Skip to content

My puppy loves me- TOO much!

Moved Basenji Training
  • I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with a pup that gets very attached to them? I love my little girl so much but I worry that when life goes back to normal and I go to work she'll get sad that I'm gone! She whimpers when I go to the shower or when I sit in a room alone and close the door. Does anyone have any tips on how to handle this? I don't want my little girl to get depressed when I have to go back to my 9-5! It may be worth mentioning that my boyfriend works from home so someone is home at all times of the day to play with her and give her attention.

  • Lay the groundwork now for when you will be back to work. Start with short trips out and coming home quickly, and do not make a fuss over her when leaving and returning. Be as "matter of fact" as you can. Increase the amount of time you are gone, and have your boyfriend be just as matter of fact as you are. No drama. If she fusses, ignore it. When you return, ignore her for a few minutes (hard to do, I know). When she is quiet, that's when to make a fuss of her and cuddle her. Try not to reward attention seeking. Ideally you want your dog to calmly notice your return but not be excited by it. Too many people feed the anxiety their pets display by making a big deal out of "reunions", and thus separation anxiety becomes an issue.

  • Thank you so much!! I really appreciate the advice :)

Suggested Topics

  • Puppy screams when alone

    Basenji Training
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    4k Views
    L
    Have you tried a petcam? You could watch what he's doing on your phone and see if he settles down after a while. It's possible he quietens down and naps when he knows you're gone and starts crying again when he hears you returning. You can find monitors that allow you to talk to your boy or dispense treats, but the basic ones do the job!
  • Puppy biting

    Basenji Training
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    12k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    @drew82 I've been doing rescue and breeding (not Basenjis, and not for 20 yrs now)... and I have to say that among responsible trainers, rescues, breeders and professional veterinary behaviorists, you won't find any who will say under 8 weeks is okay for any breed... and for many, 10 to 12 weeks is recommended. It is in fact illegal to take puppies under 8 weeks from some states and it should be in all of them. Call a few dozen rescues and ask them how many animals they deal with that have issues started from being placed too young. It is good you are working on things, just hopefully the physical responses won't continue. No breed needs to be swatted or even mildly hurt for training. Basenjis even less so than many. It hurts your relationship with the puppy, and you are punishing a baby for being a baby... there is no "rebellious thing"... just normal behavior you have to patiently train away from.
  • Puppy Nosework

    Basenji Training
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    lvossL
    I will try to be good and update each week so if you want to follow along you can. The things that you need is at least 5 boxes, one that should be labeled "Food" and is the only box that gets food in it, so the others aren't cotaminated with the food scent, treats that your dog really loves, and some different areas to work in. The first week the boxes are all in a line. Before I set L'Ox down to work, show him that I am putting the treats in the treat box then I do a "shell game" with the box, tapping it against the other boxes in the line and usually saying things like, "Where's your treat? Is it in this box? Oh, look at this box it looks so good." etc, and at some point switching the food box with one of the other boxes so that he doesn't just cue into the last box I was at and has to really work to find the treats. We do 3 searches in a training session and our goal for the week is to work in 5 locations. Mine will probably be the kitchen, the living room, the backyard, the school down the street, and at a friend's house. It makes things much easier if you have someone to help you but you can work by yourself using a tether or baby gate.
  • Puppy Nipping

    Basenji Training
    23
    0 Votes
    23 Posts
    10k Views
    Robin_n_JackR
    @JazzysMom: With Keoki we have to firmly say, "NO" and if he doesn't stop, we hold him under the neck – not tightly, just enough so he can't grab -- and make him sit. Then we look him in the eye and say, "NO! Enough!". That usually does it for him, and he's getting better and better at either not biting and/or listening the first time. He usually does stop the first time w/me, and in fact seldom does bite at me in play, but not as well with Dh and the kids . One of my dd's says it's because he's afraid of me, but that is not the case. He never cringes, he just listens to the Mama! I think he sees the other dogs and the kids listening to me, and the fact that I don't ask or beg him to stop doing things. I TELL him. I am working to get the family to see the difference, and to stop bouncing around while saying, NO. LOL Same for me- that is exactly what I do! When he was younger we tried the yelp, and we tried ignoring him….neither seemed to work very well for us. This seems to work very well, at least in our case.
  • So MUCH pee!

    Basenji Training
    37
    0 Votes
    37 Posts
    18k Views
    tanzaT
    @mhergom: Hello, I have an eight-month female, She is peeing at least 5th times per day. Many times she waits t o be back home to make pee. I do not know what to do I am getting crazy with pees I had nightmares Thanks in advance for your help If she is not spayed, she may be in season and they do pee lots more (marking behaviors)…. and this can and does start before you even might see bleeding. 5 times a day is not that much really....
  • Loved agility class

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    6k Views
    MiaM
    I was thiking of getting my pup into agility since she loves to run like the wind, maybe lure coursing too. How old would be the perfect age?