Clingy Dogs: Is Your Dog a Velcro Dog?
Does your dog follow you everywhere? Do they follow you from room to room, even when you go into the bathroom? If so you have a velcro dog.
In this article we’ll go over why some dogs become velcro dogs, whether or not you should be concerned about it, and what to do if your dog’s clingy behavior becomes a problem.
What Is a Velcro Dog?
A velcro dog is a dog that wants to be by their owners side at all times. If your dog follows you around from room to room chances are they’re a velcro dog. Also referred to as being clingy, velcro dogs simply have a desire to be close to their owners.
Certain breeds (such as lap dogs) are more likely to be velcro dogs because they’ve been bred to be more dependent. And breeds that have been bred to work alongside their owners all day long such as German Shepherds are also prone to being velcro dogs.
What Causes Velcro Dog Syndrome
Have you ever wondered why your dog follows you everywhere, or why some dogs are more clingy than others? Here’s 7 common causes for velcro dog syndrome:
Some dogs develop velcro dog syndrome because of our own behaviors
If you stop every time you see your dog to give him praise, a pat on the head, or a treat he’ll learn that staying close to you leads to good things.
Habits such as letting your dog sleep in your bed can create a dependence on being close to you., however this isn’t necessarily a bad thing on it’s own, it’s just a personal preference. If you don’t mind it that’s great – it’s just important to understand that we encouraging clingy behaviors when we use positive reinforcement.
And I might be a bit biased because my dog sleeps in my bed, but studies have shown that women sleep better with a dog by their side.
Dogs that develop vision or hearing changes may become more clingy
Aging related changes such as hearing or vision loss can be stressful and scary to dogs, so they may choose to stay by your side for extra comfort.
Some dog breeds have been bred to be dependent
A lot of working, herding, and hound dogs have been bred to work side by side with their humans all day long, Border Collies being an infamous example. They rely on their owners body language and directions for guidance. Many toy breeds were selectively bred to be lap dogs. Some breeds such as German Shepherds and Akitas are commonly known to attach themselves to one person.
This behavior isn’t just seen in working dogs though, companion type breeds (such as Terriers, Chihuahuas, Labs and Golden Retrievers) are also known to be quite clingy.
Boredom and a lack of mental stimulation can lead to velcro dog syndrome
Dogs can get bored if they’re not given enough mental & physical exercise. Since they’re looking for something to do they’ll leap up and follow you around wherever you go. You’re their main source of their entertainment, so if your dog gets excited when he’s following you around it may be a sign that he’s bored and looking for something to do. If that’s the case check out these indoor games you can play to keep your dog busy.
Dogs with separation anxiety tend to be velcro dogs
Some dogs develop a dysfunctional hyper attachment to their owners that causes anxiety when their owner is out of sight, and many of these dogs are also velcro dogs. If your dog gets anxious when they’re unable to follow you around they have separation anxiety, not just velcro dog syndrome.
Sudden onset of clingy behavior in dogs may be health related
When your dog becomes sick it can be scary and confusing; they may stick to you as a coping mechanism. Sudden behavioral changes such as developing clingy behavior can sign of an illness. If your dog has suddenly started following you around everywhere and there aren’t any obvious triggers I suggest making an appointment with your vet to rule out any medical issues.
Moving into a new house & neighborhood can cause dogs to become extra clingy
Moving can be stressful on dogs, just like it is for us. If your dog seems extra clingy after a move you can help them relax by sticking to a predictable routine to help them settle in.
Some dogs, such as lap dogs and working breeds, may be more prone to clingy behaviors.
Separation Anxiety vs. Velcro Dog Syndrome
Many times velcro dogs and dogs with separation anxiety are confused with one another. Both are associated with not wanting to be away from their owners, but there are some very distinct differences. And although the differences might seem subtle they’re important to watch out for.
The main difference between velcro dogs & dogs with separation anxiety is the anxiety itself. Velcro dogs want to be close to their owner, while dogs that suffer from separation anxiety panic when they’re away from their owner.
Many dogs that exhibit separation anxiety are also velcro dogs, but not all velcro dogs have separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is specific to dogs that panic and get anxious when their owner leaves. A velcro dog simply exhibits clingy behaviors while you’re home.
Separation Anxiety Symptoms in Dogs
Does your dog panic and act anxious when you leave or go out of sight? If so they’re exhibiting classic signs of separation anxiety. The most common symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs are:
- Barking or howling when you’re gone
- Destructive chewing & destruction (such as doors, window sills, household objects)
- Escape attempts
- Excessive panting or drooling
- Urinating or defecating when you’re gone
- Pacing around
- Your dog becomes anxious when you’re getting ready to leave
- Your dog exhibits inappropriate behavior only when you’re not there
Velcro Dog Symptoms aka When Your Dog Follows You Everywhere
Does your dog follow you around everywhere? If so you probably have a velcro dog. The most common symptoms of velcro dog syndrome include:
- Following you from room to room
- Constantly needing or wanting to be next to you
- Keeping an eye on you at all times
- Anticipating when you may be getting up
- Always wanting to be where the action is
The Difference Between Velcro Dog Syndrome & Separation Anxiety
Some people consider velcro dogs to have pre-development separation anxiety. There was a study in 2001 that found dogs who have hyper attachment to their owners are more likely to develop separation anxiety. Velcro dogs may be more susceptible to developing separation anxiety, but that doesn’t mean it’s inevitable. There’s plenty of velcro dogs that never develop signs of separation anxiety — some dogs just enjoy being near their owners.
