My super needy little girl! HELP!!!

[bribunny]

I haven't posted here in a while but I have a question. Do any of you have a needy/clingy little baby?! I love that Bri is so in love with me, but its getting really bad.

I've noticed lately that if I am not giving her 100% of my attention she starts to cry and will do so until I give her attention. It's gotten so bad that every time I get on the computer, try to do work, laundry, etc she cries. On Wednesday, I took her to the store and let her pick out a new toy, HOPING that a new toy would make encourage some "independent play time" HA! Well, that backfired and now she wants me to play with her when she is playing with the toy.

Do any of y'all have any suggestions? I am at my wits end. I love her to death, but I cannot devote 100% of my time to entertaining her. She is getting a sister in June, so I am HOPING (fingers crossed) that having a playmate will give her something to do. Then again, that could backfire as well!

[Gennies]

That's a tough one! Bijou gets like that some days and she has Barley and Garrett here. She wants us throwing her ball non stop. I get to the point the ball has to be put up or I fear she'll fall over from too much running.

[Suze225]

Bella was pretty needy until we got Jett! She STILL LOVES Mommy time, but is much more independent after we got the new baby. She now has another fur pal to play with and it keeps them both busy. They are the BEST of friends!!

I hope this gives you a little hope that things will get better!!!

[DiChloe]

Chloe was like that until i got Melody... they love each other and actually now they are too indepedent for my liking heheehe, i miss her needeness........ but one thing is for sure, NO ONE can seat on mommy's lap... only Chloe or she'll get really mad!!! heheheeh... that's our special time together.

[bribunny]

Thanks!! This makes me feel MUCH better! Of course I'm super worried about getting Emi, but I'm sure Bri will be fine! I've had enough people scare me about getting 2 girls and the fighting! AH!

Thanks again!! I always feel better when I post here! My friends think I'm CRAZY for getting worried about this

[RhianR]

Robbo was like that until I got Ruby and even now he is sometimes a little more needy than Ruby. However, I am now just stricter and when he does cry so long as he is not needing anything like food, water or I know it is not serious and he is just wanting attention I stopped giving him it and he adapted pretty quickly. He now knows that Mummy will not play if on the computer but knows he gets play time after. It takes time but it can be turned round! All the best, I know it can be frustrating. :-)

[bribunny]

Sorry!! It posted twice!

[mscat]

Getting her a sister will hopefully do the trick. She will have a playmate then , and be happier with anther dog in the house. Does your baby enjoy bullysticks? That would keep her busy ... At least it works for my 2 girls.

[bribunny]

Originally Posted by mscat

Getting her a sister will hopefully do the trick. She will have a playmate then , and be happier with anther dog in the house. Does your baby enjoy bullysticks? That would keep her busy ... At least it works for my 2 girls.

Yes! She loves bully sticks, but all of a sudden she doesn't like them unless I hold it while she eats it. If I leave it for her, she walks away and cries. I am trying to ignore her, but she is VERY persistent!

[yorkiemini]

Are we talking separation anxiety here or just being spoiled? There is a difference. Sounds like a beginning obedience class might be helpful -- she gets attention and learns to listen to you, too.

[kjcmsw]

Originally Posted by bribunny

I haven't posted here in a while but I have a question. Do any of you have a needy/clingy little baby?! I love that Bri is so in love with me, but its getting really bad.

I've noticed lately that if I am not giving her 100% of my attention she starts to cry and will do so until I give her attention. It's gotten so bad that every time I get on the computer, try to do work, laundry, etc she cries. On Wednesday, I took her to the store and let her pick out a new toy, HOPING that a new toy would make encourage some "independent play time" HA! Well, that backfired and now she wants me to play with her when she is playing with the toy.

Do any of y'all have any suggestions? I am at my wits end. I love her to death, but I cannot devote 100% of my time to entertaining her. She is getting a sister in June, so I am HOPING (fingers crossed) that having a playmate will give her something to do. Then again, that could backfire as well!

My first was needy also...I worked full time/she had separation anxiety. We quickly got another one as a "friend" for her. (Talk about spoiled: she gets a 1200$ "friend" lol) --- made a big difference...but, like a human baby I had to make sure she got a lot of attention at first, so she wasn't 'jealous' of the new one coming in...kept them separated initially if they couldn't be supervised and now they're very good friends. My first still believes I was created just for her, but at least she finds other things to do with her friend now (like rip up toilet paper together...lol).

[bribunny]

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

Are we talking separation anxiety here or just being spoiled? There is a difference. Sounds like a beginning obedience class might be helpful -- she gets attention and learns to listen to you, too.

I think it is a mixture of both to be honest. She is very spoiled but she does have anxiety being away from me. I wouldn't say it is an obedience issue though. She is in all honesty the best listening dog I've ever had. We have no issues other than the attention thing and that is even with me doing tricks, taking her on walks, playing fetch, etc!

[bribunny]

Originally Posted by kjcmsw

My first was needy also...I worked full time/she had separation anxiety. We quickly got another one as a "friend" for her. (Talk about spoiled: she gets a 1200$ "friend" lol) --- made a big difference...but, like a human baby I had to make sure she got a lot of attention at first, so she wasn't 'jealous' of the new one coming in...kept them separated initially if they couldn't be supervised and now they're very good friends. My first still believes I was created just for her, but at least she finds other things to do with her friend now (like rip up toilet paper together...lol).

This made me laugh!! Bri thinks I was created just for her too!!

[yorkietalkjilly]

It could be a form of in-the-home separation anxiety in that she is maybe most validated and secure by your constant, close attendance when you are home and has now come to rely on it. Start scheduling her some short sessions away from you across the room, in another room - whatever you choose and give those a special command, such as "mommie time", etc., tell her to "stay" or "wait" and walk away, treat and celebrate when over, progressing to longer periods. Do not feel bad when she is in "mommie time" as you are slowly teaching her that life won't spin out of control if she is away from you and that you will soon be together again. A happy, healthy dog is one that learns how to accommodate itself to less interpersonal times in the home as effectively as close, together times, so you are really teaching her a valuable "dog" life lesson. If you gradually increase "mommie time", she will soon learn that this is just the way it is during these times and adapt to it, learning a bit of self-reliance or at least more patience in the process. Even very smart, obedient dogs that are a bit predisposed to insecurity, while constantly physically around us can fall into this trap of over-neediness and some behavior modification of this new issue will right her again if you treat the process as just another form of obedience training.

[yorkietalkjilly]

P. S. Just to be on the safe side, if you haven't already, you might just get a quick vet check to be sure everything medically checks out as dogs are such good medical problem maskers at times.