Question:

Bodhi is beginning to become quite clingy.

Yes, I have been known to mollycoddle her, so I am sure it is all my fault...

But for a while now, I have been trying to be less clingy to her, cuddles on my terms only, some time alone when we are in etc..

The main problems is when we are out walking.

If there are 2 of us, it is hard to walk her, as she HAS to be nearer the person who is NOT holding the lead. Doesn't matter who it is, me or OH she HAS to get closer to them.

If OH or I crosses the road, she will scrabble to get to them. If OH leaves, I can usually get her to walk away once she is distracted. But if I turn around she will pull like a train to get to where he was and find him.

If I walk off she will go as far as to whine and scrabble to get to me, or where I was.

It's the same if I leave her outside a shop (which, occasionally I have too - if I am on my own etc..). I will secure her out of the way, and she SCREAMS when I leave her.

It is ear piercing and loud, and I don't know what to do. Half the time, I give up and just don't bother leaving her, as I know what she will do. If I do, once I am inside the shop out of sight for awhile, she will calm down and sit and watch for me...

She will be going to obedience classes as soon as I move, so I hope these will help, but till then, I am at a loss. And it is making walking with another person no fun... She is ok when it is just me and her, as she isn't trying to get to OH.

The other point is, for instance, we took her out on sat, and OH took his bike to go up and down the hills... Well, she would play with me for a few seconds, then as soon as he was out of sight, she HAD to find him. Then she would have to find me.. and so on.

I want to enjoy our walks all together, but it is becoming harder and harder work

Help!

Answer:



Sorry, i cant offer any advise on this, as I dont have experience of it.

Hopefully someone will be able to give you some good advise.

So **bump**

Answer:




Cheers!

Answer:



I she due her season or is she speyed?

Answer:



Has she had any unsettling experiences of late? Is she due in season?

With the walking problem - double lead her

You need to train her to accept your absence. Do this slowly. Teach 'Wait". Give the command and signal, Move a few steps away. If she does not move or make a noise come back beside her and reward "good wait" with a treat. Do this several times a day gradually extending the time that she will wait. Remember always to increase time before distance. Once she is waiting comfortably when you are several feet away disappear around a corner for a second or two. Come back and reward. Build up the out-of-sight time very slowly. You are teaching her that once you have told her to wait and you move away you will always come back if she is quiet.

You can employ the same technique when you & OH are out together. OH disappears around a corner (not too far away). He comes back and rewards her when she is quiet.

This will take time and patience on the part of you & OH. However, do not try to rush the process. Bohdi needs to accept that you will return and it may take her some time to realize this.

Let me know if you need any help with technique in teaching the 'wait'

Answer:



Thankyou for the replies

She is 5 months now, and I'm not sure about her season. I have had a few 'is she, isn't she' moments, but I'm actually convinced she hasn't yet. She will be spayed eventually.

This problem has been on going for awhile. We did crack it for a bit. Took her out with another friend last night, and she was absolutely fine. So, I think she is just after mine or OH affections. I think it more so to get to me.

She knows they 'stay' command, and she does it very well, even outdoors in the park etc. Well, not moving to stop, but stay in a sitting position.

I will try the wait, and treats and see how that goes

As for an unsettling experience, nothing physical, but I am moving away (Bodhi is coming with me), and there can be an unsettling atmosphere in the flat, which I think she may be picking up on.

Answer:



Hi Bodhi SB has covered outside and as you have mentioned Bodhi being clingy inside I will make a suggestion to help you with that too.
You are going to teach Bodhi ...
..your going out of the room is no big deal,
..you will always return,
..when you are with her it does not mean she will automatically get your attention,
...she will get attention when you are ready.
Step one
Using the room Bodhi spends the most time in and where her bed is, go out of the room ignoring her and shut the door.
..After a few moments go back in the room and do something like going in the cupboards but you must still ignore Bodhi, no word no eye contact.
...Do this going in and out a few times shutting the door,vary the length of time and always ignore Bodhi.
...Eventually go back in the room and sit with a book still ignoring Bodhi, no word no eye contact she does not exist.
...When she is quiet and not bothering you go to her and give her lots of praise.
...You need to do this going in and out exercise a few times each day, start by doing it when Bodhi has just been out to relieve herself.

Also leave the radio on with a voice programme like radio 4, this will mask the sound of your movements and be comforting for her.
If you have not already got a Kong it would be a good thing to get one to occupy Bodhi when you leave the room for long periods.
Bodhi will get better with age as her confidence improves.

Answer:



Brilliant - thanks for the detailed reply

Answer:



Hi Bodhi!
Just read this as haven't been on line!!!! Sounds sooooooo familiar. Our current pup has been a nightmare in this respect, not only did he used to pull to get to OH or son, he would jump up and hold onto their arm in an attempt to keep them with him (problem 44.5 kg pup, 23kg son!) He could NOT be distracted out of this behaviour at all, not by anything.Not food, voice, toy. NOTHING. It was a NIGHTMARE, as he was also VERY vocal!!!!!!! NOT fun.
Now....he's okay most of the time, but it has taken a lot of work.
He now wears a gentle leader so that if he jumps or pulls I can instantly get him back in the right position, with a firm 'no' and then as soon as he starts to walk (which is normally instant as you can do it whilst walking) I whip a treat under his nose and reward him once he's interested in it again with lots of verbal praise, this is normally instant as the behaviour has been interrupted). The other person you're with must TOTALLY ignore the behaviour and not even make eye contact, otherwise she's being rewarded by them! They should ignore her all the time she's on the lead, so that only one person ( the one holding the lead) is interesting to her and interacting with her. Take out a lot of rewards!!!!!
We also made sure that for a couple of months, when we were all out together, nobody wandered away...hard to do...then they only wandered away to where the pup could see them( for a short amount of time), with the pup in a sit, being rewarded for sitting nicely and being quiet and progressed SLOWLY. Now we can separate for a while and the pup, whilst still aware and looking out for the other 'pack' members, remains calm. It's taken us at least 5 months to get to that point.
All the advice other people have given is fantastic and I hope that this helps a bit. Every dog is different and will respond to different things, I'm no expert, just know that this worked for us and hope it helps in some way! Our neighbours used to laugh at us all the time when we were out with him!!! Good luck!!!!!

Answer:



Thanks for that!!

It doens't help that OH has a habit of crossing the road on a whim and will just go. She tries to follow and I am left TRYING to walk calmly with a pup who just wants to see where OH has gone.. Pfff!

One of these days I was sure she would run in front of a car.....

I think I will have to get OH to hold the lead and practice with me walking off, as that is when she gets most irrate!

Thanks for the replies!!