Velcro dog help!!

[luvmygsp]

Taylor is HORRIBLE!! I can't stand it! We just got her 2 months ago, do I just need to give her more time??
She literally follows me EVERYWHERE. For example: in the kitchen, just going from the sink to the garbage can 5 ft away, she's right behind me, I turn around to go back to the sink, & she's right behind me. I go into the bathroom & just lightly close the door behind me but its not latched, she'll bust through the door w/this desperate look on her face & come stand by me. She had an accident @ our cabin the 1st time she was there, & then stepped in it, I had to tie her to the banister of the stairs by her leash b/c I couldn't walk away from her to get cleaning supplies w/o her following me, every poop-footed step spreading the mess even more!! Its enough to make a person crazy you know??!!!

She only does it to me, she's not afraid of MH or anything, but she definitely does not follow him around. She's fine when I leave the house, I don't hear her freaking out or anything & there are no signs of separation anxiety destruction when I get home.

I mean I guess 2 months isn't all that long, if it will just take more time , does anyone have any suggestions as to what should I do in the meantime?? I have just been ignoring her, I don't really give her any attention-I don't mean that meanly, I just don't want to encourage her to be anymore attached to me then she already is!!

TIA for any help!!

*whoops, I forgot to add for anyone who doesn't know the back story, Taylor is 14 years old...& pretty much deaf, so thats the reason why the most obvious solution: training a verbal command  "back up", or "go away", or "go on your bed", just won't work. She does seem to understand when I get pissed & tell her to move & take my arm & do a move almost like Im throwing a frisbee, but she'll just stumble to turn around (normal) to get away from me, go to another area of the house, turn around & come back

[Deleted]

Maybe she's bored? I was reading an article in a dog magazine this weekend that was suggesting that obesession with us is one way dogs express boredom? Have you tried maybe a treat-dispensing puzzle toy or a frozen Kong? Lots of exercise to wear her out? One would think it wouldn't take a ton of exercise to wear out a senior girl, but who knows? Our neighbor has a GSP, and that dog's energy level would kill me. Luckily they are retired, but it takes the two of them taking turns all day to wear her out.

[luvmygsp]

Feb 10, 2013 18:39:07 GMT -5 @juno said:

Maybe she's bored? I was reading an article in a dog magazine this weekend that was suggesting that obesession with us is one way dogs express boredom? Have you tried maybe a treat-dispensing puzzle toy or a frozen Kong? Lots of exercise to wear her out? One would think it wouldn't take a ton of exercise to wear out a senior girl, but who knows? Our neighbor has a GSP, and that dog's energy level would kill me. Luckily they are retired, but it takes the two of them taking turns all day to wear her out.

Hm....thats an interesting thought....I mean yeah she IS a senior, I guess I never put bored in the same sentence as senior, but I mean, other then age as a number why not? She's totally uninterested in going for walks w/us but we make her go atleast once a day (we walk Coop 2x a day & MH takes him to the dog park frequently)...It is winter here in WI & she's not fond of the cold/snow at all Lol It doesn't take much to wear her out, & she is a sleeper! She pretty much refuses to get up in the morning to go for a walk! Its quite funny.

I can't say whether or not the following is better when she's gotten exercise...I'll have to do a little evaluation!

Hahah! For the record, you get used to the GSP energy level Its actually a good thing b/c keeps you from being lazy! As long as you know how to manage/conquer it, its not so bad! &, Cooper really slowed down a lot around age 4, & even more after his knee surgeries. He's great now, but if you had asked me 7 years ago if I thought we'd ever get to this point I'd tell you HELL no! Lol!

Thanks for your input!

[Deleted]

You're welcome, I'm glad my article-reading came in handy (possibly)   I would suspect the cold weather as being tough on her (old, painful joints) but she still needs the mental/physical stimulation she'd get from being outside in order to wear her out.  I hope you figure it out!  At least spring is just around the corner.  My neighbors' GSP is around 4 or 5.  I'm sure they'll be happy to hear that they might be getting a break soon!

This all just makes me very happy that Noodle is basically a piece of furniture as long as he gets three short-to-mediumish walks per day.  We did buy him a puzzle toy today because I read that article and got worried that maybe we were too boring for him.  He sniffed it for about .5 seconds and then went back to his bed

[luvmygsp]

Feb 10, 2013 22:18:42 GMT -5 @juno said:

 We did buy him a puzzle toy today because I read that article and got worried that maybe we were too boring for him.  He sniffed it for about .5 seconds and then went back to his bed

HAHHA this made me Lol!

Enjoy your couch potato dog!!

[nomad100]

When we adopted our GSP mix, she was pretty velcro-y. She had gone through a bunch of changes/homes in a short time and I think she was just making sure we were going to stick around and not leave her behind.

We ended up training her to go to her "place" and lay down. We had a spot in each room (family room, kitchen, bedroom, office, etc.) wth a bed or a towel that was where she should lay down.  This seemed to help.  She would still follow us but would immediately go lay down. 

It is much better now and the behavior really clamed down after about 6 months.  Now, over 2 years later, she could care less what we are doing and will hang out on the couch as long as we let her.

My MIL's dog went deaf and he learned hand signals.  MIL would stamp her foot twice on the floor to get his attention (he could feel the vibration) and then give him the command both verbally since he would watch her face and with the hand gesture.   It worked out quite well for the last 4 years of his life. 

[dougthedogsmom]

Hmm, sounds like she is just like Doug. You get used to it She is gorgeous!

[midnightmare81]

I have no advice, just wanted to add that I feel your pain. When we adopted our guy, we weren't even sure he liked us :-(. Now, I can't get him OFF me. Now that he seems like he actually LIKES us, he has some minor separation issues. I think he is afraid we will leave him like his last owners did. He will follow me, lay RIGHT at my feet, and I am CONSTANTLY tripping over him. I hated to do it, but today I finally had to put him in his crate for a bit. I was trying to clean, and sweeping/mopping+dog up your ass= not working.

[calico]

Sounds like she might have mild seperation anxiety. They don't have to destroy things to have anxiety. If you go to another room or leave the house and shut the door, does she wimper or shake or anything?

Kai is medicated for SA, but sometimes she'll pick one of us to follow around. She doesn't do it all the time, but when I notice that she does it several days in a row, it's time for more exercise/outside stimulation.

[TEM325]

Some dogs are just that way. For ex, Australian Shepherds are noted for it--they call them the velcro dog breed. So, I think for some dogs--separation anxiety/boredom or not--they will follow you around.

My golden follows me a lot, but I find if she's tuckered out and I'm just hanging out, she doesn't do it. If I'm up and about, doing lots of stuff in the house, she follows me, it's like she doesn't want to miss out on something fun!