- Why Does My Dog Follow Me Everywhere?
- October 2, 2021
Why Does Your Dog Follow You Everywhere:
9 Possible Reasons
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No matter how much we love spending quality time with our furry friends, there are days when we can’t help but wonder, “Why does my dog follow me everywhere?”
As any pet owner knows, dogs are adorably clingy creatures, but there is more to this behaviour than meets the eye.
Eager to find out the specific reasons behind why your dog follows you around the house and anywhere you go? Keep reading for some curious explanations of why your dog may be so clingy.
9 Reasons Why Your Dog Follows You Everywhere
If you feel like you are being stalked by your dog, you are not alone.
Most dogs seem to love (or even need) to shadow their owners and watch every move they make — and those left-over dog treats in your pocket aren’t the only possible reason for such behaviour.
Here are some possible reasons your dog may be following you to the bathroom and anywhere else you go:
1. They Want Attention
Dogs often tend to follow their humans around because they receive some extra attention or another form of reward in response to this behaviour.
For example, if shadowing their owner leads to extra playtime, treats, or cuddles, the dog will realize this and perform the following behaviour more often.
2. They Are Bored
If your dog has nothing else exciting to do, they may focus more on you.
As such, they will shadow and observe you wherever you go and whatever you do — especially if it is the only interesting action going on around them.
If your dog has nothing else exciting to do, they may focus more on you.
As such, they will shadow and observe you wherever you go and whatever you do — especially if it is the only interesting action going on around them.
3. It’s Time for a Walk or Dinner
Dogs quickly get used to their daily routines and tend to enjoy sticking to them.
For example, if you take your pup for a walk at the same time every morning or feed them at a specific time, they will get excited when this time approaches.
They will then follow your every move in anticipation of their favourite activity or reward.
4. They Are Afraid
Many dogs get afraid of loud noises like thunderstorms or fireworks.
Dogs view their human parents as protectors, and staying close nearby helps them to feel safe and calm.
As such, you may notice your pup becoming extra clingy when they are afraid of something.
5. They Are Trying to Tell You Something
Many times, a dog will follow the owner to get him or her to notice something.
If your dog starts following you everywhere all of a sudden, try to follow your dog back to see whether they are actually trying to lead you somewhere. They may lead you to an empty water bowl or toward an outside door to go to the bathroom.
In addition, your dog may start following you around to tell you that he is sick or doesn’t feel well. If you notice other strange behavior in addition to following you (like shaking), you may want to contact your vet for a check-up.
Many times, a dog will follow the owner to get him or her to notice something.
If your dog starts following you everywhere all of a sudden, try to follow your dog back to see whether they are actually trying to lead you somewhere. They may lead you to an empty water bowl or toward an outside door to go to the bathroom.
In addition, your dog may start following you around to tell you that he is sick or doesn’t feel well. If you notice other strange behavior in addition to following you (like shaking), you may want to contact your vet for a check-up.
6. They Are Experiencing Separation Anxiety
What is Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety is a common behavioural disorder when a dog panics or feels frantic when left alone.
This separation anxiety can also cause a pet to follow the owner excessively, especially if the pet parent makes a big deal about leaving the house or arriving home.
- What to do: When leaving or arriving at home, act as if everything is normal. You may tell your dog “hello” and “goodbye” in a neutral or positive voice — but try to avoid making a sad expression when leaving, or acting very excited upon returning.
You may also try giving your dog a thick, long-lasting snack before leaving, such as peanut butter or a mixture of frozen water + dry food in a Kong toy.
Alternatively, put your dog’s dry food in a slow-feeding bowl to keep them entertained.
7. They Tend to Follow the Leader
Dogs are incredibly smart, learning not only from direct training but also from our behaviour around them. People sometimes walk around together, so your dog will want to follow suit.
If there are multiple people in the household, a dog will also quickly notice who feeds and plays with them on a regular basis, who cuddles them the most, and who can’t resist giving just one more dog treat.
As such, your dog will follow you because they don’t want to miss out on food opportunities and their favourite activities!
8. They Are Curious
Similar to children, dogs are naturally curious about the world.
