My rescue dog is very clingy and barks if not in my bedroom. Normal?

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!

Many dogs bark at sounds or unfamiliar objects or people, especially when they are first getting used to a new environment. If she is barking all the time, I suspect that she is somewhat anxious and "on-edge" about lots of different things - she may have been poorly socialized as a puppy, which often leads to excessive anxiety about new things and lots of barking as a result. If you think this might be the case, there are a few things you can do to help. A DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure can help to relieve some of her anxiety - these can be purchased online with out a prescription, and are helpful for many dogs with this issue. Inside the house, you can also use a white noise machine or some other type of background noise to help block out sounds from outside that may trigger the barking. Outside, I would carry treats with you when you take Mitsu for walks. Anytime she sees something and starts to bark, call her back to you and give her a treat. Over time, she will learn to look at you for her treat when she sees something that startles her, rather than barking and lunging. If you need help with this, I would suggest getting in touch with a good reward-based trainer who can work with you in person. You can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bella! Panting and being clingy can be a sign of fear or anxiety. If being left in the crate is unusual then it could be from being crated. If there were thunderstorms or other loud things that happened while you were gone then that could explain her behavior as well. I wouldn't say it is "normal" to act like this but it isn't uncommon to have anxiety from certain things. I would try to work on crate training and desensitizing her towards the crate or loud noises. If she is an older dog and the panting persists or she had effort even when asleep I would have her seen today by a Vet. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Dallas is suffering from anxiety. Dogs can become anxious when separated from their owner (even if it's a quick trip to the store!) or when moving into a new place. I would recommend encouraging independent play by offering Dallas a kong filled with frozen peanut butter or another toy/treat that encourages him to play by himself. I would also look into a pheromone collar and thundershirt to see if that can help him as well. If these suggestions are not enough or you have further concerns, I would recommend either setting up a consult or reaching out to your regular veterinarian for further advice. Good luck!

Hi there! Betty sure sounds shaken up by her new housemate. There are some natural supplements you can try to help alleviate her anxiety. Zylkene is a natural supplement that your veterinarian can prescribe. It can be very helpful in these types of situations. Another product called, Canine Compsure, is also a natural supplement that may be helpful. I would try these products first. They should help with Betty's anxiety with her new friend. If those don't work, you may want to call a trainer in to evaluate Betty's behavior around the new cat. They may have some advice as to how you can help her work through it her issues. You may also want to keep Betty and the cat separate during the night too for a while, until Betty feels better about the whole situation. I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck!

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this! This type of behavior is often due to anxiety. I would strongly recommend talking to your vet (or having the owner talk to his vet) about anti-anxiety/ behavior modificatiion medication which can make a huge difference in making Nugget AND you more relaxed and comfortable. Best of luck to you and Nugget!

Poor Bella Boo! She definitely could be depressed due to the change in the household. Dogs also can feel our stress. You can try to put a calming collar on her like adaptil. If this isn’t working or if she gets worse, I would have your vet look at her to be safe. Your vet will be able to ensure nothing else is wrong like pain or an infection somewhere. If everything checks out normal, your vet can prescribe her an anti-anxiety to help her adjust. I hope this helps!