cannot leave alone

[dvraffi]

gino is a 2yrs old rottie.it seems like he always wants to be around peaple. even when we put him outside for him to go potty,ihave to be out there with him or he'll be scratching at the doors.any help?

[mrsgrubby]

Rottweilers are people dogs in general I think. My dog likes to be around us as much as possible too, and I do still go out with my dog to go potty even though we have a fenced in back yard and she has been potty trained for months.
I don't see it as a problem, and I still reward her each time she goes just like I did when she was a puppy. No harm in showing her that she is still pleasing me by going outside like she is supposed to.
Is your dog causing problems when you aren't around? Is it a problem for you to go outside with him? Does he panic if he can't see you in the house?

[gomer9855]

IMO there's nothing wrong with wanting to be with people, provided the dog goes to lay down or get out of the room when told to. Also if the dog never learns to be alone and calm itself down when alone you're going to have serious problems later on. Life with a dog with seperation anxiety is NOT fun (trust me!)

[rottielover2004]

LOL, sound like my Harley. After you let him out, he looks at you with the saddest face, as if saying, aren't you coming with me. When I see a dog tied outside, I always wonder how the owners could walk away from such a face. Harley does not like to be by himself out side. I go with him just to say I am not leaving you here.

[groupieindenial]

WE do the same song and dance everytime I let him out. I open the sliding door, he dashes out the door, looks at the stairs going towards the yard, turns around and changes his mind, wants back in. I point towards the yard, and say "go". He gives me that look like, "Do I have to go? Cuz I don't really have to go". Me----> "I said, Goooo!", pointing towards the stairs and the yard.

It's the same song and dance...I know, I know, I could have avoided it coming to this if I only ever told him 1 time, not 3, but I really hate the idea of coming home to a possible accident.

[craftylady]

I think it is the nature of them to be people dogs....and really I cannot imagine having a "pet" as anything else...No tieing a dog out for me.....I like that she wants to be around me and the family...but independence is something to be admired too. Knock on wood.....the last two times Sativa has been left in the house alone she has done great......I am so proud of her!!! PS.......Maybe it takes three times telling him because he thinks you will change your mind and come out and play with him!!!! They are persistant like that!!!!

[Phyrebrand]

That makes so much sense about them being people dogs. Ember always wants to be by me. She was so proud of herself when she was able to get on the couch and schnuggle and then on the bed (we're working on get down).

I, also, don't understand leaving a dog outside. Why have a dog if it's not inside with you?

[damp]

I find it sad, when a Rottweiler is so depended on it’s the owner, it can’t figure out to go out alone and pee in it’s own backyard or it can’t be left alone for shorter or longer periods (inside or outside in a safe kennel) without whining and jumping crates or walls.

Bonding is one thing and should not be mistaken with lack confidence and self assurance.

[craftylady]

Well I guess you can look at it as a dependency problem. I never do..and that along with her background I think is why Sativa is the way she is. It just seems natural for us to be together. But she is independent in that she goes in the back yard by herself and when she wants in she scratches, lots of times I have to tell her to come in! I just put an update on my old thread about Separation anxiety and Ms. Sativa. She really has come a long way and I am very proud of her. I do think that independence is a good thing...but I also think they are a breed that has a need to be around people and interact. In my opinion if they do not have that they are not satisfied. I sometimes have referred to them as a thinking breed to my friends...because I swear I think some times I can look at her and know she is thinking something or plotting! lol How would you work on this...put him out for short times and reassure him or would you do the knock it off thing I have been doing with Sativa. Or is it possible because you are waiting and telling him 3 times that he is really waiting to see what you are going to do? (thats what I mean by thinking dog!) I swear just when I think I know what I am doing I have more to think about!!!!!! :-)~ lol

[Delminico]

I'm of a mind like Damp. Too much clinging to the owner isn't good for the dog. I make mine go outside to the garden very early. They do business then sniff and explore garden for moles and squirrel. They lounge on patio stones. No scratching allowed. I allow entry maybe 2 hours later for eating morning meal. Then naps. I work later morning to 6 in evening 3-4 days a week. Dogs don't get to see me for hours and are good inside or outside. My Rottweiler female she does like to follow me around inside. Mainly for cooking helping and maybe a taste of dinner. My Bullmastino isn't clinging type. He's watchdog material. Resting in between times he romps in garden or on walks and food and playing. I think maybe Americans are more worried all the time about violence and keep dogs too close.

[damp]

Originally Posted by craftylady

Or is it possible because you are waiting and telling him 3 times that he is really waiting to see what you are going to do? (thats what I mean by thinking dog!)

Yes I think so. Dogs have a very good sense of hearing and don’t need to be told 3 times and what you think is a "thinking dog", I consider a disobedient dog.

My response was to the OP and not referring to a dog with real separation anxiety

Cosset a dog and let you be fooled by “those sad brown eyes” just because the fur baby can’t be alone and need your company to do the most natural thing in the world (eat and crap) is a “good way” to start mutual dependence!

So far… “knock it of” has worked well for me.

[craftylady]

See there again Damp, I honestly thought of it as thinking on a dogs part...but when I remeber "she is a dog" it is disobiedience....I guess! lol As I said.....There is just so much to learn...and I do think it is easy to slip into the "forgetting they are a dog thing" because they become such a part of their owners lives, atleast I know I do it! In that respect maybe an owner like me is a dogs worse enemy........hmmmmm something more to think about!