Your dog may follow you to find out where you are going and what is going on because they don’t want to miss out on anything.
Not surprisingly, this over-attentive curiosity can sometimes get annoying — for example, when you are trying to unpack a grocery bag, and your pup just has to stick their nose right where you are working.
9. They Love You
Every dog shares a special connection with their human, craving for their love and companionship.
The truth is, you might be the only company your dog has on a day-to-day basis, which makes you the center of their small universe.
Your dog simply loves being around you, and this special bond plays an important role in your pup’s life, causing them to follow you everywhere you go.
Sometimes, your dog just can’t get enough of you.
Why Do Dogs Follow You to the Bathroom?
While most people view the bathroom as a private place to be alone in, dogs have their own ideas about this special room. For them, the bathroom is a truly magical place that they can’t resist exploring.
- Smell:
Remember that dogs have an excellent sense of smell, so they often get curious about the smells coming from bathrooms. In fact, an unpleasant smell for us will likely be intriguing or even attractive for our dogs.
- Interesting Items:
In addition, bathrooms often have garbage cans filled with tissues and all kinds of fun things that dogs like to sniff through and tear up. If you notice that your dog enjoys going through the bathroom garbage, consider adding a lid or keeping the bathroom door closed.
- Attention:
Finally, your dog may realize that you are a “captive audience” when you are in the bathroom. There, you can’t walk away from your pup, so they get a great opportunity to receive more attention, which will encourage them to follow you into the bathroom again next time.
When the Dog’s Shadowing Behaviour Becomes a Problem
Most of the time, the reasons why your dog follows you everywhere are not a big deal.
However, this shadowing behaviour can become a problem in two cases: if your dog gets distressed when left alone or if you find it annoying.
We all love our dogs, but we also need a bit of personal space. Plus, there is a difference between a dog that loves your company and a dog that can’t stand to be alone.
- Separation Anxiety:
If your dog gets very upset any time they are left alone or behind a baby gate, it means that it’s time to contact your vet for help, or start some “independence training” at home.
Simple Tips for Creating a Healthy Balance
Excessively clingy behaviours exhibited by your furry friend can get annoying and even dangerous, causing you to trip over the pet that follows you too closely.
Ideally, you will want to have a dog that loves being close to you and receiving attention but feels just fine when you are not around.
Excessively clingy behaviours exhibited by your furry friend can get annoying and even dangerous, causing you to trip over the pet that follows you too closely.
Ideally, you will want to have a dog that loves being close to you and receiving attention but feels just fine when you are not around.
If your dog follows you everywhere, try implementing some of the following tips:
1. Get your dog tired.
Mental or physical exercise can make your dog tired and encourage your dog to settle down and relax. A dog that has too much energy will be more likely to get restless or bored – and may follow you for entertainment.
2. Encourage other social interactions.
We all love bonding with our furry friends. However, make sure that you don’t ignore the importance of external social interactions with other people and dogs. If there are other adults in your household, ask them to walk the dog from time to time as well.
3. Help your dog settle down.
Leaving treats and toys near your dog’s bed can give your pet a place to relax. You can teach the “place” and “stay” commands, and give your dog extra attention for staying near their own “place.”
4. Set the rules and follow them.
If you want your dog to sleep in their own bed or stay away from the dinner table, you need to teach them to do that. If you aren’t able to control your pup’s clingy behaviour on your own, you can always consult a professional dog trainer.
5. Get your dog used to being alone.
Your dog may feel insecure by themself and follow you for protection. To combat the issue, you can encourage them to stay in another room or across the room for short periods of time. Give your dog enough entertainment such as a slow-feeding toy or another favourite toy to chew on.
Wrapping Up
Without a doubt, many of us adopt dogs to have a loyal, constant companion.
Most of the time, the reasons that your dog may follow everywhere just mean that they do really, really like you.
Your dog deserves your love — even if this companionship becomes a bit “too much” and turns into separation anxiety.
If you are struggling to find a healthy balance for time spent together and apart, consider employing some behavioural training, so that you can enjoy the special bond with your furry friend to the maximum.
