Why are goldens so clingy

Golden Retrievers Are So Needy! ( 8 Reasons Why)

Golden Retrievers are hungry for attention. They love to play, cuddle, and hang out with beloved family members. However, while their attention-seeking behavior is entirely normal, it can go overboard (and prove problematic) when they become extremely needy. So, why are Golden Retrievers so needy?

Golden Retrievers are generally needy because they want attention or are bored. However, Goldens could also come off as needy if they have separation anxiety, are in pain, or if the owner has inadvertently encouraged the needy behavior. They might also remember past traumatic experiences.

If youre concerned about your Goldens overly clingy behavior, read on to learn more about why Golden Retrievers are needy and how you can address the problem.

(This article may contain affiliate links and loyalgoldens may earn a commission if a purchase is made.)

Unlock your goldens natural intelligence and see just how quickly problem behaviors disappear.This is the best at home dog training I've ever used!

Golden Retrievers Are Attention Seekers

Golden Retrievers are suckers for attention. If they could have it their way, theyd spend the entire day playing and goofing around with their owners.

Maybe your Golden Retriever is a velcro dog (attached to you like velcro) and wont leave your side. As a Golden Retriever owner, this behavior can get annoying but could be a sign that your dogs needs arent being met.

Your Golden is probably seeking attention and letting you know that you arent spending enough time with them. It could be that your schedule got tighter, or youre just unavailable and cant engage in play or other day-to-day activities like training or walks.

If your Golden is needy because of lack of attention, then theyll stop being extra needy once you fulfill their needs.

The trick to controlling needy behavior associated with attention-seeking is to ensure your Golden Retriever receives regular attention from you or other people in your household. If your schedule is tight, then try allocating duties like play and training to other family members, which will ensure your cute four-legged family member doesnt feel neglected.

Golden Retrievers Can Get Bored

Keeping up with a puppy or fully grown Golden Retriever can prove daunting, especially if youre not up to the task of keeping them entertained. By nature, the Golden Retriever breed is a hunting dog, meaning your pooch needs a lot of daily physical activity to thrive.

Suppose youre not engaging your Golden Retriever in regular play or exercise. In that case, chances are he might start exhibiting needy behavior, which is his way of letting you know that hes bored and needs activity. Theyll become extra needy when he sees you heading out without taking him for a walk or inviting them to a game of fetch.

Ideally, it is advisable to give Golden Retrievers at least one hour of exercise daily due to their physical needs. Doing so will ensure your cute canine companion isnt bored and, well, extra-needy. It can also give you the motivation you need to embark on your own exercise routine.

A Needy Golden Retriever Might Have Separation Anxiety

Like many other companion dogs, Golden Retrievers might come off as super needy if they suffer from separation anxiety. Moreover, due to their love for affection, Goldens are more predisposed to separation anxiety than most breeds, highlighting the importance of training your dog to anticipate separation and handle it well.

Golden Retriever puppies tend to exhibit symptoms of separation anxiety more than their fully-grown counterparts. The behavior is mainly attributed to separation from their mothers and may take them some time to adjust.

If you notice that your Golden Retriever gets excessively needy when you are preparing to leave, then its best to train them to remain calm.

The best way to train your Golden Retriever to be less anxious when youre about to leave is through rewards. Start small by giving them signs that youre about to leave and rewarding them for not reacting anxiously to your potential exit.

For instance, you can pick up your keys and reward your pup if they dont act uneasy or anxious. Do this again as you hold your door handle and only reward them if they remain calm.

Ensure that you progress gradually, rewarding your Golden whenever they remain calm. Theyll soon understand that you have to leave and realize that youre not leaving them forever.

A Needy Golden Retriever Could Be in Pain

Golden Retrievers love to communicate through their bodies as theyll often use their cute paws to gently harass you into submission. Therefore, if your dog has never been overly needy, then becomes extra needy and unhappy all at once, chances are they could be in pain.

Your Golden Retriever might be acting needy to grab your attention and have you focus on their underlying problem. As a result, youll need to pay close attention to your Retriever whenever their needy episodes start.

Pay close attention to how your Golden Retriever responds after physical activity like swimming or play. After enjoying a nice time out, their level of neediness should go down significantly. But if they become persistently needy even after you give in to most of their demands, then taking them to the vet for consultation might be a good idea.

A Needy Golden Retriever Might Have Had Traumatic Past Experiences

Although not common, some adult Golden Retrievers, especially those adopted from shelters, might exhibit excessively needy behavior, which is usually a way of showing affection while relaying fear to the new caring owner.

If you notice your newly adopted Golden Retriever is extra needy, handle them with care and teach them to gradually let go through positive reinforcement. Consulting a dog behaviorist might also come in handy if you find your Goldens needy behavior to be too much.

Inadvertently Reinforcing Your Golden Retrievers Needy Behavior

As natural hunters and retrievers, Goldens are easily among the most intelligent dog breeds around. Due to this, your super-smart four-legged friend might feel entitled and thus act needy to intelligently coerce you into giving in.

