Is your dog too attached to one person? Sure, it’s great that they show love but sometimes it can just be too much — and what if it means that something’s the matter? Is it their breed, their upbringing, or something that person has been doing?

Keep reading, because in this article we’ll answer all these questions (and more), plus fill you in on what (if anything) you need to be doing about it! We’ll also tell you 6 signs your dog has imprinted on you and the 20 most clingy dog breeds. Let’s get started!

How Do You Deal With an Overly Attached Dog?

You deal with an overly attached dog by first recognizing if it’s something that will soon go away, or if it’s a behavioral problem like dominance or separation anxiety.

In the latter two cases, you need to take care of things now or the problem will show itself in even worse ways in the future. Dominance left unchecked quickly becomes aggression, excessive barking, and refusal of commands. Separation anxiety left unchecked quickly becomes barking whenever the person they’re attached to is away, urinating, and tearing things up around the house.

Obviously, none of those are things you want to be dealing with. And while you love them, an overly attached dog is not a good thing for you or your four legged friend.

When a dog is overly attached to one person, whether it’s due to dominance or separation anxiety, they are essentially saying that they (and they alone) are responsible for their protection. They basically don’t even trust you to protect yourself, let alone them or the household.

But the good news is that you can quickly get rid of these unwanted beliefs your dog holds by showing them that you have what it takes to be in charge. And that while you love and respect them as a guard dog, they do not need to be protective or worried about you 24/7.

You’ve probably heard before that dogs are pack animals, and that in every pack there will be a leader. When no one is assuming that role in a dog’s eyes, they will naturally take it over themselves.

A dog that is too attached to a person isn’t enjoying this feeling of never-ending duty, it’s actually causing them a lot of stress and anxiety. Prove to them that you are their pack leader and you’ll quickly rid them of all these worries and the related behavioral issues you’re likely having too.

“Okay, I want that but I don’t want to be mean or yell at my dog.”

That’s great, because you never should and it’s not the way to accomplish this anyways. You can easily become your dog’s pack leader without ever having to even raise your voice at your beloved four legged friend.

To learn how to show your dog that you are their pack leader and quickly end any hyper-attachment issues they’re having, I’d watch an excellent free video series by a renowned trainer named Dan. Do so, and dominance and separation anxiety will soon be a thing of the past too.

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. And don’t worry if you’ve never tried dog training before or had little success in the past, because Dan’s videos are made exactly for people like you. He gets right to the point so there’s no wasted time, and explains everything in ways that are very easy to follow and teach to your own dog.

Do Dogs Attach Themselves to One Person?

Dogs often attach themselves to one person, and there will normally be a clear explanation as to why. The person a dog clings to most is likely also the one that feeds them, walks them, or plays with them the most.

It’s not an issue for a dog to have a favorite person, but it can quickly become one if they begin to get too protective of this person. Hyper-attachment disorder in dogs left unchecked can quickly lead to dominance or separation anxiety issues.

Properly address the fact that your dog is too attached to one person through behavioral training (medicines have been proven to have poor results) or you’ll quickly have issues taking them on walks, to dog parks, or even having them around other family members.

We went over how to stop your dog from being too attached to one person in the first section of this article.

Why Is a Dog Attached to One Person?

Dogs attach to one person for obvious reasons. The person your dog chooses to spend the most time around is likely the one who is giving them want they want such as food, play, or attention.

Be sure to socialize dogs like this with other people, including through play and giving them treats, or you’ll quickly have potentially dangerous behavioral problems on your hand.

Your dog being too attached to a person can quickly lead to them being aggressive towards other people, even family members. Other dogs will develop extreme separation anxiety, and have serious stress when this person isn’t around.

Dog Attached to One Family Member

Dogs become attached to one family member normally because this person is the one that feeds them, sleeps with them, plays with them, or walks them the most.

Avoid potential behavioral problems by making sure these tasks are spread out around the household as much as possible. Otherwise, the dog will become very bonded to only this person.

Left unchecked, this can quickly develop into either dominance or separation anxiety, neither of which will make these “one person dogs” easy to be around for other people. Go back to the first section of this article for what to do in that situation.

Rescue Dog Attached to One Person

Rescue dogs commonly become attached to one person, which is normally the person who brought them home. This is particularly true for rescues that came from a rough or abusive background.

Don’t force socialization on a rescue dog before they are ready. Slowly introduce them to other people and dogs as they prove that they are open to it.

You can invite other family members to join in play with the dog’s favorite toy. Try having them join you and your rescue just for the beginning of a walk. Let them be the one to feed your rescue dog or give them treats occasionally.

Just take things slow and your rescue should warm up to others before long.

Signs Your Dog Imprinted on You

Signs your dog has imprinted on you:

• They easily make eye contact
• They seek physical contact
• They immediately pay attention when you speak
• They attach themselves to object of yours, like a favorite blanket
• They’re much more relaxed around you
• They act very excited when you arrive home

Dog Breeds That Get Attached to One Person

These dog breeds are known to get attached to one person. While they are known as the most clingy dog breeds, remember that all dogs have their own personalities, so breed alone will not guarantee overattachment or lack thereof.

1. Afghan Hound
2. Akita
3. Australian Shepherd
4. Border Collie
5. Brussels Griffon
6. Chihuahua
7. Chow Chow
8. Doberman Pinscher
9. Estrela Mountain Dog
10. German Shepherd
11. Havanese
12. Maltese
13. Norwich Terrier
14. Pekingese
15. Pomeranian
16. Pug
17. Shetland Sheepdog
18. Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
19. Vizsla
20. Yorkshire Terrier

You may have to spend extra time socializing these breeds with others, or they could develop velcro dog syndrome, meaning they won’t leave your side.

I’m sure you’re eager to get your overly attached dog’s problem taken care of, and also to prevent all the frustrating issues that may soon come with it, so I’ll let you get to watching now. Be sure to pin and share this in case you need a reminder on anything we’ve discussed or want to check back on the clingy breeds list later. Good luck!