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Post Info TOPIC: Go & lie down somewhere
greyflintstone


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Go & lie down somewhere
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Ok, so we love Eddie!  He's a lovely little boy and he's got the cutest face and eyes to die for ..... but he will not stop following wherever you go!  It's ok if you're leaving the room as you can pull the door behind you.  He doesn't whine or scratch but stands patiently waiting for you to come back.  The big problem is that he's at the back of you constantly!  If you stand up to get the TV guide from the end of the sofa he's there, you make a cuppa he's there! And frankly it's starting to get on our nerves!  We've both tried to be hands off with him, but so far it's made no difference (which is killing me, cos he just needs a cuddle!!).  If he's given an excess of fussing he's a lot worse!

I'm not sure if he's still trying to feel secure in his home, or if he's a genuine pain in the bum!!!!  Any tips anyone?!

Sharon

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JENNY


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RE: Go & lie down somewhere
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Vernon was a follower until very recently and I've had him a year now.  I just ignored it.  He still occassionally follows me from room to room but generally I can go into the kitchen and he'll at most check what I'm up to before going back to bed. 
I think its a confidence thing especially since you've not had Eddie long at all.  Eddie maybe just needs to get used to things and settle in. 
I got really used to Vernon following me and I sometimes wonder if he's up to something if he's not in the room behind meaww 
Perhaps you could try getting up then sitting back down a few times without leaving, to confuse the signals and he'll eventually get bored with nothing actually happening so he won't react everytime.
It wasn't something that bothered me and as I say it stopped eventually.

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FAJ


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I agree with Jenny in that it's a confidence thing. If Eddy sees you as his safety and security then it's only natural that he will want to keep you in his eyesight. Our Harry has the same tendency. Manys a time I've wrenched my back from trying desperately not to stand on his paws or fall on top of him! Like Eddy, he's so silent and patient that most of the time we never know he's there behind us.

If you can, keep up the hands-off routine. It might also help if you divert his attention in some way, eg, perhaps tell him to go to his bed. Dogs like to be told what to do, rather than what not to do (not that I'm saying this is what you're doing, of course!), and Eddy might benefit from knowing what to do with himself rather than following you around. This is what we do with Harry. If he gets too clingy and becomes too much of a shadow then we tell him kindly but firmly to go to his bed. We never raise or voices or 'send' him to his bed, if you know what I mean, so he most definitely never feels as if we're punishing him or that his bed isn't a nice place to be. It just gives him something to do rather than follow us around.

To be honest, it could take some time. It might well be that Eddy has a wee needy streak in him. Harry certainly does - he suffered from a degree of separation anxiety when we first got him. If he gets too much attention or if we fuss and cuddle him too much then it dredges up his old insecurities, and the following-around behaviour starts up again. But telling him what to do, ie, "go to your bed", works really well.

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PeterE


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Daz was a follower when we first got him, then I saw something on "its me or the dog" that really worked very quickly. You stand up so doggy stands up, pretend not to notice, don't glance at him or meet his eye. walk out of the door, turn round and come back in and sit down as if nothing has happened continuing not to interact with the dog in any way or even meet its eye. It will sigh and lie back down. Get up again and repeat the whole process as soon as he lies down. With Daz he stopped getting up and following within about three repeats. As soon as you can go out of the room without being followed, go back in and give him lots of praise, a cuddle and a reward. Do it a few time through the evening. It cured Daz's following within a couple of days.

Hope this helps.

Peter


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Jennifer


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As others have said its probably just an "insecurity thing" and he wants to be beside his mummy
When i first got Willow he did the same thing. He only did it for a few weeks and soon realised than i wasn't going through to the other room for anything exciting so he soon settled. You sound like your doing the best thing by ignoring him smile Also as Fiona said, i did and still do, say "go to your bed" if they are walking about aimlessly and at least then then have somewhere to go, and agree they do like being told what to do - must make them feel like they have done a job biggrin

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Valerie


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RE: Go & lie down somewhere
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Biscuit still follows me about to either torment or attention seek, and I agree you sometimes just have to say "go to bed" just so he is being told what to do instead of wandering about.

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niccimac


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Timmy initially had separation anxiety and followed me everywhere, even the loo, howling if I went out his sight. He trashed new doors and flooring when I left the house. I did the stand up-sit down routine while ignoring him, and gradually moved on to leaving the room then the house. I only made a fuss of him on my terms. It worked extremely quickly and effectively, the first couple of hours stopped him following me and within a few days I could leave the house without him destroying everything in sight.

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fiona nicholson
tootsmazza


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Jennifer wrote:

Also as Fiona said, i did and still do, say "go to your bed" if they are walking about aimlessly and at least then then have somewhere to go, and agree they do like being told what to do - must make them feel like they have done a job biggrin


That's so weird, I've noticed lately that Mason does a bit of an aimless wander in the livingroom then stands at the sofa looking at me. When I say "up,up" he jumps onto the sofa and settles down. I never thought he might actually be waiting for me to tell him what to do aww

 



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Mason's Ma
feldandjack


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You must have a mega sofa, Mason is one BIG dog!smile.gif

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tootsmazza


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feldandjack wrote:

You must have a mega sofa, Mason is one BIG dog!smile.gif




And he likes to use it all wink

 



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Mason's Ma
FAJ


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Nah, he's not using it all - I can clearly see space for one human buttock, in between Mason's stuffed toy and the very edge of the sofa cushion. biggrin.gif

ps: I love his spotty tummy and leggies - Pearly's are like that too, and the sun brings them out even more!

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Thistle


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Hi, I just wanted to say what a fantastic photo of mason, I think you may need a bigger sofa!!

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Sunny girl


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Hi Sharon, I agree with everything that's been said. Sunny wasn't a follower till we moved house, then she started following me everywhere and I kept falling over her. I moved her beds into spots where she was nearer to me and just ignored it and its taken 3 months but she's finally settled. She tends to wander at night and the "go to bed " command really works with her. (Zoe takes that command to mean go upstairs and climb on what ever bed has just had the covers changed biggrin)

Zoe has never been a follower because lets be honest that would mean she had to stand up and interrupt her 23hours sleep winkbiggrin

I hope Eddie settles for you soon.

Landess

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greyflintstone


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Go & lie down somewhere
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Thanks everyone for your hints & tips! We've been working on the getting up & down and ignoring him and it really works! (sorry, did I sound like I didn't think it would work?!). Eddie's not amused at the idea of standing up, walking two steps then sitting back down again - "what a stupid game this is" he thinks" So he toddles off to his bed and lies down there!

You're all absolutely right about them needing something to do - telling him to go to his bed seems to work a treat!

He's an absolute darling and I love him to pieces! I still can't believe that he was overlooked for so long! However, I'm pleased he was otherwise we wouldn't have him!! I'll try to get some more pics of him soon and get them on the forum!!! (I know how you like to see pics!!!).

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