Help With Clingy Dog

[kayla1]

I have a foster dog that is very clingy with me, to the point where I can’t walk anywhere without him glued to my leg – not just by my side, but physically touching me as I am walking (which of course means I am constantly tripping over). He also has to know where I am at all times, and if I disappear into another room he panics and runs around the house until he finds me. But interestingly when I go out he seems fine – he knows I go out the front door and then come back in that way. It’s when I suddenly ‘disappear’ in the house that he panics.

I reward calm behaviour such as when he goes to his bed, practice NILIF etc, but I’m not sure what specific things I can do to help him feel more confident when he is not by my side?

He’s an 11yr old Brittany that has lived his entire life in a backyard with no stimulation. The poor boy does get confused quite easily.

[sas]

If it were me I'd be ignoring the dog (no eye contact, no verbal, no touch) and just giving it food and water untill it starts to de-stress and then go ahead with NILIF and Jan Fennel methods.

[poodlefan]

HOw long have you had the dog?

[Aidan3]

My "Calming Yo Yo" exercise found in this article:

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1556

...will teach your foster dog how to be calm while apart from you. It is very effective when done exactly according to the instructions.

[kayla1]

HOw long have you had the dog?

Couple of months now.

sas: I didn't ignore him initially, but didn't overwhelm him with attention either. Though I did implement NILIF from day one.

Thanks Aidan for the link.

He has improved since he first came here - was quite stressed initially and very underweight. Back then he would get up during the night and check to make sure I was still in bed.

[helen]

Poor thing is probably so thankful to finally get some attention, give a bit more time and he will settle some more too. Brittanys do respond rather well to clicker training. If you can charge up the clicker with some special treats, then start rewarding the slightest movement away from you, even if you start with a look away, then throw the treat so he has to move away from you, build up slowly.

Reaching The Animal Mind by Karen Pryor is an excellent book to read

[kayla1]

Poor thing is probably so thankful to finally get some attention, give a bit more time and he will settle some more too. Brittanys do respond rather well to clicker training. If you can charge up the clicker with some special treats, then start rewarding the slightest movement away from you, even if you start with a look away, then throw the treat so he has to move away from you, build up slowly.

Reaching The Animal Mind by Karen Pryor is an excellent book to read

Thanks Helen, I'll try that. He really is a sweetheart, and he has improved since he first arrived. I'll pick up a copy of that book too.