Why does my dog demand cuddles and attention when I'm on the phone?

You may have inadvertently trained Marley to be such a cuddler - he obviously feels most secure when he's close to you. If you dont like this, you'll have to spend time training him to sleep and rest in his own bed. This is not an overnight process, but is best done with food and verbal rewards. When he is in his bed, toss him small training treats. You can also move his food bowl to be closer to his bed. If he sleeps in bed with you, have his bed on the floor and give him praise when he goes in it. I am a big fan of the ADAPTIL products - such as the pheromone collar and Plug in unit - they will help him feel more comfortable away from you.

Probably a lot less than you are giving him. By being Dexter's constant source of fun, you are keeping him from finding ways to amuse himself (with toys, balls, etc.) If for some reason (hospitalization, trip, new job) you are unable to keep this up, you may find a problem develop. By all means give him love and attention, but I'm afraid you've taken it too far. You are not his one-man entertainment committee. If you try to pull back a little (and by all means you should), you may find that he tries to insist on more. This is not because he "needs" it, but because you've created the expectation in him. Do not give in. Ignore any of his attempts to get you going again. Gradually lessen the time you pay attention to him, until you are down to about ten minutes/hour. This does not mean that you should play with him for ten minutes every hour; it is more like what your interactions should average out to be over the course of a day. Good luck with this!

This isn’t a super common problem, but I have met a few dogs who do this. It can be an attention getting behavior (he doesn’t want the people he loves to stop interacting with him). Or, it can be a little bit of separation anxiety, especially if it seems worse with the people he is closest to. Redirecting him to an appropriate behavior can be helpful. Such as asking him to sit and giving him lots of treats before someone heads out door and then continuing while they leave may help brake this habit.

Hello. I am not sure if there is really a question here, but it sounds like Rosco is looking to score more alone time with you. If this is not a bother, then I hope you will indulge his requests to be with you. This will only continue to strengthen the bond between the two of you. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Monitor your dog’s behavior and note down when she is at her most clingy. It may be that the problem is worse just before you leave for work, just after you get home or only in the presence of other dogs. To help her be less clingy, expose her to separation anxiety triggers. For example, if she is clingiest before you leave the house, put on your coat and grab your keys, but don’t leave. This behavior shows the dog that those triggers aren’t necessarily a precursor to periods of separation. Ignore her when she is being clingy. Make being at your side boring and non-stimulating. If you’ve previously responded to needy, attention-seeking behavior with attention or fuss, you may have accidentally trained your dog to be clingy. By ignoring the dog, you show her that her clinginess doesn’t get a positive outcome. Reward the dog for voluntarily separating herself from you. Leave distractions such as toys and treats around the house and wait for your dog to spot them. This tells the dog that his environment is most stimulating when he leaves your side. Encourage isolation by leaving the crate door open and placing a treat and some toys inside. Allow her to investigate at her own pace and make the crate a place where she wants to be. Kong toyes are excellent for encouraging your dog to entertain herself. They're sturdy rubber and can be stuffed with peanut butter to encourage long periods of chewing and licking. Praise her verbally once inside the crate. Leave the door open and allow her to exit the crate when she wishes. Repeat exposure to the crate. Once your dog is comfortable in the crate or in the basket and has built a positive association with it, close the door for five minutes, but don’t leave. Shut the dog in the crate or room for five minutes every day for a week. Each time you shut her in, move further away from the crate, but remain in sight. Shut the dog in the crate and leave the area. Return after five minutes and allow your dog out, but don’t be overly fussy. This demonstrates that periods of isolation are normal and they always end up with her being reconnected with you.

It sounds like Kobe may be exhibiting signs of anxiety. Try to get him back on a regular schedule and make sure he is getting plenty of human interaction and exercise. You can also try supplements like Zylkene or Comfort Zone Adaptil Collars or Diffusers. Also, make sure that Kobe has plenty of appropriate dog toys to chew on if he is bored; you may even get a couple puzzle toys where he has to do something to get a treat to fall out of the toy. When you are gone, remove any clothing or bedding to avoid Kobe chewing off a piece that could potentially get stuck in his intestines. If he starts vomiting or stops eating, he may need an exam with the vet to check for blockage or other illness.

Not all dogs enjoy being held for extended periods of time, so I wouldn't force your puppy to sit on your lap or be held for long periods if he feels uncomfortable. You may be able to increase his willingness to sit on your lap or be held by rewarding him with treats or food whenever he is being held, so he associates the situation with good rewards. Filling a toy kong with wet dog food and freezing it or putting peanut butter in it and then holding the kong for your dog to lick at/chew on while you hold him on your lap may help encourage him to get used to being held by you. Slowly increase the amount of time you keep him on your lap/in your arms and be patient!