East Valley K9 Services

DOG TRAINERS HELPING TO MAKE HAPPY, CONFIDENT, WELL-MANNERED DOGS

Has Your Dog Become Clingy During COVID?

Name: East Valley K9 Training Services
Address: 4120 East Fairview Circle, Mesa, AZ, 85206, USA
Telephone: 480-382-0144
Price range: $$$

The COVID pandemic has redesigned life as we once knew it. But did you know your dog may be feeling it too? From stressful, anxious and even destructive behaviors to has your dog become clingy as a reacting to the pandemic!

So what should you do?

The “COVID Effect”

Exactly one year ago, the emergence of COVID-19 changed our lives in ways we never encountered or imagined before. For many people, the pandemic created fear, anxiety, stress and even depression as we were forced to shelter-in-place against an unknown future. In response to our own feelings of stress or anxiety, our dogs may sense and respond by becoming clingier with their humans.

Many of us have also been working and studying from home around the clock. This in turn has meant more time with our four-legged best friends which we all loved! But unfortunately, this has also created clingy and anxious dogs when we do leave home.

Is Clinginess Really that Bad?

In a word, yes and it should never be encouraged! A clingy dog is an unhappy, stressed or anxious animal … all negative and unnatural states. Clinginess can also create the fear of being alone – or separation anxiety – for an insecure dog.

Clinginess by your dog is a learned behavior usually from our interaction with them. Happy and well-balanced dogs are not clingy; they are content and confident within the pack dynamic. So what can make our dogs clingy?

K9 Clinginess: Why?

There are a variety of reasons for a dog to become clingy and unable to leave you alone for even a minute.

Puppies who never learned to be on their own.
Older or sick dogs.
Bored canines.
Some dog breeds are prone to being needy like Shih Tzus, French Bulldogs, Chinese Crested, Vizslas, Chihuahuas, Great Danes and more.
After a year of being at home, you may find your dog is less willing to let you out of his sight after being with you so much of the time.

Dog Clinginess: What to Do

Has your dog become clingy? As mentioned before, never encourage clinginess from your dog no matter how “endearing” it may seem. Dogs need to feel confident, self-assured and comfortable with being on their own no matter the situation.

As life begins to return to some form of “normal,” now is the perfect time to begin reshaping your dog’s daily expectations and routine. Even if you are going to continue to work or study from home, slowly discourage your dog from being on top of you every single minute of the day.

1. Begin reinstating your “normal” routine and either crate your dog or expect them to leave you alone and give you plenty of space during the day.
2. Do not expect your dog to adapt overnight. It took a while for them to get used to you always being around encouraging their clinginess. So, start small and leave your dog alone for short amounts of time and slowly increase the length to help your dog naturally transition back to being back on their own for longer periods.
3. Make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise and socialization to help stem boredom and the change in routine. Engage a dog walker, dog trainer or doggy care to provide extra mental and physical stimulation for your dog now that life is returning to normal.

If you adopted a new puppy during the pandemic, be sure to read our two-part series on Pandemic Puppies: Growing Up During COVID-19 to give your puppy the very best start in life!