[Lara's mom]

My Lance (bless his heart) is 6 months old now. He is like my little canine shadow. I can't leave a room without him being right behind me. If I sit down and turn the TV on, he jumps up and lays right beside me. At night in bed, he insists on sleeping right along side me so that we're touching.

When we're outside in the park, if he isn't running after a ball, he's right beside me while the other dogs are all "doing their own thing." When I have to go out and I can't take the dogs with me, he howls like a dog being tortured. The other two couldn't care less. They are both girls. Is this a "male thing" or is Lance too attached to me?

[cigwyllt]

My Toffee loves everyone - man, woman, child - she doesn't care. If you're human she loves you. Ojo on the other hand is fiercely independent but does love males. She really is a man's woman, a total tart. I had a male JR when I was a teen and I adored him and he loved me but he wasn't clingy in any way, just affectionate and loyal. Manny though is attached to me not by an invisible bungee strap as Yeti was but invisible velcro. He won't leave the house without me, wants to be with me ALL the time. If I move from the sofa to the tv to turn it on he has to come. If I go to the bathroom he sits on the stairs and waits. If someone else lets the dogs out in the morning he runs to sit on the stairs and wait for me.

When we went to puppy class the trainer said I should disassociate from him as he was unable to rest properly because he kept following me but I just couldn't do it. If I see him looking at me I make eye contact and smile. If he is in reach of me I touch him. He is the dog I've wanted for the past 14 years. Why should I encourage him to behave differently. When I'm not around he isn't unhappy, he doesn't pine, he just waits! The kids know where I am depending on where he sits - conservatory means mum has gone outside, stairs means mum is in the bathroom. I love it and wouldn't change it for the world.

Enjoy.

[Lara's mom]

So, you don't think it is a problem that I can't move 5 feet without Lance right at my heels? He is the first male dog I've ever had apart from short term fosters who weren't around long enough to develop that kind of a bond.

[cigwyllt]

Is it a problem for you? You say he howls when you leave him - is that just when you go or does he settle quickly? If you saw Manny with me in the house you would think he would be desperate once I was out of reach but he isn't - he'll eat, sleep, go outside and watch and wait in the conservatory as much as possible until I get back. No drama, just happy to have me home.

If Lance settles without you but is happier with you then I don't see there's a problem. I really love having a dog that wants to be with me.

[CorkyMax]

I've got 2 male dogs--course I've never had females. I don't think it is a male thing though as Corky is pretty independent --He likes attention though but is not clingy. Max is a mama's boy and will follow me around a lot but when I leave he is okay--He knows I will be back! Lol, Corky, the independent one will go sit in the doggie doorway (this is off the ground about 3 feet with a ramp) and watch me go up the road and knows I will say 'bye Corky'--a ritual-type thing! Lol, Max is in the kitchen taking a snooze. I think part of it with Max and me leaving--He is just lazy and doesn't want to move that much! Besides they have been with me for nearly 12 years and know 'how things work' by now.

Like Cigwyllt said---Enjoy the little stinker---Good bond! Lol, as clumsy as you say--Just don't step on him!

[Lara's mom]

corky/max: As Lance is constantly underfoot, I'm still doing that "puppy shuffle." If not, his leg would surely have been broken by now!!!

cigwyllt: I just don't think his extreme attachment to me is normal. The girls love me too but they don't act like Lance.

[Todd]

Not sure if it's a male thing only because my dog Lucky, a female, is pretty clingy. No really at the park but she always has to be in the room with the family wherever we go in the house. She always waits by the door and wants to go with us when we are going somewhere in the car. She literally runs to the door when she hears someone with or getting the keys out of the droor lol. She doesn't get all upset when we leave though. Gets SUPER excited when we get home though. Always has tgo have something in her mouth when she greets us weather it be a pillow, shoe, etc lol. And we wonder why we can't find one single pair of matching shoes lol!

[CorkyMax]

Lol, Todd---I forgot to mention that my 2 are waiting at the door when they know I have come home--wiggling their butts and Max (Paxer) has to have a soft toy in his mouth too! The little lovers!

[Lara's mom]

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

Is it a problem for you? You say he howls when you leave him - is that just when you go or does he settle quickly? If you saw Manny with me in the house you would think he would be desperate once I was out of reach but he isn't - he'll eat, sleep, go outside and watch and wait in the conservatory as much as possible until I get back. No drama, just happy to have me home.

If Lance settles without you but is happier with you then I don't see there's a problem. I really love having a dog that wants to be with me.

I'm not saying it's a problem but, I just am wondering if what he's doing is considered normal for a male dog with a female owner. He gets terribly upset when I have to go somewhere that I can't take the dogs. The others who are both female couldn't care less. The weird thing is that Lance and I had a difficult time bonding. I very nearly sent him back to his breeder. Could that have made him insecure?

[GSDS4Life]

We have 4 males. And they are not overly "clingy" with me. They do their own thing. Nitro gets a little more excited when he sees me. But I think that's because he works with hubby and is by his side all day.

The problem at times is when they are too "clingy" and need to be near you all the time,this can cause the seperation anxiety.

What do you mean you had a difficult time bonding?

[Yogi]

In my years working with dogs I have in fact found there is a correlation between dogs ie: females and males when it comes to human preference. Though mainly in smaller breeds. Males tend to be more apt to bond with women where females with men. In the case of my Papillons, the females are
literally daddy's girls where the male is off on his own. In my Miniature Pinschers, the same seems to apply though I have had a few females that were more relaxed with the voice of a woman as opposed to a mans voice.
I should also note that in the past few Papillon litters, the females have in fact though were picked out by the woman in the house have actually turned out to have bonded with the men where in the case of the males, they have bonded with the women. In one case one of the females actually goes to work with the woman and spends the day there but soon as she gets her home the dog runs to her husband and will not leave his side. She is this way when they are not at work either. In another case the male went to a home with 2 children, the male bonded instantly with the little girl and literally follows her everywhere and sleeps with her. In the case of the male Miniature Pinscher from the last litter, he is on 10 acres of farm in Canada and immediately bonded with their 13 year old daughter. The female in the litter lives on 2 plus acres south of me and bonded with the husband.

[cigwyllt]

I know you had some doubts when Lance first arrived but I had nothing but an overwhelming attachment for my boy and it sounds like they have both grown to be the same. It may sound a bit pathetic but I was quite hurt and frustrated that there seemed to be no bond between me and Ojo and when I got Manny it was sort of "last chance saloon" - I "needed" to bond with him and within 48 hours he was glued to my side. I honestly can't see how a question about his suitability for your pack could possibly make Lance over attached to you. I think he just loves his momma!