If you’re concerned that your dog is being too clingy and/or may develop separation anxiety pay attention to their mood when they’re following you around. If your dog is excited when he follows you around it may be a sign that he’s bored and looking for something to do. If your dog stays calm when following you around it’s fine — it’s a common behavior that many of us find flattering.
But if your dog gets anxious when you get up it’s a sign of separation anxiety. If your dog a a mild case of separation anxiety one thing that can help is giving them something to do when you leave. I gave Laika a Kong stuffed with healthy treats as I was leaving for work. After a few days she understood the drill and started looking forward to the moment I left because it meant “I get something yummy.”
If your dog has moderate to severe separation anxiety here’s some tips to help manage the behavior. Since separation anxiety takes awhile to manage I recommend reaching out to your veterinarian or a professional trainer for help. Left untreated the behavior will just get worse.
When Your Dogs Clinginess Becomes a Problem
If your dog has separation anxiety you’ll want to look into getting help to modify the behavior. Separation anxiety is one of the most common causes of consulting a pet behaviorist, and if you’re not sure where to find one reach out to your veterinarian for references. If not treated separation anxiety often gets worse, it doesn’t just go away on it’s own.
It’s similar to anxiety disorders in humans; it can become quite serious if not treated. I highly recommend reading Creature Clinic’s article on Separation Anxiety, it has a lot of great information on how to manage and make things better for dogs with separation anxiety.
If your dog has a serious case of separation anxiety I highly recommend picking up a copy of Nicole Wilde’s book Don’t Leave Me! Step-by-Step Help for Your Dogs Separation Anxiety. It not only helps explain the behavior but it includes a handy worksheet to help you come up with methods that will help manage your dogs anxiety.
If you suspect your dog has velcro dog syndrome because he’s bored you’ll probably want to look into giving him some more mental stimulation or a job to do. Dogs that are bored can develop destructive behaviors if left unattended. There’s a lot of simple and quick ways to relieve dog boredom & lots of fun indoor activities to keep your dog busy.
If your dog is only exhibiting velcro dog symptoms it’s up to you to decide if you want to modify the behavior. The behavior itself isn’t abnormal, and many of us don’t mind it at all — some of us find it quite flattering. But there are a few instances when your dog’s clingy behavior can be hazardous, such as when you’re making dinner or cleaning the bathroom.
6 Ways to Reduce Your Dogs Clinginess
For the most part having a velcro dog is no big deal — it just means your dog wants to be by your side. But there are some instances where you might want your dog to keep their distance, and to do that you can teach your dog to be more independent. If you’d like to reinforce some more independence in your dog here’s some training techniques and activities that will help make your dog less clingy.
Desensitize Your Dog to Your Movements
Many dogs react every time we get up because it means ‘uh oh, they’re going somewhere.’ If you practice getting up without going somewhere or doing something important your dog will start to see that it’s really not a big deal or something they need to worry about.
To desensitize your dog to your movements practice getting up and doing something mundane. Repeat this behavior until your dog doesn’t give a reaction anymore. Eventually she’ll become desensitized to your movements and will stay in place as you get up. She might still watch you, but she won’t feel the need to check on every single thing you do.
Think of all the triggers that get a response from your dog. Does she get up when you put down the remote, or every time you put on your shoes? Work on desensitization with all of those triggers. Once she’s seen enough of them time and time again she should start to stop reacting. She’ll eventually get tired of responding since these triggers will no longer have a strong meaning.
Teach Your Dog the Stay Command
Does your dog have a tendency to follow you into the bathroom and kitchen? If so work on the stay command. When you’re in the kitchen or bathroom teach your dog to stay at a distance. Start with brief distances and gradually move further away.
Give your dog a lot of praise when they stay to reinforce that it’s a desired behavior. Those rewards will let her know that staying is the best choice possible, and she’ll be more likely to repeat that behavior later on.
Play Games That Rely on Distance
Nose work games, hide and seek, and fetch are all fun games that reinforce having fun while you’re at a distance. Chew toys can be a great choice because they will give your dog something to focus on while on their own.
If you’re looking for a really simple way to keep your dog busy for a bit try stuffing some food into Kong and giving it to your dog. If you’re not sure what foods or treats to use check out 39 healthy treats you can stuff in a Kong. By giving your dog something to do, it shows them that they can have fun and relax, even if you’re not right by their side.
Teach Your Dog to Go to Their Special Place
Using his dog bed or mat create a special place that’s “his” and train him to go to that area. Reward him when he goes there and be sure to add some extra incentive such as toys or treats, something that will make want to stay there. Long lasting dog toys or a stuffed Kong toy are good at creating distractions while you’re up and about.
Since I don’t like having my dog in the kitchen while I’m cooking I’ve taught her to “go to your chair.” It’s her own little place at the kitchen bar that she sits at while she can keep an eye on what’s going on. Before I taught her that she’d follow me into the kitchen, and I’d end up having to lead her out. The problem was I was just correcting the behavior, rather than showing her an alternative.
