8 month old clingyness...

dienasty13 · 11-15-2008, 06:56 PM

Hi everyone! Just got this dog he is about 8 months old and looks very much like a pitbull mix. He was givin to me due to not being able to take care of him and the previous owner before that was beating on him pretty good for about 6 months. Now I dont know much about how they treated him other then hes a pretty scared little fella more than half the time. He follows me every where I go in the house, just will not let me out of his sight. I have had him for just about 4 days now and have been really working my best with him. Its a real challenge.

So thats a little history and now its time for the Problem. I understand he is a puppy still and they are very clingy, but the problem lies when I have to go to work which is for about 8 hours a day 5 days a week mon-fri. When I leave I put him in the garage with a couch and lots of space to chew on his rawhides and what not. When I leave I back my truck out, that way the garage is all open and then I bring him out and try to get him to lay down or even stay (working on that) but he just starts to shiver and freak out like Ill never come back. So I try to close the door and tell him stay at the same time, but he just hears the garage door and knows im leave and rushes out. (causing me to be late) He has only stayed once and I really had to raise my voice after about 10-15 times of doing it, but I just dont know whats working or if I am messing him up more I just need some advice or encouragement of some sort. Thanks in advance.

-Rhizz

wvasko · 11-15-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dienasty13

Hi everyone! Just got this dog he is about 8 months old and looks very much like a pitbull mix. He was givin to me due to not being able to take care of him and the previous owner before that was beating on him pretty good for about 6 months. Now I dont know much about how they treated him other then hes a pretty scared little fella more than half the time. He follows me every where I go in the house, just will not let me out of his sight. I have had him for just about 4 days now and have been really working my best with him. Its a real challenge.

So thats a little history and now its time for the Problem. I understand he is a puppy still and they are very clingy, but the problem lies when I have to go to work which is for about 8 hours a day 5 days a week mon-fri. When I leave I put him in the garage with a couch and lots of space to chew on his rawhides and what not. When I leave I back my truck out, that way the garage is all open and then I bring him out and try to get him to lay down or even stay (working on that) but he just starts to shiver and freak out like Ill never come back. So I try to close the door and tell him stay at the same time, but he just hears the garage door and knows im leave and rushes out. (causing me to be late) He has only stayed once and I really had to raise my voice after about 10-15 times of doing it, but I just dont know whats working or if I am messing him up more I just need some advice or encouragement of some sort. Thanks in advance.

-Rhizz

I would start some crate work in the home while you are home, very important to start him now before much older and stronger. You can just put him in crate and this will eliminate future yelling etc. Purchase a kong fill it with something put him in and start him 15 minutes in hr out and gradually increase time. This poor little guy has been through a lot but if you keep soft spoken, firm, consistent he will work through it. The beauty of it is that the crate is in the home which will become more familiar to him. Am I right in assuming he will be a house dog because if not you can put a kennel run in garage etc. I would not insist on any obedience yet as he is in a strange plcae in his mind.

dienasty13 · 11-15-2008, 07:34 PM

thanks for the advice!