pit bull mix named Rhubarb has melted hearts among internet users after her owner revealed in a viral what she does every time she’s got friends over.
“You absolutely must be a dog person to come to our house because Rhubarb has no concept of personal space,” reads layover text in the clip. A caption says: “She loves having friends over.” Newsweek reached out to @rhubarbthedoggo for comment via email. We could not verify the details of the case.
Being greeted by a pup who is excited to see you surely feels rewarding, but it starts becoming a little too much when the clinginess doesn’t stop, and they follow you around the house, including places like the toilet.
Thankfully, this behavior can easily be addressed with appropriate training. The American Kennel Club says that all you need to teach your pup to “back off” is a treat in your hand and some patience.
The first thing to do is hide your treat in your left hand while holding your right hand in a flat palm, moving it toward the dog until they move back, and once they do, you can give them a treat. Repeat this until they learn in and then add the vocal cue.
You can then slowly fade the food reward and replace it with praise or physical interaction.
While some dogs are naturally predisposed to clinginess, others can become clingy for a variety of reasons, including behavioral problems, says an article by Betterpet, medically reviewed by Dr. Dwight Alleyne.
Sometimes, your pup may just be bored, lonely, or stressed during scary situations such as storms and fireworks.
A dog that engages in destructive or anxious behavior when you are not with them may be suffering from separation anxiety, a condition that needs veterinarian attention. Other signs of separation anxiety include aggression, depression, whining, and pacing.
One user, Meghan, commented: “This is a great test to see who’s a good person. If Rhubarb doesn’t like them, then they are not good peoples.”
Ella wrote: “Rhubarb’s love language is physical touch and everyone must respect that.”
Cleverenz added: “She understands personal space. It’s just that your space is also her space. So, you see, it’s all personal!”