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Would love some advice! I have a 13-week old female GSD puppy who has recently started to struggle when my husband or I can't be present for every moment of every outing. Basically, she wants all three of us, all the time.
For example...
1 - If my husband and I are both at home, she'll refuse to walk unless both of us come out with her. If one of us gets her out the door on the off chance, she'll take every opportunity to go back home and collect the missing person.
2 - When we're all out walking and one of us walks out of sight (goes into a store or public restroom) she can't help but bark until the person comes back.
Food used to distract her though that was short-lived (even though she LOVES food). Some other distractions have worked on occasion (little kids stopping to say hello, birds, carrying her in the opposite direction/around the corner) but I guess I want to keep her calm rather than distracted.
Oddly she doesn't seem to have separation anxiety when we leave the house e.g. she might bark once or twice and/or whine a little but easily settles herself within a minute or two. No destruction or panic either when we come home. I have had other herding dogs both with and without separation anxiety but this habit seems different to me, maybe something unique to a GSD?
She is extremely social (with both people and dogs), very adaptable in all other situations and trains like a dream so I'm not sure if this separation anxiety or just a pup with a pack mentality?
Any advice or training methods greatly appreciated!
For example...
1 - If my husband and I are both at home, she'll refuse to walk unless both of us come out with her. If one of us gets her out the door on the off chance, she'll take every opportunity to go back home and collect the missing person.
2 - When we're all out walking and one of us walks out of sight (goes into a store or public restroom) she can't help but bark until the person comes back.
Food used to distract her though that was short-lived (even though she LOVES food). Some other distractions have worked on occasion (little kids stopping to say hello, birds, carrying her in the opposite direction/around the corner) but I guess I want to keep her calm rather than distracted.
Oddly she doesn't seem to have separation anxiety when we leave the house e.g. she might bark once or twice and/or whine a little but easily settles herself within a minute or two. No destruction or panic either when we come home. I have had other herding dogs both with and without separation anxiety but this habit seems different to me, maybe something unique to a GSD?
She is extremely social (with both people and dogs), very adaptable in all other situations and trains like a dream so I'm not sure if this separation anxiety or just a pup with a pack mentality?
Any advice or training methods greatly appreciated!