If you allow your Golden Retriever to always get what they want whenever they act needy, then chances are your dog will develop an appetite for acting needy. Therefore, youll need to be extra careful when handling your Golden, especially when theyre misbehaving.

Be firm and avoid giving in to their demands whenever they act needy. While saying no to these cute furry companions might be hard, the tough love will eventually pay off when your Golden becomes fully independent.

Neediness Due To A Golden Retrievers Personality

As mentioned earlier, Golden Retrievers love attention. Its part of their personality. Historically, these dogs were bred to bond with their owners during outdoor activities like hunting, so theyll naturally look to you for guidance and direction. A Golden Retriever will tend to be fixated on their favorite person or people. This explains the importance of giving your Golden Retriever lots of training during puppyhood so that they understand the importance of independence.

Discover how to train your Golden Retriever by playing games: 21 games to play with your Golden that will make them smarter and better behaved!

An Abrupt Change in Environment Can Make a Golden More Needy

Since Golden Retrievers are naturally social dogs, they might struggle when separated from other family members or household pets. For instance, if the senior family cat dies, your Golden might become extra needy, especially if there arent other household pets.

The same applies when a close family member travels or goes away for a while. These dogs tend to develop strong emotional attachments to family members and other household pets and might respond to abrupt changes by becoming too needy before fully adjusting.

Stopping Your Golden Retrievers Clingy Behavior

The best way to stop your Golden Retrievers clingy and needy behavior is to exercise it out of them. Most Golden Retrieverss behavioral problems stem from them not getting enough exercise. A tired Golden will be relaxed and not require so much attention.

In addition, if you or someone in your household is giving your Golden Retriever a vigorous amount of exercise each day, in a Goldens mind, he is also getting plenty of attention, which further reduces any needy behavior. Exercising your Golden is literally accomplishing two things at once and both of these things will reduce the level of neediness in your dog.

Final Takeaway

Golden Retrievers love attention, especially from their beloved family members, which explains why theyre always trying to impress by playing games, fetching, and wanting to participate in almost every activity you involve them in. But the need for attention can become too much, especially if you allow the dog to have their way every time.

While not all Golden Retrievers are needy, some might become needy when they feel neglected due to a lack of attention. Traumatic past experiences or underlying health issues might also lead to neediness in Golden Retrievers.

Sources

PetMD & Clingy Dog Behavior

Why Are Goldendoodles So Clingy 13 Possible Answers

Are you a proud Goldendoodle owner? And, all of a sudden, your pet has started showering you with extreme clinginess? The good news is youre not alone! The Why are Goldendoodles so clingy phenomenon is out there, and it persists!

Even though clinginess is a pattern for many dog breeds, thats not exactly the case with Goldendoodles. This phenomenon mostly derives from some external factors that are not initially related to it.

In order to understand a Goldendoodles clingy behavior, we need to dig in and find all the possible reasons for such behavior. Enjoy!

Why Are Goldendoodles So Clingy

Despite being masters of the science called affectionism, clingy dogs can be a true nightmare at times. Their constant need to be around their owner is pretty much the center of their daily routine, which is why many owners decide to give up their pooches pretty soon.

Luckily, this is not the primary behavioral pattern in Goldendoodle puppies as these pooches despite being loving, affectionate, and loyal still have their own way, too.

The reason why Goldendoodles are so clingy at times lies in a plethora of reasons. Most of the time, this behavioral pattern derives from some external factors, such as a change of the environment, stress, bad previous experience, and so on.

But, what are the other reasons? Heres the list of thirteen possible reasons that might be the answer to your question!

1. Standardized Behavioral Pattern

Many Goldendoodle owners neglect the fact that their canines come from two parent breeds that make the club of the best family dogs in the world.

Either knowingly or subconsciously, they dont realize that being the best doesnt automatically imply that their only quality is being a walking shadow of their owner.

Quite the contrary both Poodles and Goldies, as well as their offspring, the Goldendoodle, make ideal pets due to their high intelligence, natural affection, recognizable loyalty, and great physical skills!

Instead of using these qualities for a good cause, the slight majority of Doodle owners unknowingly make their dogs clingy.

2. Attention Seeking

The truth is that all puppies need a certain amount of attention, especially in their earliest age. Still, an adult Goldendoodle seeking attention is something else.

These canines use their intelligence to communicate with their owner or even to outsmart them. This is a highly active breed that seeks attention from their owner when their basic needs are neglected.

For instance, if your dog doesnt get enough exercise during the day, you might face clingy behavior that derives from attention seeking.

On the other hand, attention seeking goes hand in hand with your dog being spoiled.

3. Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is one of the most common answers to the why are Goldendoodles so clingy question. Generally, this issue is related to affectionate dog breeds whose natural habitat is around their owner.

Goldies are dogs that dont like spending so much time without their owner. Having them as outside dogs would be completely wrong. In fact, Goldies that are parented outside the house have a much greater chance of facing separation anxiety.

As some dogs react to this issue by being self-destructive or even aggressive other dogs respond differently. Clingy behavior is one of those manifestations of separation anxiety in a dog.

