Dog’s clingy behavior may signal separation anxiety

Dear Cathy: I have two Coton du Tulears, a 12-yearold brother and sister from the same litter. They are such great pets, and I love that they have hugely different personalities.

Over the past year, Desi, the male, has been shadowing me wherever I go. When I leave the room, he follows. If he’s sleeping and I walk away, he searches the house until he finds me. If he knows I’m outside, he cries until I get him.

His sister, Lucy, couldn’t care less. She’s sweet and very affectionate, but not attached like Desi.

It’s become a family joke that Desi is my personal bodyguard because he is always no farther than 2 feet from me.

I’ve had two surgeries in the past two years. I’m wondering if this has anything to do with this behavior. What do you make of this? — Joan, Valley Stream, New York

Dear Joan: Dogs have different personalities and certainly can be more devoted to one person than another for many reasons. Desi is clearly attached to you. While there is nothing wrong with that, he also may suffer from separation anxiety.

Do the other people in your home say he cries for you when you leave the house? If he doesn’t cry when you leave, then things are good. You are just his favorite person, and there is nothing to be concerned about.

If he is crying when you’re gone, though, he has separation anxiety, which explains his clinginess with you. If that is the case, you may need to work with Desi to help him overcome this behavior.

Part of that involves not making a fuss over him before you leave the house or upon your return. Walk in the house and put things away before greeting him. This will help reduce anxiousness around your comings and goings.

Also, if he is sleeping somewhere in the house, don’t call him to you before you leave, after you get home or in general. Letting him sleep in another room builds his confidence and helps him learn he is fine in another room without you.