Is your dog being extra clingy to you? Is it not leaving you even when you have to go out? Is it also becoming an obstacle in your schedule?
Your dog might be just anxious and that is why it might be clinging up to you to gain additional attention and comfort.
Some dogs might have injuries and illnesses like arthritis, which may make them restless and cause more panting.
They might also struggle to find a comfortable spot to lie down which causes pacing and pain and eventually leads to panting.
You should read the article below to know in detail all the reading for your dog clinging up to you and how to reduce this behavior of your furry friend.
What Is A Velcro Dog?
If your dog is sticking to you too much, following you everywhere, and wants to be near you every time then you can call your dog a “ Velcro dog”.
These types of dogs get very restless, anxious, and distressed whenever they are away from their owners. They are loving and affectionate dogs. Again, this type of behavior differs from breed to breed.
Why Is Your Dog So Clingy All Of A Sudden?
There can be many reasons – minor or major for your dog to become clingy. Below are some of the common reasons:
1. Illness Or Injury
You might notice that your dog is suddenly clingy and panting, then one of the reasons for a behavior like this can be illness or injury.
It is very normal for dogs to show this type of behavior if they are ill, as they definitely are in pain and want comfort and extra attention from you.
In case you notice that your dog is showing other symptoms too like vomiting, lethargy, etc then you should definitely rush it to a doctor as it might be an indication of some chronic illness.
2. Separation Anxiety
Your dog might be overly attached to you. Whenever you are about to leave your house or go anywhere and not be in sight of your dog, then they might feel anxious and might be so clingy to you that you may have to change your plans.
In situations like these, you might consider giving your dog something that has your scent and taking other steps to calm down their separation anxiety.
You may also try leaving without making it evident to your dog or may think about consulting a vet. You can also get the help of a dog sitter and in fact, it is the best option to reduce the clinginess of your dog.
3. Change In Routine
For any pet, it is very difficult to adjust to any changes in their routine. This is the same for dogs.
If you have changed your routine or if you have made changes in the walking, feeding, or activity schedule of your dog, your furry friend might be extra clingy to you. It may face difficulty in adapting to the new routine.
There is no need for you to worry in this case as your dog may take time but if you are regular with the new routine your dog may adjust to it eventually.
4. Lack Of Exercise Or Mental Simulation
If your dog is not getting proper exercise, the proper time to walk outside, and the proper time to play with you, then might be extra clingy to you when they see you.
This is solely because they are bored and they are ideal and have nothing to do.
You should always make sure that your dog gets proper physical exercise and proper play time with you or its caretakers as it keeps them busy.
The physical activity exhausts them so much that they’ll rest or sleep in their free time rather than jumping upon you or clinging to you.
5. New Environment
If you have recently bought a new dog, or you have shifted to a new location with your dog then your dog might notice that your dog is acting weird and cling up to you. This is due to the anxiety of living in a new place.
Just like they take time to adjust to a new routine, they might also take some time to adjust to living in a new house.
It is always advised to carry your dog’s favorite toys and some things from their old environment to the new one so that you calm them down by reducing their anxiety through these distractions.
6. Due To Heat
This reason is only applicable to female dogs who are needy of attention when there is a sudden increase in their estrogens meaning when they are in a heat cycle of theirs.
When your female dog is in this stage it is having a lot of pain, cramps, discomfort, bloating, etc. all the time.
Your dog might cling up to you to seek comfort and remove its nervousness during this period. Even male dogs may show clingy behavior when their female ones are in heat.
It is best recommended to keep both of them separated during this period to prevent unnecessary breeding.
7. In The Night
Your dog might be very clingy to you as soon as it turns dark outside or you can say at night. There can be many reasons for a behavior like this. One of the most common ones is because your furry friend is scared.
There are more reasons like illness, age, etc. which can result in your dog being clingy to you at night.
Again it’s very normal behavior and you should not worry much. However, if it’s because of illness then you should wait for other symptoms like vomiting to be sure and take it to a doctor.
8. When About To Give Birth
Your dog may act clingy when they are pregnant and almost about to give birth. As giving birth to a child is a very stressful job for humans too, giving birth to a puppy makes these female dogs just the same.
