In this article, we answer the following question: Why are Yorkies so clingy? We also talk about the reasons why a dog may be too attached to his owner’s presence.
Why are Yorkies so clingy?
The main reason why Yorkies seem so clingy is that they are very protective of the house and its people, despite being small they are not afraid at all if they have to protect their family.
Yorkies love to have fun and play any game, whether it be playing ball, chasing a rope, or running after an object thrown at them. As they have an outgoing and playful personality, they make them the ideal dog for children, young and old alike.
We must always ensure that our dog socializes with other dogs; pets that are carried in their arms and do not step on the ground, because the owners are afraid that they will get together with other dogs, they are hurting their pet; because they are herd animals and need contact with their peers.
Animal welfare is not only about giving them food and affection, they need to act like dogs because they are not human beings.
The consequences of humanizing dogs are that dogs will have imbalances, which translates into anxious, aggressive, biting, barking dogs, etc; all because of the bad socialization that their owners have given them.
We have to educate them correctly so that the whole family has a healthy, calm and balanced coexistence.
My Yorkie demands a lot of attention, is it normal?
It is no coincidence that the dog is considered the best friend of humans and has become one of the most popular and beloved companion animals in the world.
However, when a dog becomes overly dependent or demanding on his guardians and family members, this emotional bond becomes unhealthy and begins to damage both the dog’s well-being and family life.
For a dog to demand excessive attention is not normal. An overly dependent dog cannot handle his loneliness or enjoy a positive social life, he tends to suffer from depression or to develop behaviour problems.
However, dependence on its humans is not the only cause that can justify a dog demanding a lot of attention. Therefore, before starting any treatment, it is essential to know the cause that moves the dog to carry out this behaviour.
Why is my Yorkie very dependent on me?
A dependent dog is one that constantly demands the attention of guardians and family members, and can also have the same behaviour with other people. It occurs when hyperrealism has developed in the animal towards one or more members of its family.
This occurs, above all, in dogs that have been weaned prematurely and, therefore, have not been able to learn the basic codes of social conduct that mothers transmit. Likewise, it is usually common in dogs that have not received adequate education or do not have a routine.
Human dependence symptoms in dogs
Because each dog is a unique individual with a unique personality, we can find many symptoms that indicate that our dog suffers from this type of dependency. That is, to attract people’s attention and interest, each dog can perform various actions and gestures, including some behaviour problems.
So, to know if your dog is very dependent and this is the cause that justifies him constantly demanding attention, you must learn to identify these signs.
It is not uncommon to see dependent dogs that cry or bark excessively (especially when alone), jump on people, bite or destroy clothing, objects and furniture in the home, or suffer from separation anxiety. It is even possible for a dog in great need of attention to be aggressive towards other people and animals that approach his guardians.
For all these reasons, the demand for excessive attention and possessive behaviour should not be ignored or considered harmless in dogs. In addition to causing problems in the dog’s bond with the guardian, a very dependent dog can become dangerous for everyone who lives with him.
Although there are more independent and more attached dog breeds (which tend to be more possessive), the type of relationship that a furry develops with his guardian and other people will also be greatly influenced by the socialization, training and routine that each receives. dog.
Why does my dog want so much attention?
If you have ruled out hyperrealism but still consider that your dog wants to attract your attention at all times and you do not understand why you should know that several causes may be behind this behaviour. Before explaining them, let’s see what dogs do to attract attention to guarantee that, indeed, this is what happens to yours:
- Excessive barking and crying
- Howl
- Snarl
- Brings you toys
- Licks you
- Gives you paw his paw
- Scratched you
- Walks from one side to the other
- Chases the tail
- Nibbles on you
Also, if your dog is very cuddly or more affectionate than normal, it can be a way of trying to get your attention to cover some kind of need. In this way, whether your dog tries to get your attention, barks to play with you or licks you, you can confirm that he wants you to listen to him and you must find out why.
Your dog demands attention for lack of affection
Without a doubt, the most logical reason is that your dog does not receive the love it needs to be happy.
To verify this, you simply have to pay attention to the hours a day that you spend spending time with your dog and ask yourself if you have played with him, have you caressed him at any time or, simply, have you stayed by his side.
