MissSBird
Well-Known Member
So this is a bit weird, and maybe (probably?) nothing, but I thought I'd share it anyway to see if you guys might be able to cast some light.
My family has a bernese mountain dog called Lui. He's entire, 3 years old now. We've had him since he was a very young puppy. There are 4 adults in the house - my parents and my sister, and we've lived there all his life as well. He's always loved his family, and sought affection/attention from us all, but you would admit that he is my mum's dog. He loves her most, unsurprisingly as she works from home so generally is the person who walks and feeds him. The rest of us are out the house most of the day.
Suddenly this week Lui will not leave me alone. Instead of sitting with the family in the living room, he's coming into the dining room (where I tend to sew in the evenings) with me. But he's not just coming for a cuddle then laying down per usual, he's constantly watching me. He's putting his paw on my leg, laying down inches from my feet. If I get up and walk around to the other side of the table to cut fabric, he follows me around to that side. Half the time he doesn't even lay down, he just stands as close to me as possible and stares at me. Even the other day, he stood over the other side of the room whilst I was pressing my seams, and he usually hates the ironing board and won't come near when it's out, so that was pretty impressive for him. He's basically just attached himself to me very suddenly.
His routine hasn't changed. He's got the same people in his household, is getting the same playtime and cuddle time and all the rest. He's still getting good walks. He's eating and drinking normally and his food hasn't changed. As far as me and the family is aware, there is no explanation for his sudden refusal to leave my side.
I recognise that it sounds like separation anxiety, but he doesn't display any anxiousness during the day when I am at work and seems to be himself. It's just in the evenings (usually after we've eaten) that his behaviour starts. YEsterday he was so determined to be with me that he refused to play his usual tug of war game with my sister and just kept following me around. When I ran upstairs to get my scissors (he's not allowed upstairs to protect his hips) he stood and stared up the stairs until I came back down.
If it was my mum that this was happening with, I wouldn't be surprised. It might be nothing, but it's just such a sudden change I don't know what to make of it.
Any ideas/thoughts?
My family has a bernese mountain dog called Lui. He's entire, 3 years old now. We've had him since he was a very young puppy. There are 4 adults in the house - my parents and my sister, and we've lived there all his life as well. He's always loved his family, and sought affection/attention from us all, but you would admit that he is my mum's dog. He loves her most, unsurprisingly as she works from home so generally is the person who walks and feeds him. The rest of us are out the house most of the day.
Suddenly this week Lui will not leave me alone. Instead of sitting with the family in the living room, he's coming into the dining room (where I tend to sew in the evenings) with me. But he's not just coming for a cuddle then laying down per usual, he's constantly watching me. He's putting his paw on my leg, laying down inches from my feet. If I get up and walk around to the other side of the table to cut fabric, he follows me around to that side. Half the time he doesn't even lay down, he just stands as close to me as possible and stares at me. Even the other day, he stood over the other side of the room whilst I was pressing my seams, and he usually hates the ironing board and won't come near when it's out, so that was pretty impressive for him. He's basically just attached himself to me very suddenly.
His routine hasn't changed. He's got the same people in his household, is getting the same playtime and cuddle time and all the rest. He's still getting good walks. He's eating and drinking normally and his food hasn't changed. As far as me and the family is aware, there is no explanation for his sudden refusal to leave my side.
I recognise that it sounds like separation anxiety, but he doesn't display any anxiousness during the day when I am at work and seems to be himself. It's just in the evenings (usually after we've eaten) that his behaviour starts. YEsterday he was so determined to be with me that he refused to play his usual tug of war game with my sister and just kept following me around. When I ran upstairs to get my scissors (he's not allowed upstairs to protect his hips) he stood and stared up the stairs until I came back down.
If it was my mum that this was happening with, I wouldn't be surprised. It might be nothing, but it's just such a sudden change I don't know what to make of it.
Any ideas/thoughts?