Hello, I have a 11 month old GSD and we have had him for almost two months. The dog follows me everywhere I go, from one room of the house to another. I am wondering if this could be an issue as he grows older.? If this could mean the difference between him protecting me, or the dog wanting me to protect him. Could this be early signs of a separation issue? I did take him to the Schutzhund field, but that’s another issue. Thanks in advance

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Hello, I have a 11 month old GSD and we have had him for almost two months. The dog follows me everywhere I go, from one room of the house to another. I am wondering if this could be an issue as he grows older.? If this could mean the difference between him protecting me, or the dog wanting me to protect him. Could this be early signs of a separation issue? I did take him to the Schutzhund field, but that’s another issue. Thanks in advance

Is he getting plenty of daily exercise?

I have twice been asked to help with dogs who trailed their owners everywhere in the house whenever they were out of the crate, and both dogs were bored, with frustrated energy, and in need of more structured exercise, more walks, more frequent (short) training sessions and play....... more use of their mental and physical selves.

This may not be the case with you, but it is an idea. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I am almost certain he is getting plenty of exercise. We do two short sessions of “puppy” tug work and obedience in-between . Occasionally I let him play with the neighbors dog So I think he is mentally engaged. He doesn’t pull on his leash on walks so its kind of hard to gauge. I think his previous owner put to much pressure on him while on a lead. I think this has had a negative affect on his drive, but I ordered the focus and grip dvd so we will see what happens. Thank you for your reply

Hi, i read your post and i personally do not think it`s an anxiety issue. A german shepHERD is a herding dog. And most of them have great pack drive. So to follow you is normal. Mine follows me. When we go hiking he`ll go up about 10 feet and turn around and wait then go up 10 feet and turn around and wait and so on. So it`s pretty normal and that what you really look for in the dog. Atleast i do. I want a dog that wants to be with me and interact with me. Especially if i`m doing any kind of obedience competition and so on. I personally don`t know your dog, but i doubt it`s an issue unless he starts howling or crying for a period of time when you leave.

I agree with Mark, both my dogs hang with me in the house, and on a hike, my boy stays with the family, moving back and forth along the trial to make sure all the members are present and accounted for.

I also agree. I have a typical dobe "velcro" dog. I'm the leader and she follows me wherever I go. If your dog is restless when you settle in an area the exercise or lack of enough exercise might be an issue. If he is like my dobe it's curl up and sleep until I get up to leave the room and then she's right on my heels. If we have a day where I'm moving around alot she doesn't really get to nap much, when that happens she is ready to sleep for the night by 9.

The other folks on this web board are much more knowledgeable than me and have helped me imensely. Their oppinions and suggestions carry alot more weight than mine. I'm just sharing what is going on with my dog and my very humble oppinion.

Yes I agree. You do want a dog that loves to be with you but to a degree. If you let them become dependent on being near you for the security of theirself, then you have an issue. That is one of the problems with velcro dobes. Most of the ones that have the needed quailities are hard to get to do the send away and aprehension beyond a certain distance etc.... You want (at least myself) a dog that is confident being away from you but wants to be with you so when you call them their they are. You also want them to be focused on you and not easily distracted. Work with your dog on short separtion gaps and return a minute or two later with a reward. Extend the time little by little and they will learn to wait. That will build his confidence and also his concentration as he will focus on you returning or doing something a little longer each time.

If your dog see's you as the leader, of course he's going to follow you.
Pack leader moves, pack moves.
You leave the room, he's going to follow, a dogs pack instinct is very strong.
He's bonded to you obviously and wants to be where you are.
My dogs the same way, even if he's in a dead sleep on the floor, if i get up and head up the stairs or out of the room he follows me.
I feel bad about it sometimes, because he's in a deep sleep and i'll try to sneak out, never works though...he always hears me..lol
I think if you're worried about seperation anxiety issues, those will be answered by what he does when you're actually gone and he's home alone. Does he whine alot? Pace looking for you, howl etc etc? Those, at least to me, are speration issues, not him following you in the house.
Is he left alone for a few hours at a time, or are you one of those lucky ones that works from home?
You are, I think, more asking if this behaviour will have any effect on his being able to work away from you for Schutzhund. That point I can't answer as I am not active in that aspect, I am sure someone else can give you some insight on that.
I don't think it would have any negative effect, but then again, I am not knowledgeable in that particular area.
Hope someone else can answer that for you.

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......Is he left alone for a few hours at a time, or are you one of those lucky ones that works from home?........

What a good point. I was starting to think I had a weird non-herder GSD, but of course he knows where I am almost 24-7 because I work in my home office.

Hello, I'd like to expand on this a bit and hopefully get some answeres myself.My 4yr. old GSD is much like the others described in that he'll follow me everywhere.However the problem is if I'm outside doing yardwork or whatever and he's inside he paces back and forth from front door to back door whining and trying to get to me.Even if I'm out in front of the house and he's in the back yard he's up on the fence barking for me to show him attention.He has been OB trained and has his CGC believe it or not but still goes nuts if I'm in earshot of him and he can't be with me.Like the others while on walks he's 10ft. or so ahead of me and keeps looking back to check if I'm still there(I have an E-collar on him just for my own piece of mind)At 4yrs. old is there a way to break this habit of freaki8ng out when I'm not around.Even if my significant other is in the house he still whines to be with me.I don't work from the house and while at work he's fine.Any ideas?