As I'm sure some of you remembered, I adopted a little Shih Tzu Poodle mix from the pound last September. He's about two years old, and had a few issues when I got him (food aggression, separation anxiety, couldn't walk on a leash worth a damn, etc)

Anyway, a year later his issues have all been corrected, and he's become an amazing dog and companion.
There's only one thing that bothers me.
He follows me, EVERYWHERE. I have a bloody shadow. He will be in a dead sleep and if I get up to get a drink, he snaps out of it and is at my heels. CONSTANTLY.
I know it's a good sign that your dog always wants to be with you, so is it bad of me to be slightly annoyed by it? I've gotten in the habit of making him stay when I'm about to leave the room, to show him that, oh my god, she comes back when she leaves the room. Of course the few times I don't tell him to, he is right with me.
Is it maybe a hint of his separation anxiety that is still there?

I have a similar dog.
Brody is my white shadow, I can't go to the bathroom without him waiting outside the door for me. I think he thinks there's a secret escape route through the plumbing.

As long as he is fine when you go out I wouldn't worry about it.
I can leave Brody alone for hours with no problem (unless I stupidly leave food on the kitchen bench)

Does he have any problems with you leaving him while you're at work?

Haha Wembley is like that too when it comes to the bathroom.

He is fine with me leaving. I'm away from home for long periods (I work at least 9 hours a day) and he does good, but I bring him to work with me every other day to break up the time for him. I mean he is SUPER FREAKING EXCITED when I get home and he tears around like an idiot on his walks (that's the first thing I do - I open the crate door with leash in hand and out we go), but he seems okay.

Another question answered before I asked.

Great job!

Haha good stuff martinizing!

Mine get super excited when we get home as well, whether it be all day or just for half an hour. The first thing Prada does is frantically run around looking for a toy, she can't say hello to us unless she has a toy in her mouth. Brody just runs around like a complete idiot and Cyrus jumps all over us (which we are currently working on).

There could be a degree of separation anxiety which you can work on if you wish.
Just start by paying him less attention. If he pushes for a pet or a ball throw make him wait and ignore him. Make him have less of a reason to follow you around all the time.

I haven't bothered doing that with Brody because to be honest, I'm home alone a lot so it's kind of nice knowing he wants to be with me, but if it got to a point where it was driving me crazy that's what I would do.

His separation anxiety was horrible when I first got him, thankfully I've managed to tone it down a lot.

Doing all that you have in a year is a bloody good effort!
A lot of dogs with his problems would have been put down in a shelter but now he's a happy loveable dog thanks to you!

Oh Gawd! Lady is the same way, my bathroom door doesn't quite latch all the way, so I have Lady and E in there. As soon as Lady gets in there she curls up on the bath mat and closes her eyes, I mean seriously how long does it take to have a pee, like 30 seconds tops?

In the kitchen she is the same way. She has really bad separation anxiety, this is the dog who has busted out of almost every screen I have, has pushed my air conditioner to one side of the window and jumped out a 1/2 foot by 1/2 foot opening. We walk minimum of two times a day, plus she has full run of 2 acres, and we go swimming almost every day. This is not her being bored, it's her being a nut job. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shazamataz

Doing all that you have in a year is a bloody good effort!
A lot of dogs with his problems would have been put down in a shelter but now he's a happy loveable dog thanks to you!

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I agree, Sariss. You have come a long way with him.

It seems like yesterday you were looking for an animal and then posting pictures of this little guy. :)

Here's a few pics of the little bugger for you guys.
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/3...4218304700.jpg
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4...5578304700.jpg
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/5...6468304700.jpg
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9...1458304700.jpg

Sooo cute!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shazamataz

Haha good stuff martinizing!

Mine get super excited when we get home as well, whether it be all day or just for half an hour. The first thing Prada does is frantically run around looking for a toy, she can't say hello to us unless she has a toy in her mouth. Brody just runs around like a complete idiot and Cyrus jumps all over us (which we are currently working on).

There could be a degree of separation anxiety which you can work on if you wish.
Just start out by paying him less attention. If he pushes for a pet or a ball throw make him wait and ignore him. Make him have less of a reason to follow you around all the time.

I haven't bothered doing that with Brody because to be honest, I'm home alone a lot so it's kind of nice knowing he wants to be with me, but if it got to a point where it was driving me crazy that's what I would do.

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It doesn't bother me, I was wondering if it was an indication of a problem with Muttley that needed attention.

If I walk out the door if it is for 8 hours or 8 seconds he reacts the same when I come back in.
He runs up to me then runs in circles so small it looks like he is spinning like a top , and is excited to the max.
As soon as I pat him on the head and say , "hi Muttley" he calms down and runs over to his food dish and wags his tail like crazy.

When I walk by and he sees he is not getting fed right now, he goes to wherever I am and wants some lap time. Which I give him.

I have had guests stay when I had to leave and they say as soon as I close the door he runs in and jumps up on my bed and stays there for a while, then comes out and socializes .
But every time he hears any noise from outside , he runs to the door and waits for a minute or two, then back on the bed, then back out in a few minutes.

He does seem to want constant attention , but is not desperate or demanding about it . Just relentless with breaks where he gets across the room , lays on his belly with his head on the floor and gives my the "sad puppy" look. Which usually works and I pat the seat next to me and he rockets over jumps up and sits beside me .

And he also follows every move I make around the house like a little shadow but it is usually just me and Muttley and I kind of like it.

One more thing. How did you get such good pictures?

He moves exactly at the wrong time every time I try. This is the only one you can even recognize it a dog.

Attachment 32883

Lots of patience, and a fast camera. :P

Those are great pictures, Sariss. :)

He looks very happy.

Aww your dog is cute!
I could understand how you would be annoyed, would it be possible to keep gates up at your house in hallways and doorways? That way he couldn't follow you, or maybe possibly contact the pet trainer. They might know what to do about that!
Good luck with your dog, I'm glad he's come so far!

Him following you around is still his separation anxiety coming out. He might not be destructive and whiney when you leave him, but him not being curtious and allowing you to be alone is still separation anxiety.

I'm not sure how to correct that. If he's good when you're gone then the worse of it is gone. I watched on a TV show about a dog that did that.. The trainer suggested to feed him and leave him in a separate room to eat. It taught the dog that is enjoyable when you're not around. Maybe that'll work?

He sure is cute, though!