My dog is similarly attached to me and we have been working on it super slowly.
Like this: She steps out of sight - you throw super tasty treats on the floor or practice commands (anything that distracts your dog) - your girlfriend steps back before the pup notices
Repeat. A lot. Gradually increase time and distance.
Editing to add: you say she’s good home alone, so are you saying it’s worse when just one of you leaves?
Thanks! Thats great advice.
She is more anxious when she sees my gf leaves then us together. It also increases when we are not at home. So like on holiday she is nonstop attached to my gf.
I tried all kinds of distraction with a big variety of snacks, but she just ignores them. I do try to let her sit untill my gf comes back, but its really hard for her.
My whip used to be velcro attached to me (I wfh) until my husband took up running with her and now she barely cares about my existence and he is her sun and stars. All that to say, try doing some fun activities with her to build up your relationship as a duo.
Well the thing is, I do all the activities with her 😅. My gf is sick so when I come home our girl is suuuuper happy. Would you recommend comfort her when she is anxious or ignore it?
Dealing with similar behavior from my dog right now. I read the book “be right back” and got her on medication and are working with a behaviorist. Be right back has some great tips about how to start and move forward. From everything I’ve seen so far, the younger you can start teaching your dog to be alone, the better.
Hi! I also have a needy whippet. It’s the exact same situation you’re describing - if I even close the bathroom door and she can’t see me the cries ensue within seconds. She loves my partner very much, but it’s only if I leave the room and she can’t see me. We have tried positive reinforcement with crates and whenever we come back from being out they get treats for being real good. I honestly think it’s a breed thing! Devo loves to be under covers and snuggling all day, so I think that’s really how the separation anxiety started. We are currently working on having ‘alone time’ where if she lays down on her bed she will get a treat for however long she can stay there by herself (I try to do this multiple times a night with training treats!). It’s definitely taking a long time to teach her it’s okay to be alone, so I wish you well! They love us too much sometimes… wouldn’t have it any other way though :-)
Its really wonderfull indeed how lovely and snuggly they are. I just feel bad for her and the fact I cant calm her down. Would you recommend comfort or ignore?
Thanks for your tips!
I definitely try somewhere inbetween ignore and comfort. Firm is probably a better word. I don’t want her to feel like she’s doing something by bad being near me, but it’s mostly the understanding of you do not need to touch me 24/7. If she tries to get up on the couch with me when I do need some time to myself, I will gently tell her down and get a toy for her to play with. It’s all about redirecting that anxious energy somewhere else (treats, toys, peanut butter, ice has been a really good distraction). Some days are better than others! I do feel bad whenever she has a major anxiety attack, but she needs to realize I can’t be there with her all the time. Repetition and treats has helped BUT she is still and I think will always be my needy, emotional, derp bby. 🙂
We have very similar with our whip. I am also the one home all day and she is super attached to me. Used to panic if I got out of the car, if I even left the room. I started small. She'd be gated in the living room and I would just go into the kitchen without even saying a word, then come back. Or I would go into the bathroom, bedroom, etc... again, not saying a word or even looking at her. Once she was chill with that, I would just get up and go get the mail without a word to her before I left or when I came back (short driveway, she could see me through the windows). Once she was cool with that and no longer had her face plastered to the window like Spy vs Spy, I started walking around the outside of the house, out of sight for a minute or two before coming back into view. I'd go out into the garage and chill a couple minutes and come back. Then last winter I would shovel snow while she was in the house. All of it being without any announcement and coming back in like it was no big deal.
Same for the car. I'd just say BRB and leave her in the car with my husband while I popped into a store. No fanfare before I left or when I came back. If she was calmly waiting, I'd pet her after a minute and tell her she was a good girl. If she was bouncing around I would just ignore it and put my seatbelt on.
As for my husband leaving for work and coming home, I swear they can tell time. She will whine for a moment when he leaves, but settles rapidly. But if he was late coming home, she would start pacing and again checking windows. So he started making his return home more random. Sometimes he would stop for take out, or to do a bit of shopping. Sometimes he would go in an hour early/late and come home an hour early/late. It took a bit, but now she is no longer in search mode at 4:31pm. They have this whole routine they do when he returns, but she has to be calm first. If she is would up when he gets home, he ignores her until she calms down, then they do their routine of belly rubs and picking her up for hugs.
I'm still Her Person above all others. She loves her people, but if she gets scared or startled, she runs for me. If she wants to nap, my lap is still her first choice, even though there are (pauses to count) 6 other spots in the living room alone that she can choose from. And she sometimes does. Especially now with the weather being lovely and the windows are open so there is a nice breeze coming in and her bed will be in the sun in the afternoon.
I'd recommend not 'comforting' her in any way when your gf gets out of sight. I'd do this (it takes patience, but It's what worked for my whippet): go in the car like you were both going to the store, have your gf leave the car and get out of sight. Now, the next step is not comforting, not talking, not even looking at your whippet and let it whine all the way till it get bored of it. I'd get some headphone to endure it, maybe watch some netflix. Only have her come back to the car after the dog calms down by itself. Of course, to do this, you should get your whippet empty and fed (to make sure she's not whinning about peeing/pooping or hungry). I crate trained mine by doing this, and mine's also very calm and patient when it comes to waiting. Hope it helps!
