Ever sat and wondered “why does my dog follow me everywhere?”
It’s a question we’ve all asked… “why does my dog follow me everywhere??” – from the kitchen to the bedroom, to the toilet! It’s hard to get a moment of alone time!
So, you’ve got a little shadow!
As cute as it may be, you may be wondering “why does my dog follow me everywhere?”. There are many reasons why your dog might follow you everywhere, and don’t worry, it isn’t because they’re stalking you!
Most of the time having your dog follow you everywhere is nothing to worry about. It’s just a characteristic many dogs have.
However, if you don’t think that your dog’s behaviour is typical, and you’re still wondering “why does my dog follow me everywhere?” – or maybe you just want to find out more about why your dog follows you, read ahead for everything you need to know about your pooch.
So, why does my dog follow me everywhere?
Let’s dig into why and learn a little more about “why does my dog follow me everywhere?”…
They just like your company
Probably the most wholesome reason for “why does my dog follow me everywhere?” – is that they just love your company, and enjoy being around you. In most cases, this is it. Your dog is your best friend, and you are theirs. They like to be around you, they like to follow you, because in their eyes, you’re usually doing important things.
For attention
This is a classic answer to the question: “why does my dog follow me everywhere”.
Dogs love attention, and they’re all about bonding with their humans. Dogs just want to be around us, and they often follow us around to remain as close to us as possible throughout the day. This isn’t always practical, but it’s certainly understandable! If they fancy a cuddle or some fuss, they might follow you everywhere until they get some.
They’re scared
You’ve heard of the phrase “safety in numbers” right? Well, dogs certainly feel as though that phrase applies to them when they’re scared. Many dogs fear loud noises, so keep an eye out to see if your dog follows you around during thunderstorms or firework displays. Whilst this is a less common reason for “why does my dog follow me everywhere?” – it’s still something to keep in mind. If you’ve just moved house, or changed furniture around – your dog might be feeling a bit unsettled, so may be sticking to you like glue.
They’re bored
Another answer to the question “why does my dog follow me everywhere?” – is perhaps boredom. If your dog’s life is looking a bit bare, then they may be following you everywhere in hope that you’ll give them something to do. Whether they’re looking to play fetch, go on a walk, or just sit with you, a bored dog will absolutely start to invade your personal space.
To try and keep this type of following at bay, it’s a good idea to keep your dog’s day packed with activities. We know that this isn’t always viable but carving out some quality time to throw a ball or play tug of war is a must.
They’re trying to communicate
Sadly, we can’t ask our dogs what they want (and they can’t tell us with words!). One of the main reasons for excessive following in dogs is that they’re trying to tell us something. It could just be that you’ve forgotten to refill their water, or they need the loo!
Whatever it is, it’s best to try and identify these needs as quickly as you can to keep your pup as happy as possible.
They’ve got separation anxiety
Another reason for “why does my dog follow me everywhere?” – is separation anxiety. This is quite common. Separation anxiety is surprisingly common in dogs, and it leads pups to feel completely out of sorts when their owners are away. Simply put, when a dog has separation anxiety, they just don’t want to be away from their owners.
Though you may think your dog following you everywhere is cute, you need to try and train this behaviour out of them should it stem from separation anxiety. The anxiety isn’t good for either of you, so it should be addressed as soon as possible.
Leaving the radio on while you’re gone is a great way to fill your absence should you be away during the day for long periods.
They’re aware of their routine
Another answer to the question “why does my dog follow me everywhere?” – is routine! Dogs are all about routine. Therefore, you may find your pup getting antsy when it’s time for dinner or time to go on a walk. If they’re used to a strict routine, then they’ll be able to sense when something is supposed to happen during their day, but hasn’t yet. And this could mean they start following you around until you’re ready.
Of course, this reason for your dog following you is nothing to worry about – your dog is just trying to encourage you to stay on schedule! They’re good like that!
Should I be worried about my dog following me everywhere?
OK, so you asked the question “why does my dog follow me everywhere?” – but you don’t need to be worried. Though it may concern you at first, your dog following you is nothing to be concerned about. If anything it could just be a sign that they enjoy your company and like being around you.
If it starts to get out of hand or you can’t seem to get a moment alone, then you can look at training this behaviour out of your dog. After all, everyone needs a little bit of me-time on occasion, and you may not want your pup cramping your style (especially on the loo!).
If you find that boredom is the main reason for your dog’s shadowing behaviour, then taking them on more frequent walks or stimulating their brain with toys are both great options for keeping following under control. A dog who’s occupied is less likely to follow their owner, so it’s worth a try.
If this doesn’t work, you may want to look at the way you’re training and reinforcing behaviour daily. We know that your dog is super cute, but if you’re constantly rewarding them with treats or cuddles when they follow you around, they’re going to keep doing it! Less positive reinforcement when following occurs should gradually teach your dog that their constant shadowing isn’t appreciated.
One quick note on this though – don’t shout at them when they do this. We get it, a dog following you everywhere can get grating. However, losing your cool is going to make things worse and cause unnecessary fear.
If this behaviour continues despite your best efforts, then it may be worth popping by the vet to ensure there’s nothing medically wrong. It’s unlikely that there will be anything wrong, but it’s always better to be certain when it comes to your pup’s health and wellbeing.
Conclusion for “why does my dog follow me everywhere?”
We hope that this handy guide has answered that burning question: “why does my dog follow me everywhere?”.
As you can see, there are many things that may prompt following, so keep an eye on it and train the behaviour away where necessary – it’s as simple as that!
