How to stop dog being needy.

[floweringpoppies]

Our dog has started being a right pain at day care. He is needy and only ok if someone plays with him all the time. Understandably they don't want him all day as he's taking away time with other dogs.
It's so annoying as he had been ok but we missed a few weeks which I think may be the problem.

Is there anything we can do at home to help stop this issue? It's a right pain.

What’s he like at home?
feel a bit sad for your dog tbh he’s being looked after be people who don’t want to engage with him?

Does he have any doggie friends out of day care ? Sounds like he prefers human company to dogs.

It sounds like the daycare isn't suitable for him - maybe too many dogs and not enough staff?

Don't feel sad it's an amazing place, loads of photos showing what they do etc but he's just barking at them all the time, nudging them. There's lots of staff but not 1:1!

@bishbashboshhhhh he can be needy at home too. I think dh indulges him.

@KangarooKenny yes I think he thinks he's a human 🙄. We have another dog. He used to be better at daycare when the older dog went too but the older one found it all too much so stays at home now.

Could it be too manic for him? Sounds to me like he could be "needy" because he's overwhelmed.

@floweringpoppies my dog does this and there is generally a reason, sometimes yes she is just bored and wants to play, but sometimes she is genuinely hungry or needs to go out or as a pp said is finding a situation "too much" or over stimulating. My dog is usually fine when it's just me and her during the day, but as soon as kids and Dh are home from school/work she gets "needy" like this and I think it's cos the house is busier, it's dinner time, little ones bath time and bed time etc and she's had a nice chilled day with me all to herself and then is like hey why are you busy dealing with everyone else not me?! She won't take herself off to settle somewhere quiet either as doesn't want to miss out on anything.... no magic solution for you I'm afraid but she's def barking at them for some reason!

Sounds like a rubbish day care. Their whole purpose is to fufil the dogs needs.

To me a needy dog is either a bored dog, anxious dog or overaroused dog.

Emotions your day care should be aware of and be able to change

Don't feel sad it's an amazing place, loads of photos showing what they do etc but he's just barking at them all the time, nudging them. There's lots of staff but not 1:1!

It doesn't sound amazing if they can't meet his needs and their first instinct is to say he can't attend anymore.

They should be looking at why he's struggling and adapting the environment to suit his personality - allowing him to go somewhere quiet with just a few dogs to sleep etc.

Oh that's really interesting what you are all saying. We've always had a lovely feeling about the place and he used to love going there, we then missed a number of weeks as didn't need the care and he then just started barking all the time whilst there.

When our old dog went they said he just slept all day and was more than welcome but a waste of our money which made me feel positive about the place.

May look into getting a dog walker to pop in instead.

Regardless of the day care I do find him needy at home, although to be fair after a walk he'll sleep for ages. Maybe he's just over stimulated at day care

How old is he?

@coffeecupsandfairylights he is 2.5 yrs

Doesn’t sound like an amazing place tbh….

If he’s needy at home you need to teach him
to settle

@bishbashboshhhhh so he does settle but always has to settle in the same room as me (or dh).

If we're in the kitchen and walk through to the lounge he follows but lays down then if we move back he follows again.

Don't know how to teach a dog not to do that!

Actually he isn't always needy. So in the morning I get up, let him out and after he's had a wee he just goes back to bed. The dogs get fed in a bit as dh will take them for a walk first.

I'd say he likes companionship, likes a routine (so knows in the morning we take a cuppa back to bed so he goes back and waits 30 mins before a walk) and when he starts nudging it's usually because he wants a cuddle 🤷🏼‍♀️

Sounds like a dog walker might be a better option
day care can be very overwhelming for some dogs and it doesn’t sound like your one wants to invest time in training your dog anyway so that doesn’t leave you with lots of options s

Yes you are probably right.