Pet Health
02/19/2018
Essential Tips to Prevent Matting in Your Dog’s Coat
Have you ever noticed when you bring your dog into the Holiday Barn Pet Resorts Spa, or any Grooming Shop…
Monday – Friday
7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday
7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Monday – Friday
7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday
7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Have you ever heard the term “Velcro-dog”? It means exactly how it sounds… a dog that clings to you like Velcro. It’s where your dog is never more than a few inches from your side (often touching you), following you from room to room, standing up when you stand up, always under foot, constantly looking to you for direction… “What’s our next move, Mom?” A “clingy” dog is not to be confused with a dog who has separation anxiety, even though both terms are often used interchangeably. Separation Anxiety is a true dysfunctional attachment disorder that may require professional help. Dogs with separation anxiety will panic when their owner is away from him. Velcro dogs would not necessarily panic in your absence, but may be seriously “apprehensive”. Ideally, your dog should be “interested” in where you are, but relaxed and self-sufficient when you’re not in the room.
Having a clingy dog is not necessarily a bad thing. Many people wouldn’t have it any other way. I personally love having my dog by my side, but I can’t help but question just how mentally healthy it is for him to be so clingy. I see a lot of dogs come to Holiday Barn Pet Resorts for the first time with confidence and assuredness, able to calmly separate from their Mom or Dad in the lobby and happily seize the new adventure. Then there are those who whine and whimper, fearing having to face a new experience on their own. I WANT my dog to be the strong, secure, independent one, and I’m sure you do too.
Rex is a rescue. From the moment he came into my life, I wanted to prove to him that he was loved. I wanted him to feel secure so that he wouldn’t fear being given-up to a shelter again. I wanted him to know this truly is his “forever home”. I coddled him, I let him sleep with me from day-one, I praised him constantly and never passed him without showing him some type of affection. Unfortunately, that is exactly the kind of conduct that can cause Velcro tendencies. If he had some abandonment issues to begin with, I just added fuel to the fire. Did I create an unhealthy dependency on me? Can I fix it?
Now before you go calling yourself a bad pet owner, it’s not all on you. There are many breeds that tend to become velcro dogs a lot more than others. If you have any of the following breeds, this is especially good information to keep in mind, as these breeds tend to be the clingiest dogs out there.
If you fear you are the cause of your dog’s insecurity and over-dependency on you, there are steps you can take to help him to be more self-assured, without breaking the precious bond between the two of you. Increasing his confidence and independence is one of the nicest things you can do for him.
If you are struggling with these steps, or if your dog does not seem to be becoming more confident, please contact one of our Professional Dog Trainers for help. Please know that you haven’t “ruined” your dog, and don’t fret over the fact that he’s a certified Velcro dog. Your awareness of the potential problems with being clingy is a great first step in helping your dog overcome his insecurities.
For a little levity on the subject, check this out this great article from BarkPost about velcro dogs.
Pet Health
02/19/2018
Have you ever noticed when you bring your dog into the Holiday Barn Pet Resorts Spa, or any Grooming Shop…