My new cocker spaniel is very clingy?
I was given a 6 year old retired male breeder, neutured. I am the only person he follows all day to the point where either I am tripping over him or have trouble managing my chores. . I find the early bond very unusual as I only have had him for 4 days!!!. I can’t complain about him loving me, but I fear that if he doesn’t learn to be independent, he will suffer every time I have to leave him alone. Any ideas?
i just want to say your a good person. your the first person saying that you adopted a dog older dog. thanks a bunch. i rescue older dogs for shelters. and most cases they are there cause there owner want a puppy and so then the old dog get left in the pound. when people go to get a shelter dog. they never get older dogs they always go for the young. i give older dogs a second chance thank so much your amazing!!!
You’re probably out of luck. Once a male dog is neuterd they become “homely” as my vet put it. They lose the desire to be independant, follow you around alot, and just become alot more timid.
To give him a bit more independence, leave him in a room by himself for a minute at a time, if he whines, don’t come back, but if he is silent (even if it’s for a few seconds) come back and reward him.
He will learn that just because you are out of sight, doesn’t mean you won’t ever come back. To help this process, consider crating him and keeping him occupied in there with a favourite toy (kong toys work great, they are a tough rubber toy which you stuff with food and can keep a dog occupied for hours if need be).
Encourage independent behaviour and ignore clingy behaviour for now.
It’s true if he doesn’t learn this independence he will initially find it very difficult when you leave him so it’s best to start his training now.
Good luck!
I rescued a 5 year old female breeder Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and she is very clingy. Follows me everywhere, and wants to constantly sit on my lap or be held. It is so cute and sweet and I do indulge her because I know she was horribly abused in the puppy mill where she came from. As I type, she is sitting on my lap, which makes it difficult to type! Anyway, I do the following: I love her up in the morning, take her for a walk, feed her, and then leave her for about one hour or two. Then I come home and am all happy to see her and go about my business, interacting with her, but not holding her or sitting with her. I talk to her, pet her, etc. She still follows me everywhere, like the laundry room, bathroom, (no privacy!), kitchen, and when she is comfortable with the fact that I’m not going to leave her for long, she settles in on her dog bed and sleeps.
This works for us in my family, but we are very sensitive to her needs. Rescue dogs want to feel safe and secure and mostly they want to be loved, so it is normal for them to cling to you. Enjoy it!