I havent posted on here for a long time but need some advice. Last week I had to have my 8 year old afghan, Zorro, castrated following a testicular infection, with fears of possible underlying tumour. We are still awaiting the results on the tissue, but his chest x ray was clear and he is otherwise well. The wound is healing well, but is obviously itching him a bit.I am preventing him from messing with it by using his "lampshade" when unsupervised. Otherwise I just tell him to leave it alone and he does. The thing is, he has always been fairly aloof, and although he comes several times every evening for a stroke, he has now become more or less obsessed with cuddling. He is not just asking for a stroke, or coming close. He is really insistent, keeps wrapping his "arms " round me, and reminds me of a child who is hanging on its parent. When I sit down he physically gets on my lap !( I am under 5 feet tall). He is normally allowed on my bed, but instead of lying at the bottom he spent all last night wrapping his front paws around me and squishing in as tight as he can. Normally he is a dogs dog, not a people dog, but now he seems totally obsessed with me and is ignoring my bitch, Delilah. its not just that he wants extra love....he seems desperate. It is tempting to love him up every time he asks as I feel sorry for him, and he wants his mum.....BUT his behaviour is so obsessive that I am afraid it will not stop . I just got up to get a cup of tea, and he followed me, whining, and pushing so hard against my leg that I nearly dropped the tea. Then tried to get on on my lap while I was drinking it.

Has anyone else had this in their dogs? Is it likely to stop spontaneously? Should I just prevent him from cuddling me? I feel mean, but this is such obsessive behaviour that I cannot permit it in the long term.
Hope someone can help
Cathy

poor lad! me being me Id just cuddle back!but no doubt you will get more sensible replies,I wish you the best!

Oh bless him he needs his mummy! It's only been a week so it's probably still a painful thing for him at the moment. Have you ever had to leave him at the vets before? Some dogs do react badly to being left and coupled with him having had surgery it can be quite scary for them as they come round from anesthesia. I would give him a bit more time,although having said that I would try to not let him sit on you as he's most def not lap dog material lol

I had the same type of experience with my SBT Spud, it did get a bit better with time, now he contents himself with leaning on me when we're on the sofa, or flopping backwards onto my lap so I have to cradle him like a baby. He does still follow me into other rooms but only if I've been gone for 10 minuets or so, and he doesn't need to sleep on the bed now, although he had been under the duvet, head on pillow before, at least an Afghan probably won't snore as much as a Staffie lol. 

Send him over here.  I'll do the cuddling and sent him back when he misses you. :)

I 'nursed' my daughter's bitch when she was speyed and she was much more cuddly than normal - wouldn't let me out of her sight.  But she went back to normal after her stitches were removed.

LOL he has gone to sleep and I have sneaked out from under him to get a drink.....wait till he wakes and realises he is not on my lap!

I am relieved that it isnt only him then!

I suspect it is the fast drop of the testosterone causing this and perhaps also the fact that he is feeling a bit vulnerable after his op; I am sure his behaviour will even out again in time. In the meantime, you need to make sure that it doesn't become a habit and teach him to be more independent again. :-)

I'm with colliepam and roscoebabe on this. One of mine sliced the pad off his paw while flushing duck on the river and was whizzed in for immediate veterinary attention. They had to staple between his toes as well, so the poor boy was in a bit of a state. He was fine when he went in but almost hysterical when I picked him up later that day, and he has been a mother's pet ever since, sleeping on my feet, needing big hugs and lots of love all day and sleeping on the pillow at night just to be close. I don't begrudge any of it. One day I won't have him next to me and I never want to feel that he or any of my dogs missed out on hugs and knowing how special they are to me.

Thanks for replies everyone. He is getting cuddles when he wants them - the vet suggested taking him out more to take his mind off it. It appears that he was managing to lick the wound as the lampshade was too small. this has slowed his recovery. we now have a bigger one......I hope the soreness goes off soon cos he is knocking my things over with his lampshade!

Poor boy...and poor you, the lampshade is a pain :-). Walks are great,  and maybe a kong with an extra tasty treat would keep him busy at home? Hope he soon recovers (and that my comments did not come across as a criticism or even worse an accusation that you were somehow withholding cuddles :-(!)

One day I won't have him next to me and I never want to feel that he or any of my dogs missed out on hugs and knowing how special they are to me.

Thats just how I feel, and if that means blowing raspberry's on their belly's, so be it ( I kid you not, they love it lol )

LOL Celli I believe it!

pinklilies, what you have described is how my dog is 90% of the time. Others may not agree, but we both enjoy the cuddles and when we have quiet time alone i see now harm in giving into him when he wants cuddles and affection :-)