…Have you ever noticed any clingy behaviors in your dog?

We are the center of the universe for our beloved pups, so it’s not such a big surprise that they love us with all their hearts and that they’re also willing to do whatever it takes to protect us from different things.

However, if you’ve noticed that your pooch follows you everywhere you go (including the moment when you go to the bathroom for no more than 1 minute), they always stay by your side or they don’t move unless you move, you might have a “Velcro” dog.

This means that your pooch is clingy and they don’t know how to stay alone or how to leave you some space to breathe. So if you’re in doubt about if your pup is clingy or not, here’s how to find out:

1. Illness or aging 

Older pups are more sensitive and they might require some extra care, especially if they have any hearing or vision problems. Pooches that also suffer from cognitive decline might become overly attached to you, due to the fact that the world they used to know is not like it was anymore, so they constantly need your help to face it.

2. Learned behavior 

Many owners are probably guilty of this, but what can you do when your little dog is so cute, that all you want to do is cuddle, give them treats, and pet them when they lie next to you?

As many experts would say, all of the things previously mentioned are actually mistakes many people make. Even though the majority of them don’t think it’ll hurt in the long run and prefer to do everything they can for their dogs, they will end up with pups that follow them everywhere they go, wait to be petted, get very talkative when they’re alone, and can’t stand to be separated from their owners.

3. Stress and anxiety 

As you already know, pups are able to sense our emotions before we actually have the chance to recognize them, so they can feel whether we are happy, stressed, or anxious. One interesting fact about these beautiful creatures is that they can even adopt some of our behaviors. If you come home completely tired and stressed out, your pup is more likely to empathize with you and be stressed as well.

But before you say that this means your fur friend loves you deeply, here’s the downside: it might trigger some clingy behaviors. In addition to that, pups might get all Velcro if you make some sudden changes in their routine or in the household.

4. Separation anxiety 

There is a thin line between what a clingy dog is, compared to one that suffers from separation anxiety. In the first case, your pup might be sad that you’re not at home to play fetch with them or pet them, but they don’t panic when you’re not there. In the second case, when you’re away from your pooch for a longer period of time, they might go into panic mode until you come back to them.

You sure heard about dogs that were left home alone by their owners and got so mad and anxious, that they started to destroy things in the house, such as sofas, shoes, or even doors. That is separation anxiety. They got so much in their heads, that they didn’t know what was good and what was bad anymore.

Here’s What You Can Do About Your Velcro Pup

• stimulate their minds – when your dog is bored, they are more likely to become clingy just because they don’t have anything better to do. So keep their minds occupied by playing with them, giving them toys, and make sure to encourage them to play by themselves, so that they won’t get mad or anxious when you’re not around;
• increase the time spent exercising – if your pup is tired and all they want to do is doze off, they won’t have enough energy to follow you everywhere you go. So take them outside, play fetch, run with them, or take them out for a walk throughout the day. It will also do wonders for their health, so it’s a win-win!;
• dissociate your dog from your actions – your dog knows you pretty well and they’ve surely learned some of your actions. If you usually go to the kitchen and take the food or their treats out, they will remember it. Also, if you usually get your keys and head out the door, they will know it as well. To “normalize” all these actions, practice them without actually doing the things you usually do. If you go to the kitchen, for instance, don’t give them treats, but start cleaning or taking the trash out instead. Or grab the keys and get comfy on the couch, instead of leaving the house. Eventually, your pup will learn that your actions don’t always mean the same thing and they’ll understand that your movements don’t require their attention that much.
• create a special space for them – set up a space that is just for your pooch (with their favorite toys and even a blanket, if they have one), so they go there instead of following you everywhere you go. Train your pup to go to that area and give them a treat when they do it.

…If you find this article interesting and helpful, we have plenty more just like that! Check this one out as well: 10 Amazon’s Inexpensive Pet Supplies (Under $21)!