Add More Physical Activity to Your Dogs Routine
We’ve all heard that a tired dog is a good dog. If your dog has enough energy to follow you around everywhere chances are he could use some extra exercise. When your dog has enough physical activity he’s much more likely to sleep and relax at home. He might not even notice when you get up since he’ll be so tired.
Do you walk your dog every day? If not check out these 5 tips that will help keep you motivated to go for that daily dog walk.
Add More Mental Stimulation to Your Dogs Routine
Dogs thrive on meaningful play and activities, so try adding more mental stimulation to their routine. Keeping their brains active makes them tired just as physical activity does. Basic obedience training, agility, nose work, hide and seek, playing tug, and learning new tricks are all ways to mentally tire out your dog.
As I mentioned above one of the easiest ways I’ve found to give my dog some extra mental stimulation is using a stuffed Kong with healthy treats.
If you’re looking for some simple ways to give your dog more to do check out 26 quick boredom busters for dogs & 33 simple ways to keep your dog busy indoors.
Our Dogs Thrive When Given a Purpose
Does your dogs clinginess annoy you or do you find it flattering? You’re the one who decides how you’d like your dog to behave. If you don’t mind your dog following you from room to room but don’t want them in the kitchen while you’re cooking set some boundaries. Our dogs look to us for cues; instead of just telling them what not to do offer some acceptable behaviors.
I worked with Laika on teaching her some boundaries at home. For the most part she’s pretty independent now. If she does start those velcro dog tendencies I know it’s because she’s getting bored. It means I’ve been slacking on giving her enough exercise or mental stimulation. I take it as my cue that it’s time to go for a nice long walk, do some nose work, or play a nice game of tug.
Keeping your dog mentally and physically challenged will help build your dogs confidence. There’s lots of simple indoor activities you can add to your daily routine to keep your dog busy and entertained.
Is Your Dog a Velcro Dog or a Little Clingy?
Does your dog follow you around everywhere? Do you call them your own personal shadow?
Recommended Reading:
- 26 Quick & Easy Ways to Relieve Dog Boredom
- 3 Simple Ways to Check Your Dog For Fleas
- 39 Healthy Treats You Can Stuff in a Kong
Is your dog a velcro dog?
This is Kilo to a tee!
Oh yeah, Jack is velcro for sure, but he has no separation anxiety thank god. I think his is due to abandonment issues…He’s fine going off on his own, but does like to know where I am.
A good balance is pretty much perfect in my eyes.
I almost wish I had a velcro dog. My dogs could care less what I think, and only do what they want when they want.
To be honest I didn’t mind the behavior; as bad as it is I found it somewhat flattering. I had to put and end to it though when I realized I was probably going to fall down the stairs eventually because she was always underfoot as I was carrying laundry down to the basement.. She would also be so close that I smacked her with the fridge or closet door a few times, it becomes a bit of a hazard if you’re not paying attention.
I’ve tripped over Merry & my cats several times because they are underfoot. I take medications which causes dizziness so I have to be extremely careful when I’m up. I’m disabled and cannot walk Merry as she needs to be. She’s only 2 & chock full of puppy energy. I need to read the articles and find a way to drain that puppy energy.
You say that but believe me you do not want a clingy dog. Mine is excessive. I have to keep her out of my room just for a little peace. She is 2yrs. I have had her for a month and a half. She doesn’t bark. She has barked maybe three times but I don’t know why. She follows me everywhere. She can be sleeping and if I move she jumps. I almost trip over her all the time. She will pee on my rug because she won’t leave me to go to her pad. She won’t eat unless I’m near. So the only way I can get her to use the pee pads is to keep her out of my room and separate myself. I love her dearly and she is so loving and sweet but I need her to be a little less dependent.
Hello Aleta,
We’re observing lots of similarities between your dog’s behavior and ours.
The problem for us is that my partner is getting tired of it because it’s excessive, and our dog almost ignores me. It’s only my partner, she cannot sleep once he leaves the room, she’s following him everywhere (even in the toilets) and it’s becoming difficult to live with. She feels anxious, she cannot sleep properly, and this is probably not healthy for her. Of course, I personally feel left aside because he’s the only one for her, no matter what I do for her (and I try to do everything, my partner took a step back.)
I’d like some advice, we don’t really know what to do to make her feel less dependant to him apart from him trying to keep his distance from her.
I have never heard of Velcro dog before as I always thought it was just a dog with mild separation anxiety, but this makes more sense. I have a velcro dog now and used to have a dog with separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is very sad for the dog and should be treated appropriately with behavior modification and possibly medication. Certain breeds are definitely predisposed.
Separation anxiety is so awful for the dog I agree. Unfortunately there’s no quick and easy fix for it either.
I’m not sure if I would call my huskies velcro dogs or not. They do like to follow me around, but it’s mostly when I walk to the kitchen, because they think I am getting a treat for them. Koda does have a bit of separation anxiety, we just got him a ThunderShirt for when we have to leave the house, and are working on it with him right now.
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Well I guess the kitchen is probably something interesting to all dogs 🙂 I’d like to know how the Thunder Shirt works out, I’ve heard some good things about them.
