A woman has told how she's become a ‘nervous wreck’ because her dog won't stop staring at her.
Writing about her unusual issue on Reddit, she said her wolfhound blue heeler mix will not stop making intense eye contact, and it's becoming a tad awkward.
She complained that she can no longer relax in her own home because of her rescue dog’s unsettling behaviour.
Looking for advice, she wrote: “I’ll genuinely get this uneasy, unsettled feeling sometimes because I’ll look up and realise she’s just been staring me down.
“I’ve had dogs my entire life. I’ve also worked as a kennel attendant. I’ve never had a dog make me feel so uneasy. I feel awful saying all of this, but it’s true. She’s always watching me.”
In a desperate attempt to get a moment's peace, she admits to sending her dog to its crate a lot more than she normally does.
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“I don’t want her around me. I genuinely feel smothered by her. It’s stressing me out,” she said.
The woman adopted the three-year-old dog with her boyfriend about nine months ago - but she is the primary caregiver.
She added: “Being that I’m the one home most of the time, I’ve put in a lot of work with her. She very clearly has an attachment to me because of this.
“She gets really anxious when I leave her. My boyfriend will try to console her when it’s just him at home with her, but she’ll just pace around the house and sit by the door waiting for me to get back.
“She has such an anxious attachment to me specifically that it actually makes me anxious.
“I know she looks to me for protection and safety, and I’m honoured she sees me this way. I’m proud of how far she’s come since bringing her home.
“But, constantly being watched and followed is wearing on my nerves.
"I’m constantly having to say “Back up” or “Go get in your bed” or “Excuse me” just to get basic tasks done around my house.”
The woman asked her vet to put the dog on anxiety medication - but they advised against this, instead telling her to see if the dog's symptoms ease in the coming months.
Despite ensuring all her dog’s needs are met, and providing her with the love and attention she deserves, some have questioned the woman's level of care.
One user said: "Your dog is from two worker dog breeds that need hours of exercise a day ideally. I know it is a lot but it is what those dogs are bred to do - herd for hours and hours.
"With no outlet for her high energy then she will become nervous and anxious.
"I had a high energy dog that passed last year. He was crazy when he was younger until I started running him with an attachment to my bike."
While another person said: “I have a blue heeler mix and he is literally always either eye on me or touching me.
“This caused issues at first because he would try to guess where I was going so he could stay with me.
“I think the moral of the story is to give it more time. She’s staring at you because she loves you, trusts you, and is trying to figure you out.
“I feel like intelligent breeds like cattle dogs know that you saved them and want to be with you because they’re grateful.”
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