Why is my dog panting and clingy after being left alone in crate?

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Your description sounds most suspicious of generalized anxiety. There may have been something that spooked your dog recently to cause the behavior change, making him want to be near you all the time and causing him to seek reassurance. However, given his breed, it's also possible that he's just got too much pent-up energy - many high energy breeds can develop either anxiety or boredom if they aren't given an outlet for their energy and a way to tire themselves out. I recommend making sure your dog has a way to RUN his energy off daily. (with his breed and age, a walk probably won't cut it). You can take him running, or if he's ball motivated, throwing a ball is a great option to get him running. Fenced in dog parks are good options too. If tiring him out doesn't help reduce his clingy behaviors, I recommend consulting your vet and having them do a physical exam and likely some screening bloodwork. Sometimes panting, whining, and being generally clingy are the dog's way of telling us that something's not right, which can be the first sign of a disease or health problem. I hope this helps!

It sounds like he’s stressed from you being away. I would take him for extra walks and play with him to get him more tired. Once he gets back into his regular routine this behavior should subside. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Gunner.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Casper. No, I don't think this is good. I'm concerned this can be a sign that he's sick, in pain, stressed, or scared. Keep a close eye on him tonight and if he's still acting this way in the morning, have him seen by a vet for a health check. Best of luck.

It sounds like Carti is pretty afraid! I would give him a few days to relax, and maybe offer a warm blanket or water bottle wrapped in a blanket for comfort. If he is incredibly fearful or showing any signs of illness, an exam to rule out any health issues is also a good idea. If he remains fearful, and checks out healthy, a good next step would be to talk to a trainer or behaviorist in person, as this is not normal for a young puppy to experience 24/7. They can work with you on a plan to help acclimate Carti to his new conditions and address his fearful behavior. In the meantime, quietly talking to him, tossing a favorite treat whenever you approach, and giving him a chance to start exploring on his own may help.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The humping part is easy - that is because she is listed as not yet spayed. (Even if she is newly spayed, it may be a learned behavior at this point.) The "clinginess" is to be expected after everything in her life has completely changed in the last month. I expect with time and patience it will improve. You can always refuse to pick her up but cuddling and giving attention will help her feel more secure. Consider crate training- but do it slowly if she has never been in one before - many little dogs actually have less anxiety with a crate. If she is still having trouble adjusting in a few weeks, talk to your vet about anti-anxiety medications. There are many great ones for occasional or long-term use with few side effects. They can help tremendously and I prescribe them frequently myself. Best of luck to you and Bella!

Any abrupt change in behavior without a known cause should be investigated by your vet as soon as possible. Sometimes this is the only sign we get of a medical condition. The behavior could be due to feeling ill, being in pain or may be because of a developing neurological condition. Your vet will do an exam, labwork and possibly some diagnostic imaging, x-rays or ultrasound to determine the cause for your pet's change in behavior and, based on the results, will be better able to advise you on treatment options.

It sounds as if your puppy is developing serparstion anxiety. The good news is that she is still young and you have time to correct her behaviors so she can live a long happy life! I would recommend first commiting to crate training your dog. This will help prevent her from destroying things and keep her safe so she doesn't get into anything that could harm him. Crate training can take a few weeks but once she is used to the crate she will begin to feel safe there. I would also recommend taking her on a fast paced walk before you have to crate her to help drain some of his nervous energy. You can also try giving her a chew toy like a kong in the crate to keep her distracted. If these tactics do not work I would recommend talking to your vet about starting her on an anti anxiety medication until she becomes more accustomed to her crate. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!