My 2 year old lab is driving me nuts!!! For the past 2 months or so, he has been following me around non-stop, constantly whining and barking for attention. He has always been a little too attached to me, but ever since I've been spending more time at home, he's really starting to push the limit of my patience! We recently took him to a trainer who suggested that we just ignore him whenever he starts like this, providing he's eaten and doesn't have to go outside. But I swear, it seems like it's getting worse than ever. It used to be that I could take him to the park to run for an hour, and he would come home and sleep for a while, but even after a park trip, he still follows me around. He even waits for me outside of the bathroom! I'm not exactly sure what he wants most of the time - I think he wants to go outside and play, but short of pitching a tent outside and living there, we can't be there 24 hours a day! If I'm sitting and watching television, he just stands right in front of me, staring and whining or barking. He gets the same amount of exercise as he always has - 3-4 walks a day, and a trip to run at a dog park 2 or 3 times a week, but it doesn't seem to be working anymore.

Any suggestions GREATLY appreciated!!!!

How often does he get taken out, what other activity toys has he got and has he got any doggie chums he plays with?

Lucy

He gets taken for a 20+ minute walk at least 3 times a day (sometimes more), and he goes to a dog park 2-3 times a week where he can run off lead, and play with other dogs (there's anywhere between 5 and 30 dogs there at a time). When he's left home alone, we leave him with bones and stuffed kongs.

Do you play with him at home or do any training with him when youre out? He sounds bored. While watching TV you could play tug or chuck a soft ball for him to fetch or hide a toy for him to find, or his kong. What about frisbee or fetch or hide and seek when out?

Sammy
This is a tip our trainer gave us when she noticed Blaze getting stressed when my husband moved away from him in classes. It isn't easy at first , but I promise it paid off in our situation. Each night we had to shut Blaze in another room, away from us for one hour his 'timeout'( he has a baby gate in the kitchen )- so that stops him getting to us without closing doors. We did it whilst we watched tv. It's hard as teh whine at first but you must not go into the room , look at them or speak to them for that hour. It is very difficult to do - you want to make sure they are ok - give them a KONG toy full of treats or similar when you give them 'timeout' to keep them occupied.

Within a week Blaze's behaviour improved a lot - and he stopped being a shadow to fall over! Now we don't need to use the timeout - he will settle in a room and we can move around the house without him fretting.

Wish you well
Nikki

Thank you for your advice - we will have to think about trying a time-out period. Our trainer advised us to just ignore him if he's whining and barking for no reason, but easier said than done! I think that what might be a problem is that I've been working from home lately, so I think that he has the impression that I'm always available to play. When I worked away from home, whenever I was home, he pretty much got my undivided attention. The trainer suggested scheduled "play times" for him - mostly a walk in the morning, another walk in the afternoon and some fetch, and then at least an hour of moderate to heavy exercise for him, followed by a walk before I got to bed. Of course, it's not as if I just spend 3 hrs a day paying attention to my dog, but we're hoping that the periods of absolute undivided attention will work.

As for playing with him while watching television - to be honest, I don't really spend that much time watching TV, it's that I'm usually on the computer (working and checking out CD!). Perhaps I can think of some training exercise to work with him while I'm there.

Another thought is get another dog to keep him company ??

Lucy

I would love to but we simply don't have the financial means for a second dog, and it's difficult enough finding housing with one dog (I'm a renter).

Whatever you do, I don't think another dog is a good idea at the moment. Dogs are pack animals and all another dog will do is copy the bad behaviour of the first and you'll end up with double trouble. I'd sort out the dog you've got first before adding a second.

Good point but I also think having another pack member will take the onus off the main pack leader once the behaviour he is showing has been toned down !

Lucy

When you do start ignoring him you will probably find that his attention seeking gets worse before it gets better - i think it is called an extinction burst or something like that, so keep with it and it should eventually get better.

That's what the trainer said - I just didn't know she meant THIS bad!!! Thank you again for your advice.