CLINGY Sparky

[pomtzu]

Okay - Sparky has always been Mommy's Boy, even tho he loves everyone in the family. It's just that I AM HIS, and these past few weeks he's turned into a real Velcro Dog. He always wanted to know where I was and what I was doing, and even when I walked out the front door to just go get the mail, he would lay and look out the window till I got back in. If I left for any period of time to go shopping or for an appointment, and other family members were still at home, he would lay there the whole time till I got home too.

So now he has a couple of new issues. If I go in my bedroom and leave the gate up where he and Myndi can't get in, he will lay there looking all dejected with his nose resting on the bottom of the gate. If I don't come out in what he considers a reasonable amount of time, then he starts crying until I come out, or take the gate down and let him in.

But this is the really odd one - actually quite comical too. If I ask him if he wants to go out, he practically breaks his neck racing across the slippery kitchen floor to get to the door, yet if another family member asks him, he refuses to go. He will either just stand there and keep looking at me and waiting for me to get up and let him out, or he will run over to me and put his front paws up on me, or sit on the floor next to me. I tell him that it's okay - he can go out without me - but he won't budge - and then the person who was trying to get him to go out has to physically pick him up and carry him out. If I try to fake him out and get up and start for the door, he gets all excited and will start in that direction, but when he sees me stop, then he stops. We have all laughed over this, but now I'm just trying to figure out what's going on with him.

I was gone for only 3 days when I was in the hospital in early December, but he didn't even start with this till a few weeks ago, so I don't think it's any kind of separation anxiety issue at this point. Yeah - maybe watching for me at the window is, but he's been doing this for over a year now. I love that he loves me so darn much, but I don't want the poor little guy making himself sick if I decide to go away for a week or two on vacation, or would be called away in an emergency.

Anyone have any ideas???

BTW - he'll be 12 in a month, if anyone thinks his age might have anything to do with it.

[Asiel]

Just spotted this now. I was wondering if you might have noticed Sparky's eyesight might not be up to par or if not his eyesight then maybe his hearing is fading a bit? I know my cousin's Bichon got cataracts and later the hearing was going and her dog got clingy the same way you're describing Sparky's behaviour. I think maybe they feel a bit lost if that happens so you become their security. If he doesn't see too well or hear too well he wants to be near you, his anchor in a storm

I've also heard of Cognitive Dysfunction .....it's a form of Alzheimer's in dogs that causes the same symptoms that you describe.....again you become his anchor in the storm. I guess all you can do is love him and and make him feel secure by being there for him....what a nice compliment he's paying you

[Freedom]

Marlin spent his first 9 years living with a single woman. He has been here over 3 years; but Dad is apparently "not capable" of opening the door to let him out. I have to do this. Dad can open the door to let him in. Dunno what Sparky's excuse is!

Diminished eye sight is a possibility. I like Asiel's response, she seems to have covered all the possibilities.

[cassiesmom]

I don't have any answers. I just wanted to say (((HUGS))) for Sparky and (((HUGS))) for Myndi too.

[Freedom]

Sparky is clingy, but you were carrying Myndi when you went airborne. I think they both love Mum!

[pomtzu]

Sparky is clingy, but you were carrying Myndi when you went airborne. I think they both love Mum!

She can't do steps anymore. She can go down, but not up - at least not without all fours going in a different direction! Might just as well have me do both for her. Yup - they're my lovable little kids, for sure.

[Asiel]

She can't do steps anymore. She can go down, but not up - at least not without all fours going in a different direction! Might just as well have me do both for her. Yup - they're my lovable little kids, for sure.

Had to laugh at this one---"she can't do steps anymore" Looks like you are having a bit of trouble, all two going in all four directions too girl. We all know that we would sacrifice life and limb for those fur friends don't we
Might be a good idea to wear the cleats, didn't know they were at the door...very useful there aren't they

[pomtzu]

Had to laugh at this one---"she can't do steps anymore" Looks like you are having a bit of trouble, all two going in all four directions too girl. We all know that we would sacrifice life and limb for those fur friends don't we
Might be a good idea to wear the cleats, didn't know they were at the door...very useful there aren't they

Enough out of you - smart a$$! Hadn't seen you around in a while - should have known you'd show up when I screwed up. Even if I hadn't - you'd surface again in time to see some nonsensical, idiotic posts - by a nonsensical, idiotic poster! ROFLMAO!!!!!

[pomtzu]

Thanks for the input. I know it's not a vision problem, since he can see a tiny bug on the wall from clear across the room, and never fails to warn me if he sees something outside that normally isn't there. His hearing??? - well he definitely has selective hearing, but he uses that to ignore me when he doesn't want to do what I tell him - like calling him to come in the house. I call, and he keeps right on doing what he was doing, and even walks in the opposite direction, just to be belligerent! Anyone else in the family calls him to come in, and he obeys immediately! So I tend to think that it's not a hearing issue either.

Maybe it is a form of Alzheimers setting in. Then again - it might just be that he wants to be a PITA. Hey - I love that boy - issues and all!

[Asiel]

Enough out of you - smart a$$! Hadn't seen you around in a while - should have known you'd show up when I screwed up. Even if I hadn't - you'd surface again in time to see some nonsensical, idiotic posts - by a nonsensical, idiotic poster! ROFLMAO!!!!!

Omg..I would have been so sorry had I missed that post. After the kind of hit and miss time I've been having this is just the kind of bounce back to my feet I needed.
I would have been so downhearted had I missed the chance to be a smart A$$ , it just made my day. Can you believe landing on the post just as I got back....what luck. Us old timers do have to keep up with each other's nonsense don't we?