How much do you interact with your dog?

[Eliza22]

I'm a SAHM so, "about" a lot.

I have a one year old golden retriever. Beautiful girl. I've recently had her on residential training to help with recall. It's helped with her not lead pulling and "doing as she's told" a bit more but, I'm not allowed to let her off lead.....the trainer says she's nowhere near ready.

My question is: I feel really guilty all the time because despite 3 good walks a day and some garden play, she follows me about the house all the time. If I go into the garden to check the washing, she's there, right behind me. If I get off the sofa to answer the phone she's up and with me, like she's really needy and bored or... whatever (I've no idea!). The trainer has told me to just NOT acknowledge her all the time; don't have a running conversation with her; little physical contact etc etc but, like I say, it's virtually impossible. Anyone else have this?

Is my dog bored....sad....lonely....overstimulated?

I feel like I should entertain her more. (She's an only child )

[CMOTDibbler]

Mine are super laid back, but if I go in the garden they'll come with me, they'll come to the front door etc - I think its natural to be inquisitive. OTOH, I'm not talking to them all the time, they'll amuse themselves with a toy.

Why did the trainer say to reduce interaction?

[FATEdestiny]

Sounds exactly like my PiLs dog, who's about 18 months now. He's under the guidance of a dog whisperer (a dog psychologist really).

I'm not suggesting your dogs behaviour will be for the same reason as my PiL, but their dogs issues can be boiled down to poor understanding of training when a puppy lead to an anxious dog who thinks he's a human and that his job is to be on high alert to protect at all times - so he cannot rest and relax no matter how much he needs to.

Some things they are working on

• dog no longer sleeps on their bed, sleeps in kitchen in dog bed
• dog not allowed on furniture unless invited, which should be s rarity and not regularly allowed
• dog to learn to stay back away from a door when opened and not go through the door until invited

The dog needs to learn it is a dog and not a person. It also needs to learn that it is bottom of the pecking order in the house, not top. It therefore follows that the dog can allow itself to be looked after, rather than feeling it must always be alert to look after the humans.

I'm currently sat on the sofa and your thread has prompted me to go and see where my 5 month old puppy is. She isn't in the room with me. She's asleep by the safety gate at the bottom of the stairs. She doesn't follow me around generally (I'm a SAHM too, so always with her) except for the odd "mad half hour" when she wants to play.

[AlcoChocs]

Its normal behaviour for golden retrievers and labs.
Gun dogs are bred to want to stay close to their handler, its part of their "job". My lab follows me everywhere. I talk to him if I feel like it but he mostly gets ignored and is fine with that.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

My black girl lab follows me round all the time. My boy lab, not so much.

I haven't thought to mind it, she's my little mate.

[tabulahrasa]

Some dogs just like being where you are and doing what you're doing...and breeds that are very handler respondent tend to be more so.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

She follows you because that's what's dogs do.
I always give the dog a pat on the head or on the tummy when she's around, or talk to her, of roll a biscuit on the floor s she can find it.

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

I chatter to the boys all the time, especially Zac, he is quite needy, would keep me in sight at all times if he wasn't scared of the stairs. Its rare that he'll set himself apart, even if he is chilling in the garden he'll put himself by the door so he will still see into the kitchen

the other one just sets himself somewhere he can monitor all the action, and he is much more confident and independent.

Mine are GSDs, both typical but opposite ends of the scale iyswim

I'd say your lovely girl just wants company...is more sociable. I've had cats like that, and then those who don't give a bugger!

[KittiesInsane]

The thread just prompted me to check where my 6-month puppy was as well, FATE! (She's also flopped out by the stairgate, doing eyebrow semaphore at the cat.)

I say Hi to mine as I go past, and we tend to have a bit of a play at lunchtime (walks morning and evening). Sometimes she'll get up and follow me from room to room or especially into the garden, but not if she's in a warm spot.

[elastamum]

Mine used to be very much like that (Labradoodles), as they are very family orientated. Females are also often more 'family' orientated than males.

However, mine are now 8 and 9 so much more confident and laid back so they tend to rock up for attention when they want it then drift off around the house. Mind you the moment I sit on the sofa they appear like magic from wherever they are to sit beside me!

[Naicecuppatea]

She's beautiful. We have a 14 week old Golden retriever puppy. She seems quite happy with being left alone during the day for short periods, goes to the garden to explore by herself, but follows me around a lot of the time as well.

