Is your dog constantly following around your other dog, or perhaps a stranger’s dog, like they’re obsessed with them? And is that okay or do you need to do something about it?

Well, don’t worry, because in this article we’re going to give you the answers to these questions and more. We’ll also fill you in on what you should be doing to handle the issue! Keep reading to learn how to stop a dog from being obsessed with another dog!

How Do I Stop My Dog from Being Obsessed with Other Dogs?

To stop your dog from being obsessed with other dogs, you must address the fact that your dog’s neediness is a clear sign of fear and worry. You’ve likely heard before that all dogs are pack animals, and that in every pack there is a pack leader.

Well, your dog clinging to other dogs (when you’ve ruled out just wanting to play) is an obvious sign that your dog has significant anxiety issues. Something about this other dog makes them feel safe, and they’ve decided that this is their pack leader.

And while that may seem harmless, it actually isn’t because you can’t allow your dog to view another dog as the leader of the pack. That’s because in your dog’s mind, everyone in the home is part of the pack. By viewing another dog as pack leader, they are also viewing you as weak.

That means you’ll have all sorts of negative behaviors from your dog such as not listening to your commands or getting very stressed and worried when that other dog isn’t around. They’ll then show this by doing things like barking excessively, tearing things up around the house, hiding out from the world, and probably much more.

Every dog will show their fear and pack leader confusion issues in different ways, but one thing is sure: you must take care of things now or the problems will only get worse — and multiply!

“Okay, so what am I supposed to do then?”

You need to show your dog that you are the one in charge and that you are capable of handling the job. Do so, and your dog will view you as their pack leader. You’ll get rid of all their fears, stress, anxiety, and all the misbehavior that comes along with those.

Fortunately, there’s an excellent free video series on just that subject — how to be your dog’s pack leader — which will you everything you need to know. It’s by a renowned trainer named Dan, and you don’t have to worry because he loves dogs just as much as we do — so no worries about having to be mean (you won’t)!

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. Don’t be concerned if you’ve never done anything like this before, because his videos are made exactly for people like you. He makes everything very simple to understand and teach to your own dog, and he gets right to the point so you can start seeing results in no time!

Why Is My Dog Obsessed with My Other Dog?

Your dog is obsessed with your other dog either because they just want to play, or because they are fearful and your other dog makes them feel safe and secure. You can look to cues from your dog’s behavior to determine which is which.

If your dog is acting obsessed with your other dog by jumping around, wagging their tail, and doing play bows, then they are just looking to play. In this case, if your other dog is not interested, separate them temporarily. Your obsessed dog should quickly learn this behavior gets them the opposite of want they want (time with your other dog) and will learn better.

If your dog is being obsessed with your other dog by doing things like following them around while seeming stressed (or really anything not playful), then you can safely assume they are doing so out of fear. Your other dog makes your obsessed dog feel safe, so they seek to stay with them as much as possible.

In this case, you will have to learn to address your dog’s fear and separation anxiety by giving them confidence of their own. Go back to the first section of this article for more on how to do that.

Why Is My Dog Obsessed with A Stranger’s Dog?

Your dog is obsessed with a stranger’s dog because they’re just looking to play, most likely. Look for signs such as wagging their tail, jumping around, or doing play bows to be sure.

If the obsession is accompanied by aggressive barking and other similar behaviors, then they are trying to assert dominance over the other dog. Keep the dogs separated until you’re able to correct your dog’s issue through behavioral training.

Allowing a dog who is attempting to show dominance over another dog to continue to do so will escalate the problem, leading to out-of-control barking, snapping at other dogs, and even full-on fights. Obviously, none of these are things you want.

If this is occurring, take a look at our article on what to do if your dog is being dominant and aggressive towards a stranger’s dog.

Is It Bad for My Dog to Be Obsessed with Another Dog?

It’s not necessarily bad for your dog to be obsessed with another dog, though it certainly could be. If your dog is only obsessed with another dog because they want to play, it can create some minor aggravations but it isn’t a huge issue.

However, if your dog is being obsessed with another dog due to things like fear, or attempts to dominate, then these are both serious issues that need to be addressed immediately. Both are significant behavioral problems that will only escalate into even worse problems if not addressed.

I’m sure you’re eager to get a handle on your dog’s problem so you can have a more loving, carefree, and non-obsessed pup, so I’ll let you get to things. Good luck with everything!