Needy Dog

[Tesla]

I have a little rescue dog that is so needy.  She was abused by her former owner and since we have gotten her she has become so needy and has real separation issues from me since I am the one she has bonded with.  I keep hoping that time will help this but it hasn't as of yet. Do any of you have any suggestions?

[Katie Ann]

Thank you for rescuing the dog!  I volunteer at my local Humane Society and not all dogs are that lucky.  In all honesty, she may never get over her issues, but you can certainly minimize them.  Is she destroying things when you're gone?  Does she just cry/bark when you leave?  Is she always underfoot?  I can give you better advice if I know what she's doing. 


Distractions tend to work well with most dogs.  Give her a Kong treat toy to keep her occupied.  Take a paper towel roll and add dog treats inside for her to knock out.  Or put the dog in another room while you hide treats around the house for a game of treasure hunter.  You might need to show her how to work these at first, but she should get the hang of it quickly.   You might use cat treats instead of dog treats just to save on calories.  What can I say, my pups are porkers.

[Maggie]

It sure is stressful when a furchild is upset.  Thanks for giving an abused dog a home!


Sometimes it helps soothe their fears of abandonment if you leave a towel or shirt with your scent on it nearby.  I think it also helps if you can take them for a walk or play with them before you leave.  That way the dog won't have so much nervous energy pent up and will likely nap. 

[Kidless]

My daughter has one of these dogs Tesla.  She always leaves something with her scent on it by the door when she leaves.  If she doesn't the dog will go upstairs and get a pair of her underwear to bring downstairs and sleep on. 
 

[LinBabb]

It's sad what a lot of rescue dogs go through or have gone through. I'd suggest taking your dog to a puppy retreat or a park where it can interact with other dogs.