Delilah said:
We’ve had our new chocolate lab (around 2-4 years old) for two weeks now, and she’s incredibly affectionate. Every time I’m on the couch, laying on the floor, or even in my work chair, she’s constantly trying to get up in my face, crawl on top of me, and smother me with licks. I love being affectionate with dogs, but this feels more like anxious behavior rather than just showing love.
I know she’s still adjusting to the new home, but I haven’t had a moment to relax without her being glued to me. She also pants a lot and seems a bit on edge at times, but we haven’t been able to get her to the vet yet. Any advice on how to give her reassurance without reinforcing this behavior too much?
Labs can be very clingy. They just want to be as close to you as possible. It can be overwhelming, but over time, she’ll settle down.
Delilah said:
We’ve had our new chocolate lab (around 2-4 years old) for two weeks now, and she’s incredibly affectionate. Every time I’m on the couch, laying on the floor, or even in my work chair, she’s constantly trying to get up in my face, crawl on top of me, and smother me with licks. I love being affectionate with dogs, but this feels more like anxious behavior rather than just showing love.
I know she’s still adjusting to the new home, but I haven’t had a moment to relax without her being glued to me. She also pants a lot and seems a bit on edge at times, but we haven’t been able to get her to the vet yet. Any advice on how to give her reassurance without reinforcing this behavior too much?
Two weeks is still a short time for a dog to adjust. My dog used to do the same thing, and I found that asking him to sit or lie down next to me helped. Consistency is key, and with time, she’ll learn how to behave without being all over you.
Delilah said:
We’ve had our new chocolate lab (around 2-4 years old) for two weeks now, and she’s incredibly affectionate. Every time I’m on the couch, laying on the floor, or even in my work chair, she’s constantly trying to get up in my face, crawl on top of me, and smother me with licks. I love being affectionate with dogs, but this feels more like anxious behavior rather than just showing love.
I know she’s still adjusting to the new home, but I haven’t had a moment to relax without her being glued to me. She also pants a lot and seems a bit on edge at times, but we haven’t been able to get her to the vet yet. Any advice on how to give her reassurance without reinforcing this behavior too much?
Two weeks is still a short time for a dog to adjust. My dog used to do the same thing, and I found that asking him to sit or lie down next to me helped. Consistency is key, and with time, she’ll learn how to behave without being all over you.
Exactly! Showing her the behavior you want is so much more effective than just ignoring her.
Delilah said:
We’ve had our new chocolate lab (around 2-4 years old) for two weeks now, and she’s incredibly affectionate. Every time I’m on the couch, laying on the floor, or even in my work chair, she’s constantly trying to get up in my face, crawl on top of me, and smother me with licks. I love being affectionate with dogs, but this feels more like anxious behavior rather than just showing love.
I know she’s still adjusting to the new home, but I haven’t had a moment to relax without her being glued to me. She also pants a lot and seems a bit on edge at times, but we haven’t been able to get her to the vet yet. Any advice on how to give her reassurance without reinforcing this behavior too much?
She’s still getting used to her new home. It will get better, but it might take some time. Just be patient with her.
Delilah said:
We’ve had our new chocolate lab (around 2-4 years old) for two weeks now, and she’s incredibly affectionate. Every time I’m on the couch, laying on the floor, or even in my work chair, she’s constantly trying to get up in my face, crawl on top of me, and smother me with licks. I love being affectionate with dogs, but this feels more like anxious behavior rather than just showing love.
I know she’s still adjusting to the new home, but I haven’t had a moment to relax without her being glued to me. She also pants a lot and seems a bit on edge at times, but we haven’t been able to get her to the vet yet. Any advice on how to give her reassurance without reinforcing this behavior too much?
It sounds like anxiety. You might want to look into Karen Overall’s relaxation protocol—it’s a great way to help anxious dogs calm down. Start with easy steps like standing up, and gradually move to sitting on the floor without her climbing all over you.
Delilah said:
We’ve had our new chocolate lab (around 2-4 years old) for two weeks now, and she’s incredibly affectionate. Every time I’m on the couch, laying on the floor, or even in my work chair, she’s constantly trying to get up in my face, crawl on top of me, and smother me with licks. I love being affectionate with dogs, but this feels more like anxious behavior rather than just showing love.
I know she’s still adjusting to the new home, but I haven’t had a moment to relax without her being glued to me. She also pants a lot and seems a bit on edge at times, but we haven’t been able to get her to the vet yet. Any advice on how to give her reassurance without reinforcing this behavior too much?
She’s clearly anxious and looking for comfort. Pushing her away might make her feel more insecure, which can reinforce the behavior. I’d recommend consulting with a vet or a certified behaviorist. She might need a little help getting through this adjustment period, but she’ll get there.
Delilah said:
We’ve had our new chocolate lab (around 2-4 years old) for two weeks now, and she’s incredibly affectionate. Every time I’m on the couch, laying on the floor, or even in my work chair, she’s constantly trying to get up in my face, crawl on top of me, and smother me with licks. I love being affectionate with dogs, but this feels more like anxious behavior rather than just showing love.
I know she’s still adjusting to the new home, but I haven’t had a moment to relax without her being glued to me. She also pants a lot and seems a bit on edge at times, but we haven’t been able to get her to the vet yet. Any advice on how to give her reassurance without reinforcing this behavior too much?
Delilah said:
We’ve had our new chocolate lab (around 2-4 years old) for two weeks now, and she’s incredibly affectionate. Every time I’m on the couch, laying on the floor, or even in my work chair, she’s constantly trying to get up in my face, crawl on top of me, and smother me with licks. I love being affectionate with dogs, but this feels more like anxious behavior rather than just showing love.
I know she’s still adjusting to the new home, but I haven’t had a moment to relax without her being glued to me. She also pants a lot and seems a bit on edge at times, but we haven’t been able to get her to the vet yet. Any advice on how to give her reassurance without reinforcing this behavior too much?
Delilah said:
We’ve had our new chocolate lab (around 2-4 years old) for two weeks now, and she’s incredibly affectionate. Every time I’m on the couch, laying on the floor, or even in my work chair, she’s constantly trying to get up in my face, crawl on top of me, and smother me with licks. I love being affectionate with dogs, but this feels more like anxious behavior rather than just showing love.
I know she’s still adjusting to the new home, but I haven’t had a moment to relax without her being glued to me. She also pants a lot and seems a bit on edge at times, but we haven’t been able to get her to the vet yet. Any advice on how to give her reassurance without reinforcing this behavior too much?
Train her to ‘move back.’ My dog used to do the same thing, and now he knows to give me a bit of space when I ask.
Delilah said:
We’ve had our new chocolate lab (around 2-4 years old) for two weeks now, and she’s incredibly affectionate. Every time I’m on the couch, laying on the floor, or even in my work chair, she’s constantly trying to get up in my face, crawl on top of me, and smother me with licks. I love being affectionate with dogs, but this feels more like anxious behavior rather than just showing love.
I know she’s still adjusting to the new home, but I haven’t had a moment to relax without her being glued to me. She also pants a lot and seems a bit on edge at times, but we haven’t been able to get her to the vet yet. Any advice on how to give her reassurance without reinforcing this behavior too much?
Train her to ‘move back.’ My dog used to do the same thing, and now he knows to give me a bit of space when I ask.
Same here! We taught our dog ‘scoot’ to move over just a little. It works wonders.