I have a velcro dog with separation anxiety. She is a senior- Daisy and my mom is home with her but she is restless if Im not there. When I walk in the door she smiles and cant stop. Right now she is resting on my shoulder and pillow.
My Golden Retriever Tucker always wanted to be near me. I called him my pocket dog, because he was always as close as my back pocket. I loved it and miss him being in my pocket every single day. ♥
Golden Retriever are so much lovely. My Golden Retriever is also wanted to be my pocket as like your dog does. Golden Retriever is Fabolous. would you please share the pictures of your dog ??
I’m not a velcro dog, but I do like to know where everyone is! That’s why the hall is my favourite spot when they’re busy – I can keep track of where they are as they have to pass me to go to a different room or to go out.
I have a very needy Velcro dog . Australian Shepherd . He was fine till he was fixed . He immediately became very clingy and overprotective. . Nike is ALWAYS on alert . He very intelligent and doesn’t miss anything .he is so sweet and calm with me but not with others . I wish he could just CHILL !
I’m currently fostering my very first velcro dog. I’m ok with being followed around a bit from room to room, but I’m quite glad this is temporary because having a shadow that constantly trips you is so obnoxious. My biggest problem is that she won’t go potty outside on her own! She will stand on the deck crying until I let her back in. I’m a big fan of the Cry-It-Out method with kids, but it’s not working for this girl. My labs go out, run around the backyard chasing squirrels and playing, but she just stands by the back door. She must be desperate to potty, yet won’t step foot on the grass without a human. I’m so frustrated, this behavior is making me crazy!! How can I help her become more independent?
It sounds like you’ve really got your hands full. I’d start by teaching her the “away” command. If she isn’t comfortable doing things on her own that exercise should show her that nothing bad is going to happen. If that seems to work I’d start introducing some outdoor exercises for her to try alone – starting with something simple like having her stay for a few moments. If she really loves a certain toy or treat you can work with that outdoors as well, coaxing her to step away from you. She might be exhibiting some signs of separation anxiety as well; trying to teach her that being outside alone is normal, and that you’re always going to come back might help. Best of luck.
I babysit my son’s dog, Snuffy, while he is at work and college classes. Snuffy is definitely a velcro dog with me and is always underfoot. Also when I pet and interact with my own dog Snuffy attacks us and has even nipped me several times. My dog growls at him and they both act like they are going to fight. I’m afraid that they could really hurt each other or me when they get in their skirmishes.
It sounds like Snuffy might have some resource guarding (often mistaken as jealousy) issues when it comes to the attention you give your dog. If it does sound like resource guarding to you I’d check out this article on managing it between dogs: http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/resource-guarding-dog-to-dog
Destiny is definitely a velcro dog! Never heard that term before, actually. Great post!
I look after dogs whilst their owners are away. I currently have an adorable little blue roan cocker spaniel staying with us for 3wks &she is still pretty much a baby at just 13 months old.
Whilst i love the playful little character it is evident she is somewhat of a velcro dog. I started looking after dogs to help with my social phobia & anxiety & i really enjoy going for walks with the dogs.
Thing is,is that i also feel claustrophobic if i don’t get to have my own space & having the velcro type of dogs is pretty exhausting both physically & mentally.
Im wondering if theres a small solution of any kind that i could implement that would help with this but not too demanding on the dogs side ( i feel bad for needing to have space as the time we have together is only temp ) but i love having them stay.
I still have a lot to learn about behaviours of different breeds & personalities so i cant just focus on its a dog problem , its prob 50/50 haha, but its definitely my responsibility in seeking a solution.
I think one of the easiest ways to keep a dog occupied is giving them a stuffed Kong or chew toy. Not all dogs love chewing though, so a frozen Kong stuffed with peanut butter or broth is a favorite of mine. It keeps my dog busy for 20+ minutes and she’s pretty oblivious to anything else while she’s working on it. She’s normally a velcro dog as well. If you don’t have a Kong you could try freezing something healthy in ice trays (maybe some low fat yogurt or broth) to see if those would work to keep the dog occupied for a little bit.
My dog is totally a Velcro dog. She’s a 8lb lap dog in every sense and we spend lots of time with her since we work from home half the week. She also comes along to most of our errands. We do leave her home alone for couple of hours everyday but no more than 3-4. I don’t mind it too much but if we have a baby in the future I think that it may become an issue. Do you think adopting a second dog will help?
The second dog may help her while you’re home, but it can backfire when it comes to leaving them alone together. You didn’t mention if your current dog has separation anxiety or not, my only concern would be that if she does get really nervous when you’re away she could teach the second dog that being nervous is a normal behavior.
The great thing about having a second dog is that when they get along well it can be really nice & rewarding. Growing up my dogs would play together nonstop when we were home, they were the best of buds. Does she get along well with other dogs? If you’re not sure how she’ll do with another dog in the home you could reach out to the ASPCA or your local shelter to see if they do any foster programs where you can take care of a dog at your home until they find a home. (if you’re worried about falling in love with your foster you can also adopt them – it happens quite often)
This is very helpful. Thanks for taking the time to write this!
