9 month old mongrel very clingy

[Andyrory]

Hope someone can help. We have a 9 month old mongrel puppy(terrier/lab/whippet) type thing. The problem is, she is just so clingy. We can't go anywhere without her following us. Also she still whimpers at night even though she sleeps just outside our bedroom on her own bed. We wont be breeding from her so do you think it would be a good idea to get her spayed? Will this settle her down?

[Brinjal]

Aww poor pup. How long have you had her. Is she left at home during the day. She obviously raves company does she have any toys. Don't know if it will settle her but spaying is always a good option for companion. Dogs.

[boxtops]

How long have you had her, what's her history? If she's a rescue pup, she might think you're not staying around.

[Andyrory]

We've had her since September last year. She's had her first season about 2 months ago. We got her from a couple who already had 2 dogs and then realised they couldn't cope with 3. She was absolutely fine when we first got her but just last couple of weeks she's become really clingy and has started whimpering again at night. She very rarely gets left on her own for more than an hour, odd times she's maybe been on her own for 4 hours.

[Tilly2]

So you've had her since she was a tiny puppy. When you say clingy do you mean she follows you all around the house and cries if you shut her in another room? My dogs follow me everywhere in the house but they don't like it if I keep them in the kitchen because they're wet after a walk.

Don't know what your house is like so this might not be possible but
you could try putting a stair gate across your bedroom door so that she can see you but can't get in. You could put another stair gate across the kitchen door and try leaving her in there for five minutes at a time but talking to her and popping back to see her.

[kita1]

She could be having a phantom pregnancy.

She will think she is having pups and she could well be looking for a place to have them.

If it is a phantom (I take it that she could not possibly have been mated?) she might start 'guarding' any soft toys that she has, she will think they are her pups. She will also get more clingy and possibly start producing milk. She may also go off her food a bit.

It might be a good idea to have the vet check her over and discuss getting her spayed - they usually spay about 3 months after the season.

Bitches that have phantom pregnancies stand a much higher chance of suffering from pyometra (a life threatening infection of the womb) so if you don't wish to breed from her it is best to get her spayed.

[Andyrory]

Thanks for all the advice guys. It does sound very much like a phantom pregnancy. Spoke to the vets on phone, they also said this could be the problem. She has gone off her food a bit lately which i forgot to mention in my question. Think it's time to get her spayed.