Puppy - attachment

Bess

Bess

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I have a 8 month old cocker spaniel and and 8 yr old lab. I live in a house with three other people(my teenage kids) who walk the dogs regularly.

However I normally feed the dogs. The spaniel pup seems to have developed an overriding affection for me and gets very distressed when he can't be in the same room as me.

So advice welcomed, do you think its the feeding thing? This has never happened with any dogs we've had in the past.
 
I have a 6 month old puppy who also cries when he can't be under my feet all the time! I think its just one of those things they grow out of.......

I suppose it depends how 'distressed' he is?

My puppy just whines a bit, and then goes and settles himself somewhere else, so it doesnt really cause a problem. I do, however, put him in his crate/cage when I go out, otherwise he would shred my house!!
 
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I'd be cautious that the pup is not developing SA.

[/ QUOTE ]By SA do you mean separation anxiety? He does have a bed in a crate that he goes in when everyone is out and overnight and he's happy with that.
 
Try ignoring him a bit. I know this sounds harsh but if you pay him attention when he seeks it in inappropriate ways you are reinforcing that behaviour (in his mind he winges and that gets your attention, so winging is the way to get more attention from you). If you come back from work, avoid all contact, do not greet him or pet him, if you leave the room and he whines, pick a moment he is quiet, walk back in and ignore him completely.

Hope that helps!
 
Thanks for the advice, I do ignore him when I come home but I'm probably not consistant enough the rest of the time, so I'll make sure I stick to it. I'm going to get the kids to feed the dogs, I started that today.
 
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