My Nan just recently passed away and she was never away from her two shitzus. The mother shitzu is pretty laid back however her daughter who is a year younger than her at 10 yrs old has always been a velcro dog, we call her pikachu a lot because she comes to peek at you whenever you go to another room or to the bathroom. Since nan’s death, they have stayed at two of nan’s neighbors houses, then I inherited them both and lived with them briefly in an apartment complex where they seemed to take to my crate training quite nicely. Now we have had to move into a spare room where they have to be crated whenever i am not taking them outside for walks. The velcro pup has all of a sudden, after a week of living here, barking and hyperventilating if i am not in the room. If I come back into the room she will eventually calm down and go to sleep, even if I do not look at her or give her attention. The second I leave though, she starts with a whimper and works her way into a full blown tizzy. We will eventually be moving back into nan’s trailer once the legal stuff goes through and we get approved by the park management, but I don’t know if this behavior will carry over.
Sorry to hear about your Nan. From what you’re describing it sounds like the younger dog has some separation anxiety. Unfortunately that can be tricky to manage, and for some dogs the condition can get worse as time goes on. The second half of this article https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/separation-anxiety has some tips on managing it, thought it make take some trial and error before you find a method that works to really settle her down. Best of luck to you.
This article makes me kinda sad. Separation anxiety is a problem. Being a velcro dog is a positive. It means that the dog is attached to their person and wants to be with them. Dogs don’t have the ability to go out and have a life outside of yours, so yes, maybe your trip to the bathroom is that exciting. I have two dogs. One is very independent and the other is right by my side. I don’t mind it at all and really like it. He’s my buddy and I truly believe that he is walking with me because he does think it’s his job to make sure that I’m safe. I also foster dogs and there have been times that I have extra jumpy puppies. My “velcro dog” with actually block them from jumping on me. Being a velcro dog is a sign of a truly empathetic dog who wants to be with you. That should be appreciated.
I’m not implying that being a velcro dogs is bad, personally I love it when my dog follows me around. But when she was young she wasn’t calm about it, and it made me feel terrible to see her get excited with that ‘ok what are we doing now???’ look every time I got up. So I started giving her more activities to do on her own. She was really young, and she’s a German Shepherd mix, so I realized that I hadn’t been doing enough to keep her busy and mentally stimulated. Now that she’s a bit older she’s a lot calmer, and she does follow me around most of the time. I love it, and I do find it flattering.
But there are times when people might not want their dogs to follow them around (like when you’re cleaning the bathroom or preparing food), so I wanted to give some examples of ways to encourage dogs to be more independent through activities and setting clear boundaries that are fair to dogs such as ‘when I’m in the kitchen I’d like you to stay here.’
I have 3 dogs and one of them follows me everywhere. I generally work from home so she can stay close to me almost all the time. I love having her next to me or on my lap. In fact, I think I am just as attached to her as she is to me. I don’t know what I would do without her.
Her clinginess can be somewhat problematic when I do have to leave the house. The other funny thing is she is reluctant to go downstairs to drink water when she is thirsty while I am upstairs working from home. Even when my husband is downstairs with the other dogs,she wants to stick with me.
So I had to set up a bowl upstairs so she gets proprely hydrated while I am busy working in my home office.
Like you I love the fact that Laika follows me around and wants to be next to me or in my lap. (she’s 70 lbs but it’s all good). I tried to be very careful about the wording in this article, I don’t want anyone to assume that having a dog that follows you around is bad, just that it certain situations it can be problematic as you mention. I think it’s cute that you put a water bowl up there for her, I probably would have done the same thing 🙂 (they’re not spoiled, I swear lol)
My first Rat Terrier had separation anxiety and it was sad. His name was Rocky and whenever I left the house, he would pace or nervous chew until I returned. But, as soon as I got home he was fine. However, the nervous chewing resulted in three emergency trips to the vet. Each time having some chewed piece of plastic or metal lodged in his digestive tract. It was horrible and painful for him and for me it reeked havoc on my bank account to the total of about $12,000.00! But I loved that little dog so much that when it came to his well being I would have sent my self into chapter eleven, without a second thought. After children and your spouse, there’s no greater bond. Then Rocky died of cancer and I was devastated. He was just over six years old….
After two years, I felt it was time for another dog. Of course another Rat Terrier rescue was my only option. Now, Munchie is a absolute “Velcro Dog” and I wouldn’t have it any other way! He’s always within 7 feet of me and it’s the most wonderful feeling. After my experience with Rocky and his separation issues, I put up a camera to observe how he was when I left. To my surprise when I leave he quietly lays on a rug by the door and waits for me to return. (I still don’t understand how he knows I’m coming 10-15 minutes before I pull into the driveway!) In the post the word “Clingy” was used as a way to describe the”Velcro Dog”.. I think “unconditional” is a more accurate description and any behavior modifications should be done for his benefit and safety. I’m truly blessed by my “Velcro Puppy”… So lets keep apples with apples. Separation Anxiety and a Velcro Dog have nothing in common….
My puppy is coming up to 16 weeks and we’ve had him for almost 5.
He is a mixed breed – dad is maltese and mum is half Maltese and half Lhasa apso.
He is an absolute darling and we all love him very much.