Dogs are sociable animals that need to receive a minimum of attention to stay balanced, so it is normal for them to demand it if they do not have it. In this way, in this case, it is normal for your dog to demand a lot of attention.
This happens, above all, in cases of dogs with poor environmental enrichment. That is, if the dog does not have toys, does not receive the physical and mental stimulation it needs or has no way of keeping itself entertained at home, it will most likely become bored and develop unwanted behaviours.
The solution in these cases is as simple as offering the animal adequate environmental enrichment and exercising it as needed.
Your dog demands your attention because he is hungry or thirsty
Many times we do not realize that the food or water bowl is empty and it is the dog itself that warns us of this by barking, moaning or whining, mainly. Although at specific times it may be normal due to the lifestyle we lead, it is very important to avoid reaching the extreme that your dog demands attention to eat or drink water.
If you have reached this point, it is because you have been waiting for your food for a long time.
Your dog demands attention out of jealousy
If you have just adopted a new animal, regardless of the species and age, your dog is likely to be jealous if the presentation has not been adequate or you are not managing the situation properly. Therefore, in these cases, it is also normal to see the dog demand a lot of attention.
Your dog wants to get your attention because he is not well
If you feel pain in any area of your body, have eaten something bad or suffer from some other health problem, it is normal that he tries to get your attention by whining, licking, walking from one side to another or even giving you small blows.
To see if this is the reason, feel his body to identify any signs of pain in your dog. Also, watch his general behaviour in case you see that he tries to vomit or has diarrhoea. In case of identifying any anomaly, go to the vet.
This can occur in dogs of any age but is usually more common in older dogs. Also, elderly dogs tend to demand more attention than adults.
What to do if my dog demands a lot of attention?
Identifying the cause is the first thing you should do to treat it. As we have seen, there are many reasons behind this behaviour and most are easy to solve since they offer the animal entertainment, mental and physical stimulation, love, food and water, all of the basic needs.
Dogs are active and curious by nature, so they need to exercise and enjoy activities that keep them entertained daily. Thus, it is not enough to take 20-minute walks for them to relieve themselves in the street, they need to run, play with other dogs, explore, sniff and see new places.
However, there are not only activities to do outdoors, but intelligence games are also a good solution to keep them entertained at home, especially when they are alone.
Apart from covering the basic needs of a dog, if the problem lies in poor or inadequate education, it is essential to establish routines and resume training to carry it out in a positive, respectful and correct way.
The bottom line
In this article, we answered the following question: Why are Yorkies so clingy? We also talked about the reasons why a dog may be too attached to his owner’s presence.
As we said, it is not recommended that you pay attention to your dog until he shows a calm and patient attitude. At this time, you can reward him with caresses or words of encouragement. Likewise, working on basic obedience also allows the dog to foster this calm attitude that we seek, so asking to sit or lie down will help you.
On the other hand, promoting a quiet environment in which the dog feels comfortable is more than recommended, as is establishing healthy routines for him and covering all his needs. In this sense, the use of synthetic pheromones in a diffuser is a technique that favours the creation of a relaxed environment because it emits a copy of the pheromones that mothers transmit to their puppies.
As it is such a complicated situation, the most appropriate thing is to go to a canine ethologist or an educator specialized in behaviour modification to evaluate the case and set the guidelines for action with you.
If you have any questions or comments on the content, please let us know!
FAQ on Why are Yorkies so clingy?
Are Yorkies attached to their owners?
Yorkies can become very attached to their owners and become incredibly protective of the whole family. Yorkies are great dogs as guard dogs, no matter their size.
Why are Yorkies so needy?
Some Yorkies may be needy and clingy because they like (and are used to) being coddled and pampered by their owners. When you stop giving them so much attention, they seem too needy.
Why do Yorkies have separation anxiety?
Yorkies have separation anxiety if they are not properly trained or do not have a routine. Some other reasons include neglection, changes in pet parents, hereditary issues or boredom.
Can Yorkies be left alone all day?
It is not advisable to leave a Yorkie alone all day. Yorkies are very affectionate and rely on their human parents. You can leave a baby Yorkie by himself up to 3 hours a day, and an adult Yorkie 4 to 6 hours a day.
References
Yorkieadvice.com
Petsworld.in
Animalwised.com
