Border Terrier too clingy

[tillyh345]

Our BT has started to be really clingy in the evenings he can just sit there crying and looking at you for hours if you let him and if you pick him up and cuddle him if you dare to stop stroking him he whines and nuzzles his head into you. Anyone any ideas? It is like having an adoring fan all the time, in fact it gets quite spooky the way he just stands there and stares.......

[icemaiden]

Ignore him.
One of my terriers was just like that. So I ignored her. Sounds cruel but it worked. She isn't as clingy as she was. I only make a fuss of her on my terms ie. I go up to her, not her pestering me. She was extremely insecure but now she has much more confidence.

[janbee]

I agree with icemaiden. I had a Border terrier and had the same problem. I HAD to force myself to ignore her. It made me feel really awful but it worked. She ended up a much more secure and happy dog.

[tillyh345]

Thank you both I will try that I am too soft with him, and its coincided with us making him stay downstairs at night because he has been used to sleeping at the bottom of our bed but I just find it far too restrictive and too hot, what with hot flushes etc... will let u know how I get on with all your advice.

[woofgang]

A kinder way might be to give him a stuffed kong or puzzle ball in the evening to give him something else to think about......see it from his POV you have just banned him from the pack sleeping place, he wonders what awful thing he has done and really really wants you not to ban him again tonight. I get the flushes and sleep with oh and two gsp Weimaraner crosses, they all just had to learn that I will fling the covers off many times and to move over when told to!

[tillyh345]

Now woofgang you have just made me feel really guilty....I will take this into account and try and get him involved in something else in the evening. But really cant let him back on the bed...hubby has just decorated and that was part of the deal that Harvs is not allowed in bedroom, in his defence he does suffer badly with eczema and the dog hair plays havoc with his skin, so dont think I can go back on it really.

[jules77]

I agree with woofgang, he wonders what he has done to suddenly be banned from the bedroom.

[icemaiden]

Why not compromise. Maybe have him just outside the bedroom in his own bed?

[tillyh345]

Well we have tried that but he whines to come in the bedroom, which is very upsetting to hear, he doesnt whine downstairs, he seems to have accepted it. my son would love him to sleep on his bed with him, but he doesnt seem to want to he wud do the whining outside our bedroom door!, if we let him upstairs.