Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 3:25 pm Post subject: Following me everywhere!
Right....I have a 12mth old and I only got her just over a month ago.....
Well she follows me everywhere! Even if she's really comfy and one of us moves she jumps up and follows. I can't even go to the loo alone.
I quite like it but I do fall over her sometimes and end up catching her in the door when I close it!
I know she might be feeling insecure still with only being here a short while, but should I be doing something to stop it or will she calm down and this is just insecurity?
____________ MUMMY TO 3 CHILDREN, 3 DOGS, 3 CATS, 2 RABBITS, 1 GECKO AND FINALLY 1 MAN!!
Does she follow everyone or is it just you?, if its just you I`d try to get another member of the family to distract her while you do what you need and come back, if she`s stayed with no fussing (crying etc) then give her a treat and/or lots of praise.
If she follows you to the kitchen when your cooking use a gate between the rooms so she can still see but can`t get in the way.
Hopefully its something she`ll get out of you as she gets more used to being with you and realises that you leaving the room doesn`t mean she`s been abandoned.
Just give it time, it really is completely natural, and Labradors ARE, even if all things were equal a very people and company orientated breed in the main. Just let her follow. I would sometimes close the loo door on her and just teach her that sometimes you DO have to be away from you for a minute or two. When you reappear, even if she is frantic like you have been gone for weeks, just ignore her other than a calm voice saying 'soppy whatsit, that'll do now, you old drama queen...' but nicely, and with a smile to your voice.... or she will hype up even more. Then when shes calm again praise her.
She may stay this way, but get her used to when you don't want a shadow, being restricted increasingly without feeling you have to always do it.
She may well settle more though and if she is comfy, won't bother and know you are back soon.
They are both nosey and greedy too however, its not ALL insecurity, and so even when she does get settled, the slightest sound that might be food will get her racing out her chair so be prepared labradors tend to be clingers for lots of reasons, and we are stuck with it mostly.
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
But if I am going anywhere else then I usually have River and Elphie follow me. It doesn't really both me to be honest, but if I don't want them to follow me I just shut the door or stairgate.
I haven't been alone in the house since i got my 2, Tess is my permanent shadow i can't even walk across the room to pick up the remote without her following me. A lone toilet visit only now occurs at work and i am regularily joined by Jake physically in the shower.
I quite like it and i know if i told them to sit down and stay they would and when i have to go out without them i say 'your staying here' and they both hop up on the sofa and look at me with sad eyes as they watch me leave.
It would only be a problem if they couldn't be left because they got anxious or distressed as it is i think it shows a great bond.
Bodie is 18mths and follows me around constantly at home, unless he is asleep, and gets in a right strop if I dare go upstairs and out of sight "muuuum, how could you???" whine whine, whinge whinge..... so I just ignore him. I think it's good for dogs to know that some areas are "off limits" - in our house they are not allowed upstairs, so for you it could be the loo. They just have to learn to deal with it, but being followed around is nice I think - that bond and focus is why I wanted a lab!
She follows me and OH. When we both move you can tell she doesn't know which way to go! We have a open plan living room kitchen so I can't put a gate up, but if I say bed she will get in the bed at the side of the room.
She doesn't cry when I close a door on her, she just lies behind it so I can't open it to get back in!
I don't mind her following me I was just worried she was fretting in someway. my other dogs just lie there but there much older now and more placid temperaments. Not that you'd know, first thing in the morning when I let them all out!
Thanks everyone, I will let her follow me now and not worry she's insecure!
____________ MUMMY TO 3 CHILDREN, 3 DOGS, 3 CATS, 2 RABBITS, 1 GECKO AND FINALLY 1 MAN!!
I have that problem with my little shelter dog (not a lab). She follows me everywhere, and it took a long time to stop her getting anxious when I left the room leaving her behind a closed door. Not to mention leaving the house. I did some low-level separation training and she's fine now, she still trails me everywhere but at least I can go out and close her behind a door if I don't want her to follow.
Gentle and gradual separation training would do her the world of good I think, if only to raise her confidence and show her that when you "leave" (i.e. go to the toilet) you do actually come back. If you like her following you about the house, just teach her separation in the situations you want her to stay put like when you go out, or going for a bath, etc, and make sure she knows that she can sit on her bed (which is miles away from the door) and not jam the door shut!!
She sounds like a loyal little dog to me. That will never change.
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Mooz, Ivan & Milly xxx
I have one who does it, he is six [rescue been with us since April], do exactly what Di advises, it is possible it will get better for you as she is younger.
I close doors if I don't want him in a room ie toilet etc, also have what I we call the invisible barrier which is just leans in a door way, all the dogs have learnt not to push it, but sometimes lay on the other side so they can see me.
Being close is handy for our walks, as he never go's far but is improving alittle now.
June
edited with pic of our portable gate
Last edited by fiz on Mon Sep 05, 2011 3:57 pm; edited 1 time in total
Well Luna has learnt to ONLY follow if she thinks there is something in it for her... food or walk.
Tucker is a little Shadow, is only 14months old and has only been home for nearly 7 weeks. I have only managed to get up and have 2 wees without him following me so far! I always say, "you stay there, I'm just going for a wee" and Luna eventually learnt that it wasn't worth following - I think he is beginning to! STAY training is a good idea - I can tell him to stay when he is on the sofa, pop into the kitchen and if I stay within eye shot he now stays!!
In the kitchen, in the garden when doing something diy-ish or tidying/cleaning then I generally have 2 little shadows that can trip me up and are of course extremely helpful with holding things!!
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