Separation issues!

[azmaynard]

Hello my name is Allie, I have a few questions about my almost 18 month old yellow lab/ hound mix Lilly. I guess I should start at the beginning,
Lilly was meant to be a hunting dog but just isn't a hunting dog, so the man that breeds dogs abused Lilly then dropped her off at a kill shelter. An
awesome organization rescued her & put Lilly is a foster home till we adopted her a week after she was put into foster care. The first week Lilly was
VERY shy but clung to me like glue. We (my husband Adam & I) thought once Lilly got adjusted to living with us this would calm down. I love my Lilly
bug, but I wish I could go to the bathroom without Lilly following me.
If I'm downstairs & decide to go up stairs, no matter what Lilly is doing she follows me, even if she's in the middle of eating. I tell her to stay but if I go out of sight she gets up & follows me. Is there anything I can do to make this better? Lilly has no issues going to her crate when I tell her to "go to your room". She doesn't wine or bark when shes in her crate, but she just gets up and follows me during the day. Adam & I can go out & the
neighbors don't hear a peep out of her. I know Lilly was abused when she was a puppy & we adopted her when she was 5 months old so she has a
few issues but I want her to be able to relax & eat even if I'm out of sight. Please help we get Lilly to relax a bit more. THANK YOU!

Sincerely,
Allie

[BigBrownDog]

Actually she is not a dog with a sep anx problem or she'd be a basket case when you left - that is really the classic symptom of separation anxiety. You have what is commonly called a "velcro" dog. She wants to be right there with you all the time - probably to the point that you almost trip over her walking around the house.

You might try placing small mats (like carpet samples) at various places in the house and training her to go to them when you are in that room. That way she can see you but not be underfoot. I would also train her to sit/stay outside of the bathroom door when you are in there.

How does she react if you simply don't let her follow you into the bathroom? Maybe some of this is you letting her behave this way and not limiting her?