What to do if your dog is too obsessed with you?

If your dog is too obsessed with you, it's actually more about them being obsessed with an object, such as a ball, and it's up to you to set boundaries. The toy should always come from you and you invite the dog to play with it, not the other way around. To give you an example, you can bring out the toys when it suits you and offer the game, and when you're done, say 'finish' in a firm voice and calmly put it away. You can also teach your dog to 'give' a toy or ball by making the toy come to life and then making it go very still, and as soon as they let go, say "give" so they begin to understand that cue. Additionally, make eye contact and wait for your dog to look at you before you throw the ball or invite tug play, and mark with "yes" or "ok" as soon as they look. Be careful what you reward, and do not inadvertently teach unwanted behaviours by giving up the toy or throwing the ball when they are misbehaving. When you stop the game, always end with the same cue like "finish" and put the toy, ball, or tug away.

If you think you might suffer from pet obsession, this scale can help you determine how much pet fever you suffer from. If you don’t affectionately greet your pet at least once a day, give it treats, or pet it, this is where you belong. If any comment about your pet starts to feel like a personal attack to you as the owner, you are beginning to form a bond that could lead to higher levels of attachment. If your pets eat many scraps of human food or eat different meals from other pets entirely, it will start to become an issue. If you are inseparable from your pet, this category is the place for you. My advice for you: identify that you have a problem. Unless your pet can talk, try to get a little human contact. Meet some new people, leave the house a little more, and let your pet experience a life of its own. Trust me, you won’t regret it.