My recently adopted rescue dog is clingy and humps. What can I do?

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!

Hello. Poor Nellie. It sounds like she is just craving some stability in her life & she is doing her best to make sure you will always be her person. She may eventually relax, only time will tell. I think I would start her on one of the natural calming products available over the counter. They too take time to work, but I like Zylkene. Give it a try & thanks for giving Nellie another chance at a forever home & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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! She is likely being very protective of you. Usually these behaviors can be corrected but this usually requires in person training by a qualified dog trainer. I recommend you consider contacting a qualified dog trainer to work with you in person. Good luck and have a good day!

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!

Hello! If often takes some time for a pet to adjust to their brand new home and family. Most dogs need a few weeks to become confident and comfortable in their new environment. It would be helpful to know exactly what she is doing that is causing you to be concerned though. If you'd like to resubmit a question describing the possibly depressed or adjusting behavior (ie. hiding, pacing, licking, chewing, growling), I may be able to better advise. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! It does sound like separation anxiety. It can happen in any breed. But some are more prone: German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, Huskies, Labs, Border Collies, Pointers, etc. https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-signs-of-separation-anxiety-in-dogs/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/top-5-ways-to-reduce-separation-anxiety-in-dogs/