4. Fear Or Phobia

Yes, the truth is that these pooches are highly active and even protective towards their owner. But, how brave are they? Well, even the bravest Goldendoodles cope with certain fears and phobias.

Puppies that deal with a specific fear or phobia may react by putting their clinginess on display. If your puppy has become clingy all of the sudden, you may want to revisit your environment or your social circle.

Fears and phobias in dogs derive from a plethora of things, such as a change of the environment, loud spaces, fireworks, firecrackers, other animals or other dogs, unknown people, and many others.

5. Pain

Goldendoodles that go through some pain may be extremely clingy and needy. This is their way of telling their owner that something is wrong.

For instance, puppies that are in pain after neutering or spaying may spend countless hours whining or seeking their owners attention. On the other hand, dogs that suffered some major injury are highly likely to look out for their owner first.

In order to recognize whether their clinginess derives from pain, you need to follow other accompanying trails, such as limping, panting, yelping, whining, blood spots on their body, or inability to keep their balance.

6. Disease

Puppies that deal with some minor health problems, such as hip dysplasia, bloat, or bigger ones, such as cancer, may find their peace around their owner.

Most of the time, dogs affected with a certain disease find their solace in a peaceful, low-key environment. That being said, many pooches are highly likely to hide under the bed or find a dark, hardly-approachable place where they can be on their own.

Still, some puppies choose to be around their owner. This is especially related to affectionate dog breeds, such as Goldendoodles.

7. Lack Of Mental Stimulation

Goldies that dont receive a proper amount of mental stimulation during the day are highly likely to display unusual or even destructive behavior. This is due to the fact that these pooches are highly intelligent dogs that get bored easily.

In order to avoid their excessive clinginess and unbearable shadow-like behavior, you need to work on their mind, too. Get an interactive playground or interactive dog toys, play games for mental stimulation, and take them out regularly.

This way, you will avoid undesirable yelping, barking, arm-pulling, and mouthing in your dog. Instead of being well-behaved, your mentally destimulated Goldie is highly likely to become clingy and unbearable.

8. Theyre Trying To Communicate

The Why are Goldendoodles so clingy phenomenon can be explained by the fact that theyre just trying to communicate with their owner. Thats right! These pooches use various body language methods to tell their owner certain things.

Instead of touching your arm, standing on you, or pulling you by your sleeve, some Goldies will display their clinginess in the attempt to get your attention.

They will be clingy in order to tell you that it is mealtime, playtime, or time for cuddling!

9. Affection

Both male and female Goldendoodles can be clingy as a result of their deepest affection towards their owner. This is a highly affectionate dog breed that loves spending time with their loved ones. That being said, them being clingy at times isnt so uncommon.

This type of clinginess mostly comes with other accompanying signs, such as tail wagging, wiggling, smiling, or trembling.

If your dog does all these things, dont worry he just loves you!

10. Your Dog Is In Heat

One of the reasons why Goldies can be the worst dogs to have around is their high maintenance in times of heat.

The heat period generally comes with some extensive behavioral patterns, such as clingy behavior, possible aggression, unpredictability, an attempt to escape, and so on.

The best you can do for your pooch in this situation is timely spaying or neutering. Otherwise, you might face sporadic intervals of unbearableness.

11. Entering Senior Years

Even though this isnt the universal rule some Goldendoodels become more clingy once they enter their senior years. Their decreased activity level positively correlates with their need to be more around their owner, which is not the case when they are at their peak.

Unfortunately, their seniorhood is a sensitive period of time. They require a lot of attention and careful maintenance, just like they did when they were puppies.

Canines panting at night, not being able to perform regular activities, and sleeping excessively are just some of the most common things that senior dogs go through.

Senior Goldendoodles will feel much more comfortable spending their afternoons laying next to their owner rather than jumping, racing, and frolicking in dog parks. This is a process that comes naturally, and it doesnt have any red flags.

12. Curiosity

Goldies are known for their adventurous and wandering spirit. Even though they wont automatically go crazy about something, they do like following their owner in an unknown environment or under strange circumstances.

Their curiosity might be the main reason why these pooches are clingy, which is why they require timely training and teaching them manners. The best time to apply some universal Goldendoodle training tips is during their puppyhood stage.

This way, you will reduce their clinginess in these kinds of situations.

Breed-related clinginess is mostly related to smaller lap dog breeds. Luckily, a Goldendoodle aint one!

Still, some Doodles that come from miniature Poodles may be clingy by default. This is due to the fact that miniature dogs have a lower energy level, and they naturally spend more time with their owner.

On the other hand, standard-sized Doodles are more likely to spend their time outdoors, running around and entertaining themselves with high-intensity activities.

Conclusion

The Why are Goldendoodles so clingy dilemma has multiple roots. The first thing a Goldendoodle owner should know is that these pooches are not naturally as clingy as some smaller dog breeds.

In order to find out what stands behind their clinginess, you need to follow the accompanying signs, which, at times, isnt a simple walk in the park.

Read more: 10 Amazing Facts About English Goldendoodle Dogs