You can assume your dog has nothing but love and devotion for you if it follows you everywhere you go. The hormone oxytocin is released in canines when they are around a person they like. In the company of someone you care about, your levels of oxytocin rise, earning the hormone the nickname “love hormone.” Dogs are highly sociable pets that thrive when spending time with their human families. Being with you is a significant aspect of your dog’s life because you are their entire world. They love spending time with their best friend because of how happy, comfortable, and safe you make them feel. Though kids may be clueless about the concept of “personal space,” the fact that they want your company is a tremendous compliment.
What do you do when your dog follows you everywhere? Do you typically ignore them, or do you occasionally pet them, cuddle them, or feed them a small bite? Your dog might have learned that if they follow you, they’ll get treats. They will continue to follow you if you show your appreciation with praise, petting, and food.
Because they’re bored, your dog may follow you around. Especially if there’s a chance of getting a treat or a stroke, it can be more intriguing to observe what you’re up to. If you don’t think your dog is getting enough mental and physical stimulation, you might want to consider providing them more challenging activities like longer or more frequent walks, chew toys, or food puzzles.
Dogs have a built-in curiosity for the world around them. They’re always following you because they see you as the key to discovering new and interesting things. Your dog has a major case of FOMO (fear of missing out), which makes them extremely curious and constantly underfoot, poking their nose into everything.
It’s amazing how quickly a dog can pick up on the habits you have around the house. Your dog can certainly tell when it’s about time for a walk or meal, and he or she may even follow you around the house to encourage you to get moving. Dogs are also excellent at interpreting our nonverbal cues and anticipating our future moves. People will follow you around in the hopes that you will finally do the exciting thing they know you’ve been intending to do.
Follow your dog’s lead if it’s making noises like barking, whining, or pacing back and forth. Perhaps they’re thirsty, hungry, or in need of a trip to the restroom in the fresh air. The dog’s unexpected attachment to you may be an indication that he or she is sick and in need of additional TLC and reassurance. You should see a veterinarian if you have any concerns regarding their well-being.
In order to preserve a positive bond with you, your dog’s natural social behaviour is to follow you about and monitor what you do. This phenomenon, known as allelomimetic behaviour, is useful in a variety of contexts. It’s a method for forming and maintaining relationships with other people. It’s an instinct for survival; being in the company of someone you like and respect makes you feel safe, and modelling their actions is an important element of developing your own personality.
Your dog looks to you for guidance and security since you are their protector. Some dogs are easily frightened by loud noises like thunder and fireworks, and they may cling to you while you go about your day. Dogs show fear by pinning back their ears, opening their eyes wide, and breathing rapidly. If they’re terrified, they might not want to do anything besides cuddle up next to you. During loud noises like fireworks or thunderstorms, there are a few things you can do to make your dog feel secure and calm.
A dog that is anxious when you’re not around is far different from one that genuinely likes your company. Severe separation anxiety can cause a dog’s mental and physical health to deteriorate while they’re apart from their owners.
Dogs already suffer from separation anxiety in large numbers, and the COVID-19 epidemic is only expected to make the problem worse. Dogs suffering from separation anxiety often display the following behaviours, including persistent following of their owners about the house, increased anxiety right before and especially after their owners depart, and destructive behaviour.
Barking
home-related mishaps
Getting destructive, such as by chewing furniture or shoes, near windows or the front door
Some dogs might calm down after a time, while others might stay hyperactive until you return.
If you think your dog has separation anxiety, you should consult your veterinarian or an animal behaviourist as soon as possible to prevent your dog’s health from suffering in the long run.
The love you have for your dog is undeniable, and they should receive lots of praise and attention from you, but this should go hand in hand with efforts to boost their self-esteem and ease their separation anxiety. Here are some suggestions for making your dog more comfortable being alone so you can have the time and space you crave.
Keep your dog occupied. When they’re bored and need something to do, give them a toy, chew toy, or food-filled puzzle. There should be a toy rotation mechanism if your dog has multiple toys. To keep things fresh and intriguing, you can put some away and bring them back at a later time.
Do what you can to instal baby gates. You can use these to assist your dog adjust to being alone and at the same time allow them to observe what’s going on outside the fence. If they appear anxious, try distracting them with a toy or a food puzzle, or begin at the gate and slowly back away until you are out of their sight.
Focus a lot of your energy on them. Encourage them and let them know they’re doing well once they stop following you around and settle down or start doing something else.
You might want to reflect on your recent actions. When your dog tags along, are you paying attention to it? If so, you might be unwittingly giving them permission to act in that way. Instead of always focusing on them, try rewarding them when they calm down or start doing something new.
Dogs should never be punished for following their masters around. This could make things worse if they are following you out of worry.
Exercise with your dog daily. Consider the amount of exercise your dog now receives and how much you believe they require. Walk your dog more frequently and for longer periods of time. Playing a game or throwing a ball around can make them feel more fulfilled.
Don’t be quiet. You can make your home more inviting for your dog by leaving the TV or radio on while you’re gone.
Show them how to “remain.” You should work on getting your dog to stay put and gradually increasing the space between you two. You can work up to being in a completely separate room by starting with only one step away. Don’t rush things; instead, give them lots of praise.
