bed
Although there’s nothing wrong with sharing your bed with your dog, it can lead to them becoming dependent on being close to you.
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New home environments
Anybody who has recently moved home will tell you that it’s a stressful experience. Well, the same can be said for our pets.
After moving to a new home or place they might simply want comfort from their favourite person.
Settling your puppy in a new home
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Health-related issues can cause sudden clinginess
You’ll see the same behaviour in young children when they become sick, they’ll want to be around their primary caregiver for comfort.
If your dog is usually quite independent but has become very needy and refuses to leave your side all of a sudden, it might be worth a quick trip to the vet to make sure that nothing else is at play.
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Lack of confidence
They might suffer from a lack of confidence and need to be with you to feel safe and able.
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Being in a situation that makes them scared
In a situation that makes dogs scared or nervous, they might become needier.
Examples of scary situations for your pets are being around crowds of people, thunderstorms or when there are fireworks being let off.
Which breeds are more likely to be clingy?
Although there will always be individual differences, certain breeds have been bred to depend on humans.
Naturally, you’ll see more dogs within this breed display signs of being needy dogs.
Breed types more likely to be needy:
- Smaller lap dogs that are companion dogs like Shih Tzus.
- Guard dogs were originally bred to protect humans like German Shepherds.
- Herding breeds that have a long working history with humans like Border Collies.
11 tips for encouraging independence in clingy dogs
1. Make sure your dog has plenty of entertainment during the day so that they don’t need to depend on you.
2. Work on reducing their separation anxiety. Read our advice for helping dogs with separation anxiety.
3. Put together a space just for your pet to enjoy. Great items to have here are a comfortable dog bed to snooze on and plenty of their favourite toys within easy reach.
4. Reinforce positive behaviours, for example, rewarding pets whenever they go to their dedicated dog space.
5. Be patient with your pet as you might need to work with them over a long period of time to get them to become less dependent on you.
6. Take your dog for a check-up at the vet to make sure there isn’t anything physical causing your dog’s neediness.
7. Desensitise your pet to your movements. You might feel a little strange doing it, but getting up without moving somewhere or doing anything will help to show your dog that it’s not exciting to follow you everywhere.
8. Don’t reward your dog when they display signs of being clingy. It’s still important to set time aside to help bond with your pet.
9. The best way to solve needy dog behaviour, is to actively try to prevent it from happening in the first place!
10. It’s a good idea to actually make sure that your dog really is displaying excessive neediness and isn’t just a loyal and devoted pet.
11. Make sure they get plenty of physical activity to tire your dog out. They’re more likely to have less interest in following you around if they’re tired.
Continue your learning with our handy dog guides
It’s important to do your research before getting a dog.
Although there are so many benefits to having a dog, it’s a big responsibility to care for another creature.
All you need to know before owning a dog