just over-attached?

I just joined today and thought that since I've responded to a few threads and referred to my girls, you all should have a proper introduction :)

The bluetick coonhound is Maggie and the Setter/Blue Heeler mix is Belle. They are both about 2 years old and sweet as can be. Belle gets a bit 'growly' sometimes, but I don't put up with it (I usually just take away whatever she is defending or move her out of her place and sit there myself, or whatever is appropriate). If you ask them, I am the alpha.

The only behavioral issue is that they are both classic over-attachment examples. They have to be in the same room with me if I'm home and Sometimes even want to be in my lap, etc. They love to lay in bed curled up next to me or on top of me, but they have their own room to sleep in.

When I get home, they carry on until I get them from the pen to feed them (usually within 15 minutes of my arrival). Maggie, being the dog she is, has a VERY loud (very beautiful, if you're into hounds) voice and I worry about the neighbors. They haven't complained yet, so I don't let it worry me too much. Maggie also chews on the wire of the fence while she's baying (I'm worried about her breaking her teeth here) and turns over the water bucket with her nose when I go to get them and doesn't want me to catch her. I try not to let her make it a game, but she isn't responding well to my method of waiting for her to come, giving her a treat/rewarding her, and leashing her to go in for dinner. Any suggestions?

:) Hello & Welcome to Pet Talk & enjoy the talks & pictures.. I am Helene & have six cats indoors & 3 dogs outdoors..

Hello, and welcome to PT! I am Stephanie, and my furbabes are Jesse (an English springer spaniel woth three legs) and Splinter (a lovely hedgehog!).

The only suggestions I really have is for Maggie. When she tries to run away, what is your method of getting her back?
What I would do is call her, and when she does come to you DO NOT punish her. She will think that every time she comes to you, she will be punished. Giver her a treat instead, and tell her good girl. Another thing is never sound mad or annoyed. That only intimidates your dog.

I hope that helps a little!
Stephanie and Jesse

When I go out to get them, Belle comes right to me on command (she just picked this up in the last couple weeks finally :) )

Maggie is completely absorbed in chewing on the chain link of their dog pen and baying (SOOO loud!) that she either doesn't hear me or it doesn't register with her that I'm calling her. She is responsive to her name in the house, but outside is a totally different story. I call her name, and tell her to come...she ignores me...I call her name, wave a treat right in front of her nose...she ignores me...I reach out to grab her collar while I am close enough to wave the treat...she runs to the water bucket, tips it upside down, puts her muzzle in it and makes an echo as she continues to bay...oh, and keeps ignoring me...I wave the treat at her and call her as she runs back to the fence to keep on chewing/baying and she will sometimes try to take the treat (if I'm quick I can get her leashed at this point, but if not, she will sit long enough to act like she might be good, get the treat, and slip through my grasp yet again). I try to leash her before she gets the treat, but she is sooo wiggly and has all that loose skin, it's like trying to catch a 50 pound water snake (you know, those ones you can get in museum gift shops and science stores?) and it takes both hands to get the collar and leash connected to one another. I want her to learn that coming when called is what earns her rewards, and worked with her yesterday for about 20 or 30 minutes just on recall in the pen. She did it a few times, but is very slow to catch on :(. I have worked with her for quite a while in 5-10 minute sessions, but yesterday's session was the longest we've ever worked on this.

Hi Jessica,
Thought I'd give this a try. Included a picture of super Maddy!
I would say from my experience with one dog that would not come, and one that normally will come (Maddy) is to just practice that recall over, and over, and over. Maggie might not get it right away like Belle would, but she will get it.
Another thing is her routine behavior and you may need to break that pattern somehow. Maybe try coming home and ignoring the dogs until she stops barking? I don't know if that's possible, but it might work. Or, put them in the kennel while you're home and then let them out when they don't expect it? Just some ideas :)
[IMG]super maddy[/IMG]

We've tried ignoring until it stops and then going out for her; being a coondog, she will carry on until she has no voice if she's determined that there's something to bark at. Therefore, she never stops long enough for us to go get her. :rolleyes:

She is getting a lot better now that she knows I have treats every time, but it's still frustrating.