Dog Won't Interact With People Without Me

mags16

I have a little 9 year old dog called Poppy. I regularly have people staying in my house and Poppy loves to play with them and snuggle up to them on the sofa - but only when I am present. When I go out, she disappears to her bed and only reappears when I come home. I can only stay out for a couple of hours at a time, even when there are people in the house who are very happy to interact and play with Poppy.

I bought her a Kong this afternoon and she had a great time playing with it. I went out for a couple of hours and when I returned, my flatmate said that she was in her bed for the whole time I was gone. As soon as I got home, she started playing with the Kong again.

How can I get her to socialize with people in my absence?

BTW the Kong is a triumph. She has played with it for hours now with only one small treat stuffed inside it.

rainbowtrout

Is it such a problem though? Maybe your dog is happy to spend time in her bed during the day while you are out. She sounds very well behaved. It's probably better than her being territorial about your home. One of my dogs is timid enough, and happy enough to socialise with visitors to my house, but would be wary of them if I wasn't there and would be far happier hanging out in her bed.

mags16

rainbowtrout wrote: »

Is it such a problem though? Maybe your dog is happy to spend time in her bed during the day while you are out.

It's not a big problem. Though i would be happy if I knew she was having the craic with my flatmate when I am out. If ever I have to be out for more than a couple of hours, I fret a little cos I know she is on her own even though someone else is in the house.

She was in kennels once for 4 days and suffered terribly from separation anxiety. I think it stems from the same thing - she is overdependent on me for everything.

She is a great little dog other than that.

(I've had to put the Kong away for the night. I was exhausted looking at her!)

rainbowtrout

Is your flatmate new to the dog? She might just be a bit wary of her. She's also 9 years old, she might need a bit more rest than a younger dog and prefers to spend her time running about when you are home.

The one thing you should take from it is that although you're away from the house your dog is coming to no harm, it might even do her good for you to be gone for more than a couple of hours every now and again but see you return. Maybe you could get your flatmate to feed her some evenings even if you are home or accompany you when you are walking her and get her to hold the lead, so she associates her with part of her routine and she might be a bit more willing to interact? That's of course if your flatmate actually wants to.

mags16

I have had a few flatmates over the years and she always gets on with them like a house on fire. She is a very sociable little dog. It's a very good idea, though, to get someone else to feed her. I think I'll try that.

The one exception to her overdependent behaviour is when she stays with my mum and dad. In their house, she plays, eats and torments their cat.

RICARDO1982

She sounds like a good little skin!!!!!!!!!!

rainbowtrout

mags16 wrote: »

she plays, eats and torments their cat.

I'd say she's doing fine.