Cleveland the Clinger

[melonie]

Over the last year Cleveland has subtly grown into a clingy dog. It has been a slow change but I've noticed if for awhile.
His latest behavior changes include sleeping on the floor beside my desk chair or under my desk to be near me. And also delaying potty break when I get home from work. He would rather stay inside. I make him go outside though, and hurries back in to be with me.
He has always acted as though he should get all if the attention and he still does. He follows me where ever I go in the house. If I shut him out of the bathroom he will paw the door then lay and wait. If I sit on the sofa he they to bully Winston out of the prime spot. I don't allow him to get his way though. He will often give up and lay on the floor and pout.
When I leave he doesn't bark, but since moving the crates to A new room, I have to bribe, beg, and hustle him into it. He's gotten to be such a turd that I've started leaving him in my bedroom instead.

Cleveland nilfs like a champ. Listens well to commands etc. His appetite is good and no bathroom issues, skin problems etc. He's a healthy dog.
He is not hurting for attention but acts like he doesn't get enough and will hog it from anyone who comes over and gives if to him.

So I'm not sure where to start in averting any further issues. Right now its not a big problem but I'm worried it could turn into one. I am hesitant to foster a dog though. I'm afraid it might escalate. Winston is so easy going and laid back. That this doesn't affect him.


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[RealPitBull]

Do you do any forced separations (i.e crating when you are home) and/or short episodes of totally ignoring him, especially when he is trying really hard to get your attention? Also, when he's NOT paying attention to you, do short periods of ignoring him. Sometimes we inadvertently reinforce dogs for clingy behavior by constantly giving them attention/giving into their demands when we don't even realize. Pay attention to your behavior and see how YOU are responding to HIM.

[melonie]

I've been trying to keep an 'eye' on my behavior over the last few days. It's been a bit odd in my house lately due to a messed up work schedule, so I really haven't had a lot of time at home where I'm awake.

I have noticed these things though:
If Cleveland is sitting on the floor next to my chair, or under my desk, I don't acknowledge it... unless he is in my way or at risk for getting rolled on. Then I tell him to go lay down. He'll get up and move to the floor pillow or the sofa.

When either he or Winston are curled up sleeping on the chair/sofa/bed, I will go to them and give them a head rub every now and then. May not do it everyday to each dog though. I do however, do it more with Winston because he tends to go his own way most of the time and I do it to connect with him. Both dogs usually just give a tail wag and continue sleeping.

When he follows me to the bathroom I often use it to clean his ears. Its the only time he doesn't try to escape that torture.

I do talk to both dogs a lot. I think it's a side affect of being home alone all the time. lol

At night when I go to bed, we have a bit of cuddle time before he goes to his spot. He will sometimes try to butt into Winstons cuddle time, but I tell him to go to his 'spot', and he will go. But, Winston likes his cuddle time in the morning, vs. Cleveland at bedtime. So while it does happen, it doesn't happen everyday because Cleveland is a lazy morning dog and doesn't like to get up. They both have a 'spot' on the bed and they know which one is theirs. On the occasion the dogs are both trying for the best spot for snuggles, I will get up out of bed, and make them get out too. Then I go back to bed and no one gets snuggles.

As far as crating/separating when I'm at home...
Both dogs are crated or put in the bedroom if Kaiha is eating.
Cleveland is separated when I can tell he is in a no Kiaha mood. I don't know how to describe this, but I can tell when he is more tolerant and when he is not. He has a lot more tolerant times these days. But I still watch him closely.
I will separate the dogs when Kai is in a crappy mood. If she is tired and being difficult, she tends to do anything she knows she isn't supposed to. So I remove the dog temptation before it is ever a problem.

I separate the dogs when I vacuum or clean carpets. Cleveland hates the vacuum and will attempt to attack it. Winston could care less. But when Cleveland gets worked up, even in a crate, Winston attempts to police him, so I make sure Winston isn't in the position to do this.

If the dogs are playing too rough, or their excitement level gets too high, they're crated. If there is an outside influence, like the rooster! or more often a cat, I will crate them. Otherwise they get too worked up and forget how to listen.

They are both crated for eating and high value treats.

Last night when I got home from picking my daughter up from the airport, both dogs went crazy seeing her.
Cleveland was jumping like an idiot, so we all turned our backs to him. Both dogs couldn't get close enough to her for their attention. They went outside to do business but came back in to do a few rounds of zoomies then calmed down.
Cleveland ended up sleeping with Aryn for the first time ever I think. (he's now labeled a blood traitor)
Winston proved he was faithful and slept with me.

I probably do give in to the dogs a lot more than I realize. I'll try and keep track of it more, and see if I can't break some of the habits.

[melonie]

Update on Clinger...

Aryn came home from Florida and he chilled out a bit. He has stopped dragging his feet to go outside first thing in the morning. He still is undecided about it when I first get home, so I have been taking a few minutes to greet him and reassure him, then make him go outside.
I have been trying to catch him 'being good' more often, instead of ignoring the well behaved dog and getting on his case when he acts up.
He still has to sleep right under my desk or right beside it rather often.

He is still a bully. He thinks he should have all the attention, and will try to force Winston out of the way. More often than not I will ignore both dogs at that point. To be fair, Winston will sometimes do the same to Cleveland, but if I tell him to go sit, he'll back off, where as Cleveland will not. If Cleveland is being too pushy with me, I get up and remove myself from the situation. This has led to more interaction on my terms. Like, if I sit on the sofa, he tries to sit right on top of me. I would get up and sit at the desk. Now, I sit on the sofa, he tries to sit on me, or crowd my space I either tell him off, or move over. He doesn't always comply, but we're getting there.

Over all he hasn't gotten worse. Which is good.

I am hopefully going to get to do a dog meet and greet with a possible foster dog, a female pit bull who is 10 months old. I have concerns, but I'll see how the intro works out. I need to meet her first to discover her personality to see if I even want to do the meet and greet!