We have a 7 year old daughter and we’ve been talking about having a dog for about 3 years! We did lots of research into the right dog for our family and I work from home so we knew we could give a dog lots of time and attention and not leave him at home for 8 hours whilst we were at work.
The puppy follows me everywhere and watches my every move. Whether it’s from one room to another and back again to grab something or to the toilet or have a bath, he is by my side.
He cries and howls when I leave him at home to go to he shops briefly and strangely, when I come home his face and paws are soaking wet…I don’t know what he’s doing and why that would be! Sometimes his water bowl is empty when I return but sometimes not!
I am very happy to have him by my side but I’m worried that he is not happy or settled and he feels insecure.
I recognise his behaviours as being that of a Velcro dog and having separation anxiety.
He’s such a loving playful placid little thing and I just want to do right by him.
Anyone know anything about this type of mixed breed and do I have to be cruel (not cruel, more disciplined) to be kind??
In regards to the breeds he’s mixed with both are known for being companion dogs that are very loyal to their owners. That may have something to do with why he’s showing signs of separation anxiety, but unfortunately the exact causes of why certain dogs develop it and others don’t is unknown. As far as his face and paws being soaking wet it may be due to excessive drooling which is a common symptom of separation anxiety.
Because he’s already showing signs of anxiety when you leave I’d start working on some counter conditioning and desensitization techniques as soon as possible. Separation anxiety has a tendency to get worse over time if not properly managed. If you’re looking for tips on managing his anxiety I recommend the following articles:
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/separation-anxiety
https://www.mspca.org/pet_resources/dealing-with-separation-anxiety-in-dogs/
https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/separation-anxiety-dogs
My dog does this, it is so incredibly frustrating. I can’t even roll over in bed or shift in my chair without her getting up, jumping on me, tackling me, getting extremely excited. She’s 50lbs of border collie and I am almost afraid to get out of bed some days because I know she’ll basically attack me. I’m at the end of my rope. I just wish she could relax. I used to have Jack Russells and they couldn’t care less if I leave the room but this dog: ugh. I love her but I can’t stand that she does this. I might try desensitizing her. She used to have seperation anxiety really bad and she still does, I had no idea this was something related but seperate. And desensitizing her worked somewhat I feel like with that.
But she’s gotten alot better about not destroying the house when we leave so hopefully she knows now we’ll always come back. But this Velcro stuff, it’s extremely frustrating. I normally try to be patient until I’m not and snap at her and then I feel bad. I’ve also found that just growling works for getting some space quickly? I know it’s weird but I feel like it’s something she understands. It scares her a bit but I feel like it’s better than me yelling at her. Hopefully some of your tips will work but she’s extremely bad about this.
Oh we are living the same life with the same dog. I will pray for your sanity if you pray for mine.
My rescue (74 pounds) has always been a Velcro, but recently he becomes anxious and acts as if he cannot get close enough to me. This only happens occasionally and I am usually sitting on the sofa watching tv. At 74 pounds, he is very forceful and sometimes painful. This is a new occurrence and I cannot find the trigger. Suggestions?
It’s not happening before a storm hits is it? Or any new noises? (my dog got really nervous when we got a new dryer since the alarm sounded so different)
If you can’t narrow it down to a specific situation or sound you might want to give your vet a call. Changes in sight or hearing, or any new type of discomfort can cause behavior changes.
My 2 yr old is starting to do this same thing. She does not have SA and is only Velcro when I am sitting on the sofa. She will either sit next to me inches from my face and stare, or she will slowly creep onto me, one inch at a time starting on my left arm until she is at least half way on me. The entire time she will shiver like a leaf unless I’m actively petting and cuddling her. The second I stop she begins to shiver. If I gently try to move her back off me she will literally pout, she will get up tail between her legs and go up stairs and not come back down until I have to call her 10 times to go out side or eat her food. It’s like I suddenly live with a 10 yr old child! This started in January and has been slowly escalating from once a week to once every couple days, to daily behavior. There’s no explanation for it. She’s healthy and shows no signs of pain or illness, no SA behavior, and only does this when I sit on the sofa. If I sit on a chair or at my desk, nothing like this happens.
PS. She’s 30lbs, so she not a lap dog!
I was Googling to see if there is something wrong with my dog. She is definitely a Velcro dog. She wants to be able to see me at all times. Stella is a, shelter adopted abandoned/lost, Blue Heeler Cattle Dog, with her being a supposed working dog this makes sense. I say supposed because she is the most relaxed uninterested in herding Cattle Dog that I have ever met! But, I am glad to know that her Velcro behavior is normal, if not exacerbated by being lost or abandoned.
This is in reply to shayna’s post that she had to move into another room and havt to keep her dogs locked in a crate and only allowed out for walks. This really makes me sad. Keeping a dog in a crate all day except for walks is a cruel thing to do to any animal. You may not realize it but that is actually abuse and the dogs do think they are being punished. This makes me want to cry to think of anyones dogs being crated up all day. They would be better off at a foster home where they can be a dog and not a trapped animal. Also when a dog is kept in a crate all day it will eventually lead to joint problems, as well as emotional & mental issues. If you have no choice but to crate them up please get them into a foster home asap. Dogs needs to be dogs!
hi
My dog is a Velcro dog. She’s a 6lb lap dog in every sense and since we work from home half the week we are all time with her. We do leave her home alone for 3 hours everyday . I don’t mind it too much but if we have a baby in the future I think that it may become an issue. Do you think adopting a second dog will help?
