Hi new here. Me and my partner have been together a year now and along came with him was his 3 year old golden lab. I sort of became pack leader by being the one who fed and walked him and my dog (although now we share the task). Now though Casper has become overly obsessed with me and cries when I am not directly stood next to him. I dont need to touch him just be next to him. He also cries when I leave, so I started taking him to work with me but then he stands and cries the whole time because I cannot be stood by his side. Does anyone have any advice for this as it's driving me crazy? Thank you.
Hi and a warm welcome to the forum! I also have a Casper, he is one of three labs, by your avatar, it looks like you have three dogs too? What other behaviours accompany his whining? This would be useful in determining the root cause, anxiety, stress, or just attention seeking. It sounds like he has very quickly developed a close bond with you. Which is good, and something to work with. Is his whining a new behaviour? Meaning did he present with similar behavioural symptoms when living with your partner? What do you do when he whines, and what have you tried to date to change his behaviour? It could be a consult with a qualified animal behaviourist would be the best route (not a trainer). You might find this article interesting, http://www.thelabradorsite.com/does-my-labrador-have-separation-anxiety/
Hello thank you for your reply. Yes he's the golden lab. We have a Jack Russell who is 12 and just wants to spend his time sleeping. We bought barney the black lab pup to give casper someone to play with thinking this could divert his attention. He never showed signs of attachment before. Other behavioural things have started alongside such as protection of me against passing stranger he will just bark at them as they walk past from a distance. Hes never shown aggression other than barking but now I take them to an isolated field to play just incase. I have tried ignoring him, this ends in constant crying like a toddler, I have tried taking a step back from his routine but as I'm in sight this doesn't stop. It's getting to the point that if he goes to play in the garden and I don't go with him (which I never have anyway) he will stand and cry and bark to come back in where I am.
I second the advice to get a behaviourist in. Make sure it's one that is up to date with modern, positive reinforcement methods. If you read anything on their website, or hear from them on the phone, anything to do with "dominance", "alpha" or any other similar nonsense, they're out of date and spouting potentially dangerous gumpf. Most good behaviourists will give a phone consultation for free before coming to see you. Where in the world are you?
Thank you. We will look into a behaviourist. It's not so much leaving him that's the problem its when I'm there he's so attached. We are in Doncaster, south Yorkshire, England.
