I think we are all used to a certain level of companionship when it comes to our furry friends – most dogs just naturally like to be around us and involve themselves in whatever we are doing. That’s part of what makes them such good buddies to have around!
But sometimes our dogs can suddenly become very clingy, even more so than normal. They might suddenly start following you around everywhere, start whining constantly and seem to want your attention at all times.
Any kind of sudden behavior change like this is sure to get your notice!
Unfortunately, there isn’t always a clear cut answer as to why this behavior presented itself, so we have gathered many of the most common reasons for why your dog could be so suddenly obsessed with you and presented them here.
Read through and hopefully one of these explanations will make the most sense for you and your pup!
Pain or Illness
Whenever you notice any sudden or drastic change in your pet’s behavior, that’s a possible warning sign and means you should make a trip to the vet. Your pet suddenly becoming very clingy and following you around constantly could mean they are in pain or not feeling well due to illness or injury.
If you notice some of these other behaviors alongside their clinginess, it makes it more likely that your pet is sick or injured.
- Reluctance to move or play
- Any changes in eating or drinking habits
- Limping or seeming to favor one leg over the other
- Shaking or shivering
- Excessive panting or whining
- Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
- Agitated or irritable behavior
- Avoiding stairs or struggling with activities they used to do easily
- Hiding away and removing themselves from social more than normal
If you are noticing any of these behaviors along with them always wanting to be by your side, be safe and go visit the vet so they can be professionally diagnosed.
Aging
Another common cause of a dog suddenly becoming obsessed with you is the normal aging process. As dogs get older, they tend to lose some of their eyesight and or hearing. Being close to you is a way for them to feel safer and also navigate areas with more confidence.
Also, if your dog is on the older side, there is a chance they are developing CCD, or Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. This is essentially dementia in dogs. CCD is estimated to affect nearly a third of pets aged 11 to 12 and over two thirds of dogs that are 15 to 16 years old.
Some other symptoms of CCD are disorientation, changes in behavior with owners, disturbances in their normal sleep cycles and having accidents in the house.
General Anxiety and Separation Anxiety
Many dogs will often develop a bout of separation anxiety if left by themselves for a long period of time or if they were in a kennel for part of the day. After being left alone or cooped up, they just want some companionship!
According to PetMD.com, there are differences between clingy behavior and real separation anxiety. Dogs that are just clingy want to be around you when you are home, but don’t go into panic mode when you leave.
Dogs with separation anxiety will panic when you are not around and could cause damage in the house. Try setting up a camera when you leave to see how your dog reacts to help in correctly diagnosing the issue.
Change in Environment
Has there been any kind of change in your environment lately? Dogs can be very habitual creatures and tend to dislike any kind of change to their surroundings or routine. New people, different routines, changes in the weather or even new or moved furniture can cause your dog to be a bit fearful or even more aggressive.
But do not fear, most dogs are very adaptable and will acclimate themselves to the changes in the environment quite quickly. Give them a bit of time to soak in the new surroundings and see if their behavior improves!
Boredom
Sometimes, our dogs are just bored! They might have a lot of excess energy or just want your attention for some play time or belly rubs. Bored dogs will find ways to make their own fun, which could mean sticking constantly by your side hoping you will play with them, or could even mean they start tearing up stuff around the house.
Here are some ways you can help prevent boredom in your pets:
- Physical exercise, take time to take your dog on walks, play with them or take them to the dog park
- Mental stimulation such as a puzzle toy or engaging them with challenging brain training games
- Training, use this time to train them and help them get some energy out at the same time
- Socialization, give your dogs time to interact with other pets
- Give your dog a job! Have your dog learn how to retrieve the mail, clean up their toys, or opening or closing cupboard doors
In Heat or About to Give Birth
If your dog is female and is suddenly clingy, there is a chance this sudden obsession with being near you could be because they are in heat – or if they are pregnant it might be close to their time to give birth! Being in heat means it is “their time of the month” and leading up to their menstruation period. When a dog is in heat, they will often want to be close to their owner for support and comfort.
Some signs that your female dog is in heat are flirting with male dogs or just wanting to be around male dogs more, nervousness, peeing more often than normal, licking their genital area, and a swollen vulva or bloody discharge from the vulva.
If your dog is pregnant and is getting close to having a litter – they are probably feeling very uncomfortable and want to be near their owner to help feel better.
You Could Be Pregnant
One reason that is probably a bit more rare than the others, is that you yourself could be pregnant and your dog can sense that! Many dogs are able to sense hormonal changes in humans, and as we said earlier any change in a dog’s environment is met with curiosity.
What To Do About Clingy Behavior in Dogs
As mentioned earlier, any kind of sudden behavior change, not just clinginess, is usually a red flag and it would be wise to get your dog a checkup to see if they have injured themselves or are sick. If the veterinarian check goes well, here are some catch-all ways that will normally help reduce the level of clinginess.
The first is to make sure your dog is getting enough exercise and stimulation throughout the day. This will help to tire them out and reduce their levels of boredom. Mental stimulation is also universally helpful, try giving them a puzzle to solve or play some games like hide and seek with them.
Get Dog Used to Actions Without Rewards
It could be that your pup is associating your actions with rewards, and is getting excited in anticipation of these rewards. For example, our family dog would get super excited and clingy if we went to reach for a coat on the coat rack, because their leash was also on the coat rack and she thought she was getting a walk. Another example is going to grab your keys being associated with a ride in the car, or just going anywhere near the treat box!
To fix this, you have to desensitize your dog to these actions and areas. Practice doing the “offending” action without the reward coming after. Your dog will eventually start to understand that there isn’t always a guaranteed reward afterwards and should stop the annoying behavior.
Conclusion
Determining why your dog suddenly wants your attention all of the time can be a bit tricky, but hopefully this article has helped you figure a few things out and maybe get to the bottom of this sometimes cute and sometimes annoying behavior.
Thank you for reading, we hope to see you around the site again soon!
