Are Doodles Clingy? 11 Reasons and Their Solutions

A clinging dog remains excessively physically near to his human companion, displaying indications of discomfort while not in the same room as the person. When they are physically separated, the dog may refuse to leave the human’s side, monitor their every move, and whimper, bark, and try to follow the person.

While loyalty and bondedness are generally regarded as desirable traits in a dog, a normal physically and emotionally sound dog retains its independence and is not bothered by brief periods of absence.

Are doodles clingy? Doodles are clingy, and they have a reputation for constantly getting the attention of their owners. As a result of this tendency, they are constantly displaying needy behaviors. If you’re considering getting a doodle, keep in mind that they require your undivided attention in order to feel valued.

In this article, You’ll know the answer to whether doodles are clingy or not and get to spot all the signs that display a clingy dog, so continue reading.

Are Doodles Clingy?

Doodles will want to be with you in every area of the house, often waiting outside the shower for you, following you to the bathroom, and so on. Because of their sensitivity to human emotions, they are equally susceptible to severe reprimand.

As many owners can confirm, doodles are enormous softies with their own individual ways of showing their love for their favorite human, in addition to their propensity to love just about anybody — and they also have their own different ways of expressing their pleasure.

All Doodles are people pleasers when it comes to individuals they know and strangers they encounter and get along with.

Doodles have a hyperactive and energetic demeanor and are kind and protective towards youngsters. They like cuddling with their owners. They are devoted pets who tend to have favorites among their family members.

Doodles are excellent cuddlers that are kind, loving, and like being pampered by their owners. Doodles are energetic pups who are always up for playtime and exercise and evolve into calm, easygoing companion dogs as they get older. Their attachment is frequently expressed via physical touching, such as snuggling. They will depend on you for support and will want to join in family activities.

11 Reasons your doodle could be clingy

Here are the 11 reasons your doodle is clingy:

Anxiety
Routine disruptions
Trying to get attention
Ilnesses or senses impairment
Breed Temperament
Estrus
Boredom or need for mental stimulation
Companionship
Unitentional reinforcement of the behavior
Emotional distress
Curiosity

Let’s discuss each of these reasons quickly:

Anxiety

Anxiety is perhaps the most prevalent reason or contributor to a dog’s clinginess. If a dog feels anxious about his or her surroundings. Your dog’s tension and anxiety levels may be heightened in new surroundings or when surrounded by unknown individuals. As a result, they may begin to follow you in an attempt to assuage their fears and bring them to a conclusion.

It’s critical to seek training and behavioral treatment if their clinginess gets so severe that they develop separation anxiety. A dog, on the other hand, may be able to detect when humans are nervous or agitated. They may follow us around in order to provide us with comfort and reassurance.

Routine Disruption

A change in surroundings or habit might be an increase or source of that worry. Any changes in your dog’s daily routine, especially if your dog appreciates regularity and has been in one for most of their life, can cause emotional disruption.

Trying to Get Attention

Clinginess might have originated as a learned habit to gain attention. You may have comforted your dog when they were attached and followed you, wondering what was wrong or how you might assist them. That might be interpreted by a dog as positive reinforcement of their conduct. They believe that by following you around, they will be noticed. This is frequently an inadvertent cause of their clinginess. You hadn’t expected them to pick up on this habit and use it to get your attention. Behavioral training may be useful in dealing with this problem.

Illness or Senses Impairment

Dogs that aren’t feeling well or have a deficiency in one of their senses may find solace in constantly following you around. If they are blind, for example, they may want to be near you to ensure that they are kept secure and do not get into danger. If they aren’t feeling well or are afflicted with another illness, they may be more motivated to stay with you at all times.

The temperament of the Breed

As it turns out, certain breeds are predisposed to being demanding and clinging by nature. This is a personality trait that is inextricably linked to who they are. They may just require more time and care than other breeds.

Estrus

Estrus refers to a female dog who is open to mating or “in heat.” This occurs around twice a year, beginning before the dog reaches the age of one year and lasting three to four weeks.

When a dog is in proestrus, right before she is ready to mate, she will become clinging. You can learn about your Goldendoodle’s heat cycle here to know what to expect and how to react in every stage.

Boredom or need for mental stimulation

Doodles, especially young puppies, require more daily physical and mental activity than most dogs. They may follow you around if they have excess energy and no enjoyable things to channel it into. They’re searching for anything to do, even if it means getting themselves into trouble.

Companionship

Although dogs do not appear to be conventional pack animals, they have been tamed for millennia to follow people. Dogs were not created to live alone.