Try not to cause a scene. Leaving or returning home to a dog that is overly excited to see you can be stressful, so try not to shower your dog with attention.
Assist them in making friends. To boost their self-assurance, provide your dog with numerous opportunities to socialise with other dogs and people.
You should train your dog to sleep in its bed. When you need some alone time, they’ll have a safe haven to retreat to. Leave toys and sweets near their bed if they need extra incentive to stay there.
To enlist the aid of others. Clingy dogs often benefit from having other responsible adults in the home take them for walks.
Do your best to boost your dog’s self-assurance. Involve your dog in a sport or activity like agility, rally, obedience, or flyball.
Do activities inside the home. To help your dog get more comfortable being alone, try playing games like hide and seek or training him or her to follow a scent.
Try to get them used to the idea that you’ll be leaving the room soon. If your dog jumps up every time you stand up, try alternating between sitting and standing until they learn to stay put. Then you should try leaving the room by leaving it. Just keep moving around the room until they become bored and stop following you. Next, you should try escaping the situation. If someone is tailing you, the best course of action is to repeatedly enter and exit a room. Just ignore them till they get bored; don’t make it become a game.
Although it may take some time and effort, training your dog to enjoy being alone will give them a greater sense of self-worth. Always consult a behaviourist for additional guidance if you feel like you’ve exhausted these methods without success.
If you suspect your dog has anxiety, consult your veterinarian or a dog behaviourist.
Your puppy has you worried.
You’re concerned that they’re only going to get worse as a people, therefore that’s
Having some personal space is fine if your dog’s behaviour is making you uncomfortable.
Over the course of thousands of years, humans have selectively bred a wide variety of dog breeds to meet their needs. Dog breeders chose canine offspring based on their ability to perform a certain task. These characteristics may now be ingrained in their personalities and show up in many of their day-to-day actions. There are some dog breeds that are just genetically predisposed to constantly trail their owners throughout the house.
Some canines are more inclined to stick close by since they were bred to do so; these dogs work closely alongside their masters and watch their every move for the next instruction. The following are examples of such things that could be considered:
Vizslas from Hungary
AKC Labrador Retrievers
Often referred to as “Borders,”
Dogs of the Golden Retriever breed
Dogs from Shetland
Because of their heritage, some Toy breeds are best when cuddled up close to their humans, and they may follow you about in hopes of getting some cuddle time in. The following are examples of such things that could be considered:
Affenpinschers
Chihuahuas
Maltese \sPugs
English: French Bulldogs
King Charles, the Cavalier Spaniels
German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers, for example, are both guard dog breeds that may like to spend much of their time in close proximity to their human companions.
Something may be wrong if your dog begins following you everywhere you go in the house. It’s likely that they’re sick, or that they’re having trouble with one of their senses, like seeing or hearing. It’s possible that your dog is suffering from anxiety, has developed a fear of their surroundings, or has lately been exposed to traumatic events. If this behaviour persists, a trip to the vet may be in order.
Young animals learn who their carers are during crucial early developmental phases to increase their chances of survival. Your dog may have imprinted on you and come to think of you as its parent if you’ve been taking care of it since it was a young pup. They may feel more at ease if they follow you about, thinking that you would protect them.
If Fido never leaves your side, it’s because you’re the only one who can meet his or her basic needs. Food, love, caring, and entertainment all fall within this category. It’s because you’re the primary caretaker for the family dog. Consider it a complement, please!
Canines, especially senior dogs, may require extra reassurance of your care as they age. As their arthritis pain worsens and their vision, smell, and hearing decline, they may become even more reliant on you for assistance. Dogs can get dementia too, and that might have an effect on how much reassurance they need when they get older. Talk to your vet whenever you have concerns about your dog’s health.
It’s possible that your rescued dog needs constant reassurance that everything is going to be okay if he or she follows you around constantly. It is impossible to know the exact circumstances of your dog’s previous home, although it is possible that they were not ideal. Consult your local qualified dog training instructor or behaviourist whenever you are concerned about your dog’s self-assurance and wish to assist you in boosting their self-esteem.
If Fido is at all interested in what you’re going to do, he or she may tag along on your next trip to the restroom. When compared to humans, dogs have a unique perspective on the world. As a result of their acute sense of smell, they find the odours emanating from a restroom to be incredibly intriguing and informative. While you might not find it exciting to share your restroom with your dog, for many canines it’s a sensory delight.
In order to learn how to behave as a social member of the pack and strengthen bonds with the pack leader, your puppy may try to imitate the behaviour of your adult dog. A younger dog can learn the ins and outs of your home by shadowing an older one, as well as where to find the finest places to relax.
Questions such, “Why does my dog eat grass?” and others like them can be answered by visiting our “why does my dog?” site.
What causes my dog to eat waste?
Why is my dog trembling?
When I come home, my dog just stares at me.
My dog licks me a lot; what gives?
My dog licks my feet, but I can’t figure out why.
My dog sneezes a lot; what’s wrong?
My dog has a fishy odour; what gives?
Consult your veterinarian promptly if you have any concerns about your dog’s health.
We are not a veterinary organisation and cannot provide veterinary advice; nevertheless, if you are concerned about any of the topics discussed in this article, we encourage you to consult your local veterinary clinic.
