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Original poster

Does your dog get upset if he’s shut away from the rest of the family?

28 replies

Circletime27 · 01/04/2020 19:48

Pup is 7 months old and he’s always been pretty independent and not needed us in the same room as him. This week he’s been a nightmare, if he’s shut in the kitchen and can hear us upstairs he starts scratching and howling at the bloody door.

I don’t really know what to do with him, I need to move around the house but he’s driving me potty! Any suggestions? (We don’t let him upstairs as we have 2 cats, they all get on pretty well but I want them to be able to sleep up there in peace)

OP posts:
june2007 · 01/04/2020 19:54

Yes mine has always wanted company. We have used baby gates successfully to stop going up stairs and she can still see through and that works.

Dizzywizz · 01/04/2020 19:58

Yes, ours generally is always with me - she’ll follow me around. Not a prob really, there’s nowhere she’s not allowed but she does get under my feet and trip me up!

Geometricprince · 01/04/2020 20:01

Yes, ours hates closed doors. He'll quite happily take himself off on his own but if he can't get somewhere he'll cry. Luckily he pretty much always has full run of the house!

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Dogs
Hovverry · 01/04/2020 20:03

A dog is a member of your family and this one is only a puppy. Would you shut a young child in a separate room or forbid them to go upstairs? You’ll give him separation anxiety, which is a really serious problem.

Original poster
Circletime27 · 01/04/2020 20:07

Maybe a stair gate would work instead.

Separation is my worry as I really don’t want that to develop however, I do need to be able to take a shower, make the beds, put the washing away without him howling.

It’s not an option for him to start going upstairs. He’s got the run of the garden, living room, dining room and kitchen. The cats need their territory too and I don’t want him on the beds.

OP posts:
eatanazurecrayon · 01/04/2020 20:07

Mine cries if he's not physically on anyone

Original poster
Circletime27 · 01/04/2020 20:08

Mine cries if he's not physically on anyone 😆

OP posts:
maneandfeathers · 01/04/2020 20:11

One of mine follows me around the house constantly.
The other couldn’t give a crap where we are Hmm

I tend to find it easier to let the clingy one follow rather than shut doors but they both will eventually go and lie down if I do lock them away for whatever reason.

I think it must be boring enough for them at the moment so am happy to let them potter wherever they want at home.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 01/04/2020 20:13

Let him be with you.

TheDoctorDances · 01/04/2020 21:15

He’s becoming a stroppy teenager and pushing the boundaries to see what he can get away with.

It’s up to you to decide whether or not to give in. I think we may need a photo though. Wink

GemmaTellerMorrow · 01/04/2020 21:19

I can't go for a pee without mine following me in

LochJessMonster · 01/04/2020 21:21

Baby gates are definitely the way to go! My dog hates a closed door but is fine behind a baby gate.

He’s only 7 months, just a baby so he’s still learning.

Pop him downstairs, behind a baby gate and then potter around the house, in and out of rooms, in and out of sight etc until he is reassured that you will always come back.

Stompythedinosaur · 01/04/2020 22:42

My dog will accompany me wherever is go. She will consent to sit in the bedroom while I am in the en suite.

I don't think you develop anxiety (in dogs or humans) in the way you are suggesting.

Can you give him something to keep him busy if you have to be away from him? A decent bone will occupy my dog for ages if I need to go out without her (this is a rare thing, she goes to work with dp).

MrsElf · 01/04/2020 23:43

I’ve always had Ddogs with me as much as possible - mutual desire I think! 4/5 of them got bored of my more mundane tasks by about 6-8 months, although the rescue mutt (had her 2 years) goes through phases where she whinges outside the bathroom door still.
I build up to leaving them alone - quietly drop a big chew and wander away, and come back quickly to start with, but as I clash about and hum to myself they know I’m not far away making my 2 million cups of tea a day. I don’t make a fuss when I leave them, or when they come find me/I come back. Lots of quick in and outs with no attention, and a toy or a chew on their bed soon gets them used to the idea that they can let you out of their sight and not lose out. If you potter about when they want to/have just settled down, they’ll get fed up quicker.
Has he had a big change in routine, and noticed more stress in the household maybe? Problem is, if he’s “driving you dotty”, he’ll pick it up quite fast, and it could start to spiral as then he knows something is wrong and wants more company and reassurance!

ilovepixie · 01/04/2020 23:47

My dog will follow us about the house where ever we go, even to the toilet, the only time she runs away and hides is if we're having a bath or bring out the Hoover!

Escapeistheonlyoption · 01/04/2020 23:47

Ours used to go in the shower with his key pack member (adult DD) when he was a pup to about a year old.

sweetkitty · 01/04/2020 23:52

Ours has to be as close to me as she can, well right now she’s about 10cms away, she follows me all over the house. She doesn’t sleep with us as she’s too big so she’s sleeps downstairs with the cats who aren’t allowed upstairs at night as they play fight all over us at 3am.

If I’m not home DH or one of the DCs becomes surrogate Mum.

Original poster
Circletime27 · 02/04/2020 10:19

He’s much calmer today, settled himself to sleep in the kitchen so I’ve been able to help DS with his homeschooling upstairs. I think it’s the teenager kicking in and the change to our routine that’s unsettling him. Plus he’s probably getting bored of walking around the same field everyday, I know I am!

OP posts:
missyB1 · 02/04/2020 10:21

Our little madam has to be in the same room as another person at all times - but we love that Smile

Does your dog get upset if he’s shut away from the rest of the family?
bruce43mydog · 02/04/2020 10:34

Our 2 boy dogs are really needy and always follow us.

But our girl dog has a den in the house and doesn't like to much attention.

Original poster
Circletime27 · 02/04/2020 10:37

Those of you who’s dogs get upset if you’re not in the same room-what are they like being left home alone? I think that’s my major worry as when life resumes he’ll have to be left for 3 hours 3 times a week.

We put in so much time and effort building that up and he was always fine with it so I’m worried about that really.

OP posts:
Original poster
Circletime27 · 02/04/2020 10:39

Here he is

Does your dog get upset if he’s shut away from the rest of the family?
OP posts:
iVampire · 02/04/2020 10:42

DPuppy is immensely friendly and always wants to be around people.

She sleeps alone when it’s dark, and before I went into shield isolation, she could be left for about 1.5hours when I went out. But she’s not fine being corralled when there’s a human around. So I guess I’ll have to re-teach her to be left when I can go out again.

doodleygirl · 02/04/2020 10:45

Oh my, what a cutie.

Mine is a bit of a velcro dog but she has always been fine with a baby gate at the bottom of the stairs. I think it is the shut doors they dont like.

lazylinguist · 02/04/2020 10:48

My dog (5 years old) hates being actually shut away from us. He doesn't at all feel the need to always be in the same room as us, as long as he's not actually shut away and can get to us if he wants to. He's absolutely fine about being left at home alone though.

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