Jack Russell Terrier extreme clinginess

Question
My male (neutered) JR is 9 months old. We got him at 4 months old and after 2 weeks, he attached himself to me... literally and emotionally. Anytime I am in the house, he is against my leg, standing with his foot on mine, or insisting on being in my lap. This gets to be quite a problem sometimes (try typing email with a JR on the keys *g*). He is a very happy, playful dog and either me or my husband is with him at all times, so he is very rarely alone for any length of time. He doesn't seem anxious, just clingy. Even if I am gone for 30 minutes, he spends 15 min. whining, wagging and bringing me things as if I had been gone a week. Is there any way to lessen this behavior?

Answer
Establish some sense of security for this dog by learning about positive reinforcement training (go to Karen Pryor's web site or read Ian Dunbar DVM or Patricia McConnell Ph.D.)  Use this training to teach him one solid behavior (like "sit", but use a unique word).  This will take approximately 36 trials and do it indoors.  If you move the venue after he has obtained a 100% (ten out of ten trials) successful response to your command, start from scratch in the new venue (outdoors.)  Then use this behavior to make this dog earn being fed, going in/out, being played with, etc.  This will increase your rank psychologically and the dog should feel more secure.  Ignore his demands (like insisting on being on your lap) several times a day.  Simply get up and move away.  This includes his putting his paw on your foot: get up and move away.  By becoming less readily approachable, you are actually obtaining rank and this should help calm his insecurity (if, in fact, that is what you are seeing.  Demand for attention can be dominance related, but I have no way of determining that without a more complete history and in person evaluation.)  Once your dog has begun to earn things, begin to teach him other behaviors (one at a time) using positive reinforcement.  The JRT is a marvelous obedience dog (mine appeared to be battery operated) and loves to work.  The more you teach him, the happier he will be.