One thing I heard about, if you want a dog that is dependent or people focused check to see if it’s right pawed. In other words when it gets up and starts walking does he lead with the right paw or left paw? Right pawed dogs are typically more dependent and left pawed dogs are typically more independent. I have a left pawed dog and he is independent. Independent that not mean does not want to be with us! He is a wonderful family pet. The only negative is the bad recall. We are working on it. He is a lovely pet and that he is often at our feet and in the same room as us. But at the same time you can let him outside and he can entertain himself for long periods of time

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG, I would kill for an independent dog! Been struggling with my dog's severe separation anxiety for 4 years and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

There is a huge difference between a basic dependent personality and a dog with severe separation anxiety. No one wants that! My dependent dog just sleeps on the couch when I am busy or gone. If I'm here, he always wants to be around me -- but he doesn't get anxious when I am gone. Best dog ever!

The cat-like dog I had before had an irregular recall and looked at me like room service instead of a companion. Dogs are a lot of work to get that kind of response in return! I obliged for 14 years but when I got another dog I wanted one more into people.

That dog was really attached to my cats, funnily enough. He had one he always slept with together in his dog bed. They were hysterical to watch. She would nurse on the hair behind his ear. Bizarre!

Agreed. I'm a PP that has a dependent dog but it is nothing like having a dog with separation anxiety. My last dog had separation anxiety to the point that he had to be medicated. Even with medication, it still took a year of training and desensitization to get him to the point that he could be left home for any period of time without injuring himself in a desperate attempt to find us. He still hated being left home alone and was freaked out any time we left but at least we didn't come back to a bloody mess.

Anonymous wrote:Hey 10:33 poster-- what kind of dog do you have? You mention a large, but non-hyper breed. Which one?!

Thanks!

DP but I've always had lab rescues. They are large and non-hyper. Basically they have the energy to do whatever fun thing you want to do (run, swim, play ball) and then they sleep the rest of the day. I'll never get anything else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Unfortunately, I don't have large, adoring crowds at hand on a daily basis to make him stop jumping.

Honestly I think we all could use large, adoring crowds at hand on a daily basis.

Anonymous wrote:
Unfortunately, I don't have large, adoring crowds at hand on a daily basis to make him stop jumping.

Honestly I think we all could use large, adoring crowds at hand on a daily basis.

Anonymous wrote:OMG, I would kill for an independent dog! Been struggling with my dog's severe separation anxiety for 4 years and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

There is a huge difference between a basic dependent personality and a dog with severe separation anxiety. No one wants that! My dependent dog just sleeps on the couch when I am busy or gone. If I'm here, he always wants to be around me -- but he doesn't get anxious when I am gone. Best dog ever!

The cat-like dog I had before had an irregular recall and looked at me like room service instead of a companion. Dogs are a lot of work to get that kind of response in return! I obliged for 14 years but when I got another dog I wanted one more into people.

That dog was really attached to my cats, funnily enough. He had one he always slept with together in his dog bed. They were hysterical to watch. She would nurse on the hair behind his ear. Bizarre!

NP - agree with comment that a strongly independent dog is basically a high-maintenance cat. I grew up with one of those and now have a moderately-dependent dog (lab) and it is WAY better.

Our current dog wants to be with his people but doesn't have to be rightnexttousallthetime. We haven't noticed any separation issues that others have described. Good luck!

Hey 10:33 poster-- what kind of dog do you have? You mention a large, but non-hyper breed. Which one?!

Thanks!