These dogs definitely experience changes in their physical appearances and various fluctuations in hormones which may lead to them suddenly being clingy to you.
So, if your dog is pregnant and clingy to you then you should treat it with patience to keep the upcoming puppy safe. The care from your side will create a safe and secure environment for these female dogs to live in.
9. Emotional Distress
Your dogs are genius readers of your mind. They don’t take much time to read your mind and guess if you are going through any emotional distress or disbalances.
So, if they sense that anything is wrong with you then they might cling to you to comfort you or just act like a great companion and protective.
On the other hand, your dog also goes through various fluctuations in their hormones in many situations.
An example of one situation is when female dogs are spayed. In situations like these, your dog might cling up to you as they might be in physical discomfort.
Which Dog Breeds Are More Clingy?
Labrador retriever, golden retriever, cavalier King Charles spaniel, vizsla, bichon frise, cocker spaniel, Havanese, Shetland sheepdog, pug, and greyhound are some of the breeds of dogs that are called “ people pleaser”.
Dogs that belong to the above mentioned breeds may show signs of clingy dogs because of their natural instinct of being protective, social, and affectionate.
They have it in their personalities. Their level of clinging might vary from breed to breed.
How To Get Your Dog To Be Less Clingy To You?
Below are some simple but useful steps that you can follow to tone down the clinginess of your four-legged friend:
- You should give your dog plenty of exercise. Take them for a walk twice a day and also play with them at home.
- Keep their mind stimulated. You can bring them toys. This way they will be busy the entire day and enjoy their alone time.
- Use the reward technique. Give them treats and various toys to play with if they listen to you and stop following you around.
- You can also seek help from a trainer who is an expert in teaching dogs how they should behave.
- You should teach them the “stay” command so that every time they are getting out of control and getting extra clingy, then you can make them calm down or sit with this command .
- You should try to desensitize the dog to get up every time you get up.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, you should remember that your dog might be very affectionate and attached to you a lot and that is why they show clingy behavior.
Instead of getting irritated because of this behavior, you should always try to train them and make them more comfortable.
You can also take a professional’s help in doing so or a vet can also list down the necessary exercises and toys that can distract them and help in reducing this behavior of your dog.
FAQs
1. Why Is My Dog Panting And Staying Close To Me?
Dogs’ panting is an instinctive method of keeping their internal temperatures stable. However, anxiety, tension, or terror may be present if your dog is panting heavily and clinging to you.
When your dog is feeling stressed or frightened, it typically looks to you for reassurance, and comfort which if they don’t get might result in them falling sick.
Your dog’s excessive or irregular panting may be a sign of pain or sickness, so it’s important to take him to the doctor if you see it.
2. Why Is My Dog Panting And Wanting Attention?
Your dog may feel bored, or restless, or it is in need of exercise or mental stimulation if you notice that he or she is panting and begging for attention.
If your dog isn’t getting enough mental and physical stimulation, it can become impatient and demanding.
Make sure your dog has access to plenty of toys and other activities designed to keep it mentally and physically active.
You may also offer your dog a feeling of purpose and structure by enrolling them in obedience classes or teaching them new tricks.
3. Are Dogs More Clingy When Sick?
Yes, just like humans, your dog will definitely show increased clinginess when it is ill or in pain, or facing hormonal fluctuations and discomfort.
They might cling up to you for reassurance and sometimes might signal that they need medicine or seriously need to be taken care of.
They may also stick to you when falling sick as they are scared that you might leave them alone in a situation where they need you the most.
4. Why Do Dogs Follow You To The Bathroom?
Dogs may follow you to the bathroom for a number of reasons. Dogs could feel obligated to maintain close physical proximity to their owners because they consider them to be family members.
Dogs are highly sensitive to the habits and routines of their owners, so they may be following you merely out of habit.
Last but not least, some dogs may accompany their people to the loo as a means of gaining attention or reassurance.
If your dog’s bathroom antics are getting on your nerves, you should try teaching them to wait patiently in another room while you go in or give them a tasty treat to keep them occupied while you’re gone.
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