What is velcro dog syndrome?

Canine companions that follow their humans everywhere are often referred to as “Velcro dogs” because of their desire to be attached to your side. Dogs are pack animals, and we are their pack. Young puppies anywhere from birth to 6 months of age can often imprint on their owners and look to them as they would their mother. If every time you are with your dog, he gets affection or treats, he’s likely to follow you around more often. It’s not uncommon for certain breeds to over-attach to their owners, this includes dogs in the Working Group or Herding Group that are bred to work side-by-side with humans. It’s a trait that’s prized and bred into their genetic history. A dog that suddenly becomes very clingy may be suffering from a physical ailment and keeping you in reach for comfort. Velcro Dogs vs. Dogs With Separation Anxiety Could a dog who is attached to you at the hip be showing signs of separation anxiety, while being a “Velcro dog” and having separation anxiety are both associated with not wanting to be away from an owner, there are some distinct yet subtle differences between these two forms of behavior. The big difference between separation anxiety and being a Velcro dog is anxiety itself.

A Velcro dog is a clingy dog who wants to be where you are, no matter what and no matter where. Many of these dogs follow their owners from room to room, even into the bathroom. Some breeds, like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, just naturally desire closeness. A confident Velcro dog will understand that sometimes you must leave the house, but you will be back. When you leave your home, a healthy Velcro/clingy dog quietly waits for his owner to return. If he destroys the home and/or injures himself when you’re not in his sight, it’s a problem, which is called separation anxiety. Fear, Pain, or Discomfort can also make a dog clingy, and another reason a dog might suddenly find the need to stick to you like Velcro is fear or an unsettling household change. Dogs like routine, and any time that routine changes, it can cause him angst, and he will seek protection from you. Many rescue dogs or puppy-mill dogs, who have finally found their forever home, get anxious when they are asked to leave your side, because they are insecure and possibly fearful.