I don’t know how to answer that properly, since so much of it will depend on how the new dog gets along with your current one. Does your current dog exhibit any signs of separation anxiety, or is it just velcro dog syndrome?
A second dog rarely helps for separation anxiety (since the anxiety itself is caused from being away from the owner), and in some instances it can make the situation worse. Dogs learn from one another, and if your dog is anxious when you leave the house she could end up passing that anxiety onto the new dog. Here’s some more information about getting a second dog for separation anxiety: https://www.puppyleaks.com/second-dog-separation-anxiety/
We have a rescue dog who was abused. She has SA and she’s a VDS as well.
In addition, we’ve also rescued a 9 month old puppy what I think has VDS. However, when I leave to the store or post office my husband said the puppy will cry, run out the dog door to the gate and back inside. And the 9 yo will cry, bark and howl as we as run out to the gate and back into the house looking for me.
I feel this is s big problem because I have physical problems that keep me from sleeping all night. So I will leave the bedroom I. The middle of the night and the puppy is at the door trying to get out, crying and scratching st the door.
We really need help with these two dogs.
We have s third dog that we’ve had for over 5 years and she lives to be with me but is not s Velcro or has SA.
I just got an 8 week old chihuahua terrier and she can’t stand being alone/not next to me. I made her place in my bedroom (toys treats potty pads crate). But if I leave she is whining crying howling n trust me it’s for hours. I’ve tried letting her “cry it out” but it doesn’t work. Even putting her in her crate has the same affect even if I’m sitting next to her crate she can’t be in there. And yes I’ve given her hours of play time, I’ve put treats n her toys in the crate but she pays no mind to them. I live in an apartment so I have nieghbours n can’t have her screaming howling. Please help me. She is totally fine if she is next to me or me holding her.
We just got a 5 month old puppy a week ago. She is a mix between a snautzer and a poodle and she is very sweet. But I think she is a velcro dog aswell. Im not sure but she follows me everywhere. Maybe its because she is still nervous in her new house but I hope it will go away a little bit. I dont really mind if she does it now and then but she does it all the time. The rest of the family she doesnt seem to really care about and she growls and strangers. We really hoped she would get along with the whole family because they want too but she sticks to me like glue.
We split the tasks sometimes in the hope she will like the rest of the family more.
She does like them, but if she can choose she will run up to me.
She also only walks outside if im there. My brother tried several times but she refuses to move and runs back to the house.
I really want her to open up to the rest.
She is not a rescue and had a great home before we got her but it looks like she is nervous about everything and feels save with me?
Maybe its her age? or character?
I have a shihtzu and yorkie mix, his names Finn. My ex and I got him sometime last year while he was still quite young, around 1yo I believe. Within a week or two, we noticed that he was really attached to my hip so we let him sleep in the living room or his crate but never in our room or in the bed. When we broke up, that’s when I started letting him sleep with me. He never left my side. Which was great! I loved him being so close to me. When I was sick, he would stay in bed with me alllllll dayyyyyyy. It’s to the point now where if he sees me eating something, he wants to eat it. Like stuff a dog wouldn’t normally eat, like pickles and onions. If he sees my eat it, he’ll eat it. He follows me EVERYWHERE. I can’t even shower alone. If we have other dogs in the house and I give them even the slightest attention; Finn will crawl up my body and hug me. I’m dead serious. He’s doing it now. He’s not that playful and won’t socialize with other dogs really. He’ll just bark or snap at them. He doesn’t like people hugging me! He will go crazy! Or if someone hits me, he’ll attack them. I love him so much and I know it’s not the best behavior but I don’t think I’d change a thing. He loves to cuddle! He loves being nuzzled up in my neck, on my chest or in my arms. He is mommas baby, no doubt! I know I spoil him endlessly, so I’m the one to blame for his clinginess, but isn’t that our job????? I’d rather him be like this, rather than him be distant. Oh, and he’s EXTREMELY SMART TOO. I had him potty trained and house broken within 6weeks of having him. He understands words such as potty, bathroom, food, bath, outside..He knows certain tricks, such as; stand, “sit pretty”, sit, circles, lay down, roll over.. I’m teaching him how to shake hands next. Best dog ever. Shorkies are best friends.
Gia is definitely a velcro dog!
Wow, this is a very helpful article about the pet. I also bought a Pet Supplies with the help of the Barkbox Promo Code and this is the best way to buy a pet with a discount. Well, I hope this article has helped you and I hope it has shed some light on the challenge of saving money on your pet supplies regardless of whether you use the pet supply store or an online store.
The article is amazing. I have learnt so much about Velcro Dog. Thanks for sharing such a good research post.
My coonhound I knew was already codependent with her litter mate at 16 weeks has me pulling my hair out and this isn’t my first work dog or pack dog, even was asked to raise and maintain a hybrid. I grew up in this and am conskdered excellent at behavior modification in dogs, horses and even cats.
