 Barked: Wed Dec 15, '10 5:29pm PST |
 | |  | | Clingy is not always bad. Clingy dogs recall better and are better off-leash. Training a clingy dog for those 2 behaviors is easy. My dog is clingy. He follows me and acts anxious whenever I am preparing to leave the house. Obedience training a clingy dog is easy too because the dog is focused on you.
Sometimes people unitentially reinforce and encourage certain behaviors. When my dog acts anxious I don't sooth him. This can reinforce the behavior. One thing that helps my dog is to provide a distraction. I buy those hollow bones and stuff tasty treats and cheese in the middle. I give my dog one and he is too busy to notice when I leave.
Don't worry for most dogs, the separation anxiety mostly occurs when the dog knows you are leaving. they often settle down when they realize they are not going.
Providing a chew or toy like a kong stuffed with tasty treats can help separation anxiety. Having something to do is helpful and keeps the dog's mind occupied. Some people play soothing music for the dogs. Also providing a secure dark den like place for the dog is helpful. A den can be a box or a crate with a blanket over it. |  |  | |  |
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Sorry I couldn't be more help, hopefully someone else will chime in 
