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Why Does My Dog Follow Me?

July 25, 2023

If you have a clingy dog that follows you everywhere (even to the loo), you might find it comforting and a little bit cute but other times it can be annoying!

Dogs are social animals and it’s natural for them to want to watch and follow you, but if you are finding that your dog is too clingy it could be a problem and you aren’t sure if it is something that you should be concerned about

We have put together a list of reasons why your pup follows you

TRUE LOVE

It could just be that your dog loves you, following you everywhere could be a sign that they trust you and you make them feel happy and safe

REWARDING

It could also be that your dog knows that if they follow up around often enough, there will likely be a treat and it’s a learned behaviour. If they get treats or attention when they follow you, they will likely do it more. If you are concerned about the behaviour, you could try to only reward your pup at the times when they don’t follow you to the bathroom.

BOREDOM

Your pup might be just bored and looking for something to do. Try providing more regular walks or chew toys to provide more stimulation.

STICKY BEAK

Dogs are always looking for cues from us, if you pick up your keys it might mean a trip to the park or if you are in the kitchen, it might mean a treat and your nosy pup wants to know what is going on all the time in case it affects them (especially in a good way).

SEPARATION ANXIETY

Separation anxiety in dogs is a very real thing and being stressed can cause long term physical and mental issues for your pup. Signs that your pup might have separation anxiety include:

• Accidents in the house
• Destructive behaviour
• Constant barking

Training your dog to enjoy their own company can mean a lot of work and possibly even behaviour training or medication. If this is something you are concerned about, you should visit your vet to ensure that there are no underlying health issues, especially if it’s new behaviour.