Daisy was doing great..butter anyway. Quit dismantling crates from issue when I’d leave and lots of pack dog hugs when I arrive home and one on one for a few minutes before a walk and treat where I’d just talk to her and eventually touch my nose after clicking my tongue. Training her like I’ve trained all of my search, hunting and tracking dogs to respond without verbal dues. Super smart one and honestly first female one I’ve had in 20 years.
Then covid and I am jugh risk and spending a F-ton on puzzles and games that bore her in 17 seconds. She hjdes my shoes. Literally was just in my bathroom and havr child locks in lever door handles now because of her ….. she went into my “personal” items and took one but didn’t destroy it like she did first two. Bras, make up bag, pen to ly tablet – expensive, phone cord, tore keys off keypad door lock when I took lever off. I do not like to use human behavior models on dogs but sometimes it is the best we can describe it. I left for an hour yesterday. Which is maybe the 4th absence since end of March? She loses her effing mind and is paranoid for days ot seems even though I’m active with her. I’ve never had a chewer or clingy dog and I find the term velcro absolutely perfect.
Riddle me this….. what is with the targeted destruction or more like statements. She got a don’t eat my shoes lesson quick, but after a shower I’ll find one shoe in center of mt bed like a horse head. ?♀️
So would my doggo be considered both. about a week ago I left to visit my family for 4 days and left my doggo with my boyfriend and my boyfriend never abuses animals an when I came back home my doggo started whining and looking at me all the time. When I’m cuddling with my boyfriend my doggo would whine. It just happened out of no where it was never this bad.
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My dog lays where i was sitting as soon as I get up. When I am not in bed, she lays on the bed where I sleep, for her nap. If I have to leave her for a short time (couple hours or 1/2 hour) she jumps up on me like crazy, jumps in my lap, and carry’s on as if I was gone for 3 weeks. She is nearly always with me and has always been very clingy with me, but especially after my wife passed away. If I must leave her for a bit, my Mom babysits, who she loves, but is still the same when I return, same as if I left her home alone for 15 minutes. She never bathrooms or causes any damage, just lays there at the window when I am gone. Not sure if she is velcro or anxiety. My vet suggested CBD oil.
So my puppy hunni may have a bit of it all I have had her since she was 5 weeks old and I have always been with her and she with me how ever she is 9 months now she watches my every move she wants to eat when I eat etc etc she looks at me all the time it’s almost stocker ish I love her and I know she loves me how ever I would like to be able to walk with out her tripping me there is not enough time in a day to say everything she does my wife thinks she is obsessed with me what do you guys think ?
My 16 year old yorkie Cross has now been diagnosed with testicle cancer he has bad separation anxiety to the point I can’t go to the shop cos he howls crys and wees everywhere he is also going blind I’m at my wits end I can’t go out the door.
Hi! We just adopted our amazing rescue dog a week ago. She’s wonderful and we love her however, she seems to have developed a dependency to my partner. She needs to follow him everywhere and she asks him for an excessive amount of attention. The problem is that she gets very anxious if she stops seeing him, and cannot sleep. If he takes his shower or goes to the toilets, she waits next to the door.
I feel useless, there’s nothing I can do (although we adopted her together) – for example, she prefers to wait for him alone in the living room instead of coming with me in the bedroom. Or she stops playing with me when he moves. This totally breaks my heart because she definitely prefers him to me (it can sound selfish but animals are my entire life and I want to give them all my love – but she seems not to really want my love, only my partner’s…) and I struggle to accept that her happiness depends so much on him. She seems really sad when she doesn’t see him or when he doesn’t pay attention to her :(. So I feel we’re all suffering…
——> we might need a trainer, or someone who could help us? My partner started keeping his distances her as much as possible (it’s getting really hard and sad..) but things haven’t changed in week 😕. She has definitely the Velcro dog symptom…
To give you a bit of context, she’s 2 years old, was traumatised in her past (had babies but they put them to sleep, she was mistreated etc.) and my partner didn’t do anything specific when we adopted her, we were both attracted to her and we both love her but during the 2nd day we realized he had to take his distances from her. At least, this is what I read online, that he needed to show her a bit less attention.
What should we do?
We need her to stop following and care so much about my partner, and we’d like her to give me a bit more attention without being constantly stressed by what my partner is doing…we might ask for too much, I don’t know but this is not healthy for anyone, especially not for her.
Many thanks in advance.
I’m so exhausted at the end of the day, her nose is touching the back of my knees, I’m 62 years old and have two bad knees, she is only 5 months old, lots of energy, she pit bull/lab mix, she even sleeps with me, if we leave we have to put her in her box or she will tear up the house, Brandy is her name, I can’t take a shower or go to the basement to change laundry, she whines for me, then starts to bark for me, I need help
LOL… my sister’s dog is REALLY clingy.
But, she leads a very busy life and I already warned her getting a dog wouldn’t be wise, but I digress…!
My rescue dog wants to be on top of me or touching me every time I sit or lie down. She doesn’t seem to know what “down” or “off” means. I have to literally push her away from me when I want to get up. She’ll shove my other dog out of the way to reach me. I love her and she’s a good girl, but it’s difficult to have to wrestle with my dog so I can get off the couch!