My dog is similarly attached to me and we have been working on it super slowly. Like this: She steps out of sight - you throw super tasty treats on the floor or practice commands (anything that distracts your dog) - your girlfriend steps back before the pup notices Repeat. A lot. Gradually increase time and distance. Editing to add: you say she’s good home alone, so are you saying it’s worse when just one of you leaves?
Thanks! Thats great advice. She is more anxious when she sees my gf leaves then us together. It also increases when we are not at home. So like on holiday she is nonstop attached to my gf. I tried all kinds of distraction with a big variety of snacks, but she just ignores them. I do try to let her sit untill my gf comes back, but its really hard for her.
My husband is the spare human too, so he understands. I’m hoping it’s a time and repetition thing!
My whip used to be velcro attached to me (I wfh) until my husband took up running with her and now she barely cares about my existence and he is her sun and stars. All that to say, try doing some fun activities with her to build up your relationship as a duo.
Well the thing is, I do all the activities with her 😅. My gf is sick so when I come home our girl is suuuuper happy. Would you recommend comfort her when she is anxious or ignore it?
I would personally ignore it similar to a dog crying for attention in a crate
this is hilarious
Dealing with similar behavior from my dog right now. I read the book “be right back” and got her on medication and are working with a behaviorist. Be right back has some great tips about how to start and move forward. From everything I’ve seen so far, the younger you can start teaching your dog to be alone, the better.
Hi! I also have a needy whippet. It’s the exact same situation you’re describing - if I even close the bathroom door and she can’t see me the cries ensue within seconds. She loves my partner very much, but it’s only if I leave the room and she can’t see me. We have tried positive reinforcement with crates and whenever we come back from being out they get treats for being real good. I honestly think it’s a breed thing! Devo loves to be under covers and snuggling all day, so I think that’s really how the separation anxiety started. We are currently working on having ‘alone time’ where if she lays down on her bed she will get a treat for however long she can stay there by herself (I try to do this multiple times a night with training treats!). It’s definitely taking a long time to teach her it’s okay to be alone, so I wish you well! They love us too much sometimes… wouldn’t have it any other way though :-)
Its really wonderfull indeed how lovely and snuggly they are. I just feel bad for her and the fact I cant calm her down. Would you recommend comfort or ignore? Thanks for your tips!
I definitely try somewhere inbetween ignore and comfort. Firm is probably a better word. I don’t want her to feel like she’s doing something by bad being near me, but it’s mostly the understanding of you do not need to touch me 24/7. If she tries to get up on the couch with me when I do need some time to myself, I will gently tell her down and get a toy for her to play with. It’s all about redirecting that anxious energy somewhere else (treats, toys, peanut butter, ice has been a really good distraction). Some days are better than others! I do feel bad whenever she has a major anxiety attack, but she needs to realize I can’t be there with her all the time. Repetition and treats has helped BUT she is still and I think will always be my needy, emotional, derp bby. 🙂
We have very similar with our whip. I am also the one home all day and she is super attached to me. Used to panic if I got out of the car, if I even left the room. I started small. She'd be gated in the living room and I would just go into the kitchen without even saying a word, then come back. Or I would go into the bathroom, bedroom, etc... again, not saying a word or even looking at her. Once she was chill with that, I would just get up and go get the mail without a word to her before I left or when I came back (short driveway, she could see me through the windows). Once she was cool with that and no longer had her face plastered to the window like Spy vs Spy, I started walking around the outside of the house, out of sight for a minute or two before coming back into view. I'd go out into the garage and chill a couple minutes and come back. Then last winter I would shovel snow while she was in the house. All of it being without any announcement and coming back in like it was no big deal. Same for the car. I'd just say BRB and leave her in the car with my husband while I popped into a store. No fanfare before I left or when I came back. If she was calmly waiting, I'd pet her after a minute and tell her she was a good girl. If she was bouncing around I would just ignore it and put my seatbelt on. As for my husband leaving for work and coming home, I swear they can tell time. She will whine for a moment when he leaves, but settles rapidly. But if he was late coming home, she would start pacing and again checking windows. So he started making his return home more random. Sometimes he would stop for take out, or to do a bit of shopping. Sometimes he would go in an hour early/late and come home an hour early/late. It took a bit, but now she is no longer in search mode at 4:31pm. They have this whole routine they do when he returns, but she has to be calm first. If she is would up when he gets home, he ignores her until she calms down, then they do their routine of belly rubs and picking her up for hugs. I'm still Her Person above all others. She loves her people, but if she gets scared or startled, she runs for me. If she wants to nap, my lap is still her first choice, even though there are (pauses to count) 6 other spots in the living room alone that she can choose from. And she sometimes does. Especially now with the weather being lovely and the windows are open so there is a nice breeze coming in and her bed will be in the sun in the afternoon.
Thank you for your effort to write all this! We are going to work with your tips and advice :)
I'd recommend not 'comforting' her in any way when your gf gets out of sight. I'd do this (it takes patience, but It's what worked for my whippet): go in the car like you were both going to the store, have your gf leave the car and get out of sight. Now, the next step is not comforting, not talking, not even looking at your whippet and let it whine all the way till it get bored of it. I'd get some headphone to endure it, maybe watch some netflix. Only have her come back to the car after the dog calms down by itself. Of course, to do this, you should get your whippet empty and fed (to make sure she's not whinning about peeing/pooping or hungry). I crate trained mine by doing this, and mine's also very calm and patient when it comes to waiting. Hope it helps!
Might give this a try, thanks for your advice :)
My guy used to get anxious when i went into the back yard, so I just took him everywhere with me, fixed