A dog’s best buddy is humans. Dogs live in packs, and people are part of that pack. You can also consider getting a second Goldendoodle if your dog is not getting enough time with you, although it is not the same thing, but it still works, and Goldendoodles do better in pairs anyway.

Unintentional reinforcement of the behavior

If you give your dog a treat, a hug, or an enthusiastic touch every time you see them, they’ll be more inclined to follow you around. Every time you give your dog a treat, a hug, or a compliment, you are rewarding them.

Even if you don’t realize it, you’re instructing your dog that their clinging behavior is ok.

Emotional distress

Because of their prior life experiences, shelter and rescue dogs may exhibit Velcro behavior. They may be haunted by a dread of being abandoned.

Curiosity

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it’s also possible that it’s driving your dog to the porcelain throne. Dogs are inquisitive animals. They’re curious about what their other pack members are up to. It’s conceivable that you’ll obtain snacks or participate in a fun activity. Your four-legged family member isn’t going to miss out on the fun.

What’s the least clingy doodle?

The berndoodle is the least clingy doodle you can find

Due to their soft and pleasant temperament, the Bernedoodle is the calmest poodle mix crossbreed and thus the least clingy doodle you can find. Bernedoodles make excellent companions for elders and families with children, and they get along well with other dogs. While Bernedoodles are incredibly sociable, they need to be socialized early to be calm in unfamiliar circumstances.

The Bernedoodle, a cross between a Bernese mountain dog and a poodle, is the most laid-back, affectionate, and peaceful dog you’ll ever meet. At first glance, his limitless pounds of fluff may appear overpowering, but get to know the sweet-faced, even-tempered, real-life teddy bear, and your heart will melt.

It is worthy of mentioning that all breeds are prone to being clingy temporarily, especially to their loved ones, and for reasons that have nothing to do with the breed or the dog’s personality.

It might be difficult to determine a mixed breed’s personality since they can inherit traits from either parent. Fortunately, Bernese mountain dogs are the gentlest of canine giants, and when combined with a calm poodle, you’ve won the jackpot.

Are Doodles prone to separation anxiety?

Doodles are prone to separation anxiety as they like being the focus of attention. While other breeds can thrive with little or no human interaction, doodles can’t stand being ignored or left alone. They are desperate for attention and will go to any extent to get it.

If a doodle is left alone for too long, and/or has little quality time with his or her owners, he or she may develop anxiety. Separation anxiety is very serious in dogs, and especially so in very social dogs like the doodles, and if not handled well and quickly, it can lead to serious problems like depression.

I have a post on the causes and treatments of depression in Goldendoodles here that you can check out to learn about the problem, how serious it is, and how you should handle it.

An owner must be willing to spend time with their doodle in order to have a happy, well-behaved dog. Doodles are very well-known for being extremely social. In the end, you have the most loyal friend you could possibly have.

How to make your doodle less clingy?

There are numerous methods for reducing a dog’s clinginess.

Increase their physical activity. A decent workout will tire your dog out to the point where he will no longer want to follow you around.
Encourage them to think. Because he has nothing better to do, a bored dog may become clingy. Dog interactive toys that keep them cognitively occupied and encourage autonomous play.
Make a unique environment. Instead of following you around, set up a place with your dog’s bed and favorite dog toys where your dog can go. Use a cue like “Go to your special spot” to direct your dog to this area, and instantly reward them with a treat when they arrive.
Your dog should be desensitized to your movements. Your dog has most likely learned to link specific motions with being rewarded or being left. Practice doing these motions without the desired impact to “normalize” them.

As for the interactive toys, you can find my dogs’ favorite interactive puzzle toys here. I’ve tested literally dozens of puzzles, toys, and gimmicks over the years to see which one they liked the most, and the ones I link to there are just the best.

If you are looking for a quick recommendation, I highly advise you to check out the Nina Ottosson puzzle by Outward Hound (and other toys by Outward hound, these guys are just awesome).

You can check its latest price on Amazon here.

What’s the difference between clinginess and separation anxiety

Separation anxiety and clinginess are related but not identical. The way a dog reacts to being separated from its owner is what distinguishes them.

When you’re at home, clingy dogs want to be near you, but when you’re not, they don’t worry. When you’re not around, a dog who has separation anxiety panics.

When dogs are left alone, they develop separation anxiety, which leads them to act destructively and anxiously. Constant whining, pacing, destructive chewing, and peeing or defecating in the house are all examples of this type of behavior.

When clinginess turns into separation anxiety, it becomes an issue. If your clinging dog becomes frightened or panicked when left alone, you should suspect separation anxiety and seek expert treatment.

A veterinary behaviorist can assist you in implementing behavioral changes to alleviate anxiety. Fortunately, separation anxiety does not affect all clinging dogs.