We are working on the recall which is rubbish when off the lead, and jumping up on people/furniture though!

[Hoppinggreen]

Bertie follows me everywhere, from memory the 3 Goldies we had growing up were the same with my Mum.
He seems pretty happy, especially if we are out in the garden

[Floralnomad]

My patterdale X is 6 , he gets 2/3 walks a day ,off lead so 1-2 hours mainly ball chasing . I'm in most of the time and when I'm sitting down he sits down ( at the moment I'm in the lounge and he's in the conservatory sunning himself) but as soon as I move he follows be it to the kitchen ,the loo or anywhere else . If I go upstairs to clean he comes up and sits on the beds , of an evening he comes and sits in the bathroom whilst I have a bath despite there being other people downstairs . He spends about 5 minutes of every hour playing with his toys and occasionally will bring me something to see if I will play .

[Eliza22]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies.

I guess she's pretty typical then! She's really good now we've taken the stair gates down. Rarely goes upstairs for a mooch and if I go up, she just watches me and squeaks a bit. She was all over the furniture before the training....now she knows her place is on the floor. I came in from Sainsburys after lunch and she was on the chair but I moved her and she flopped on the floor in the heat.

Right now, she's at my feet squeezing a toy.

Oh and "hello there, Hoppinggreen and Bertie!"

[friends123]

My male retriever is 4, if we go outside he follows, if we go to the toilet he follows. He knows during the week we go to work so then he just waits for the treat instead of following. Why shouldn't you acknowledged her though? She's not being naughty? Mine is far better off lead then on the lead, can't you find a enclosed space for practice with maybe some sausages or chicken. She's beautiful ☺

[MardAsSnails]

OldGirl is always at my right hand side if I'm
walking anywhere in the house, head at perfect height for fussing her.

Since we got BoyLab, he's been at my left hand doing big goofball grins at me whenever OldGirl is at my right hand.

YoungGirl... Well... This photo is the current situation. She doesn't follow. She just plays. She's also undergoing her doggy training sessions as she's rather intense.

[Hoppinggreen]

Hello, have emailed you xxxx

[Lokibuddyboo]

Lots,Mine follows me every where too even the bathroom. He's my little shadow.
He gets one walk a day plus off lead time in an enclosed area and plenty off little play sessions with a ball or tug toy.
I do talk to him though as he's following me around the house, and when ever I sit down he's straight on my lap making himself comfortable.

[Eliza22]

Bought her a paddling pool today.

She will shimmy herself into the smallest puddle in order to roll and douse her entire coat in mud and water, at any opportunity. So far..... She has whined and woofed at said paddling pool; panted and wagged her tail but....has not gotten in.

#moneywellspent

[Floralnomad]

Mine loves all water / puddles when out but he won't go in a paddling pool at home ,probably would if I put some stinky mud in the bottom .

[Eliza22]

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

My lab follows me about a lot. He's quite clingy, I think. And when I have to leave him, if I don't shut him in his crate he'll find something to chew up, like separation anxiety. It's sweet if it's a gun dog instinct but sometimes it's annoying. I can nip into the kitchen to put the kettle on and meet him coming in on the way back. Then he'll follow me back to the living room. Then I'll go back to pour the tea and he'll follow me again. Etc. Daft.

[Onenerfwarfrombreakdown]

I think this is a very common trait in labs/retrievers. They are very bonded to their main person, they are quite intelligent and curious, and of course there may be a chance of food/biscuit esp if you are headed anywhere near the kitchen, so this can all combine into having a hairy shadow following you around! My boy lab does this, he just seems to like to be near us, whether we make a fuss of him or not. However he's not insecure and can be left on his own without any problems (I work part time and DH often works from home so the longest he's left is 3 hours max - he goes to sleep!)

[Swissgemma]

obidog follows me everywhere. and places himself in a position to watch everyone in the room. Apart from at night where he likes to be as close to the baby as possible - ideally with his back touching the cot but if he can't get in he lies across the door on the landing. BUT if I get up in the night Obidog comes running to check all is ok!

[Eliza22]

my girl's pretty 'standard', sounds like!

[BusyNothings]

My beagles follow me everywhere, not a problem they are just nosey and like being with us. Same for all our family shepherds. I don't see the problem i kinda like that they want to be with us and have a good witter and cuddles and games with them...