“Why does my dog follow me to the bathroom all the time?”…
Here’s a question I thought I’d never have to answer. And to be honest, there isn’t really a straightforward explanation.
In fact, attention-seeking behaviors like this (although more common in younger pups or rescue dogs) can present themself at any time. Even if your dog has no previous track record of acting this way.
And what’s worse, it can often disturb the balance and leave you to wonder if you’ll ever get a moment alone again.
Why do they do it? …take your pick.
I’m mean, a dog that follows you from room to room (also known as velcro syndrome) is one thing. But a dog that follows you to one particular location and nothing more can often leave you scratching your head in confusion.
So what can you do?
Well, obsessive issues like following you to the bathroom (or anywhere else for that matter) will often stem from anxiety, lack of confidence, or just flat-out fear on your dog’s part.
And while these behavioral traits aren’t necessarily dangerous. Over time they can lead to more severe issues like frantic barking, whining, separation anxiety, and even submissive urination if not dealt with accordingly.
So before you get to this stage, let’s take a look at some of the more common reasons for this seemingly odd behavior before taking a look at a few tried and tested methods to stop your dog from following your every move.
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Why Does My Dog Follow Me To The Bathroom All The Time?
It’s a well-known fact that dogs were originally bred for human companionship.
In fact, some breeds in particular that were bred specifically as working dogs (Border Collies, German Shepherds, etc.) can often find it very difficult to let go of their natural instincts. Which is why it can be challenging for them to stop following you around.
With this in mind, it’s important to look at the situation from your dog’s perspective to fully understand why they might be doing what they’re doing.
So take a look at some of the more common reasons your dog could potentially be following you to the bathroom.
Do any sound familiar?
They’re Bored
This can be more prominent in active breeds like border collies and such. But the truth is that no dog should be left to their own devices 24/7, regardless of how lazy or inactive they usually are.
All dogs crave physical and mental stimulation (some more than others, I might add).
So if your idea of exercise involves a 5 minute trip to the backyard twice a day while spending the rest of the day binge-watching Netflix, you really need to reevaluate your responsibility as an owner and take it upon yourself to supply a regular outlet to meet your dog’s needs.
Stuck on ideas? …then you can find some very stimulating mental exercises and tricks to teach your dog over at Brain Training For Dogs.
So if you’re ever wondered how smart your dog really can be, this is where you’ll be able to reveal it.
You’re Encouraging Them
Although not intentional, a lot of owners fall into the trap of encouraging their dog’s attention-seeking behavior without even realizing it.
I see this a lot with owners who tend to shower their dogs with constant praise when the occasion doesn’t really call for it.
The crux here is that too much attention is ultimately going to condition your dog to expect more of the same. Which in turn can lead them to follow you around relentlessly to get their fix
It may sound a little silly, but even something as innocent as giving your dog a quick belly rub before heading to the bathroom could be all it takes for them to develop this obsession.
Related Post: What To Do If Your Dog Constantly Wants Attention
They’re Playing Follow The Leader
Even though dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years, they are still pack animals by nature.
And while most dogs have learned to manage this behavior around humans. There are still a select few who will feel the overwhelming need to follow the leader everywhere they go.
It’s important to understand that if your dog sees you as the alpha, this is ultimately a good thing. As they’ll be far less likely to develop other behavioral issues like aggression in an attempt to assert their dominance.
However, the bad news is that they’ll be at your beck and call whether you want them to be or not.
They Need A Friend
Dog’s are naturally social creatures.
And while every dog enjoys their fair share of alone time to relax and unwind. There’ll often be times when they want to get out and meet new people and discover new things.
So if your dog is lacking in this department, their obsessive desire to follow you might just be them indicating that they want to get out and socialize more.
Separation Anxiety
If you’re very unlucky, you could be dealing with a dog with a severe case of separation anxiety.
Again, this can be more prominent if you’ve recently adopted a new pup or taken in a rescue dog. But the truth is that separation anxiety can strike at any time and for no apparent reason.
Now, the signs of a dog with separation anxiety will be very different compared to a dog that follows you because they’re bored or lonely.
For instance, if your dog tends to bark obsessively when you leave and doesn’t stop until you return…
…Or worse still, noticeably shaken whenever you’ve been away (even for a short period of time). Then you could be dealing with a dog with a chronic case of separation anxiety.
Now, dealing with separation anxiety can come with a mountain of challenges. And while there’s more than one way to go about dealing with this behavior. The first step is to teach your dog how to remain calm and in control of their emotions.
This is why I’d highly recommend taking a few minutes to check out these 5 step-by-step calming exercises from Dan Abdelnoor over at The Online Dog Trainer.
While they’re not an overnight cure for solving all of your dog’s attention-seeking habits. I guarantee that if you implement these exercises consistently, you’ll see a massive difference in your dog’s behavior for the better.
How To Stop Your Dog Following Your To The Bathroom
To successfully get your dog out of the habit of following you to the bathroom all the time. It’s always wise to take a step back and assess the situation from every possible angle before coming to any specific conclusions.
For example…
- Does your dog look or act stressed when they’re are following you around?
- Do they hang back a little, or are they constantly getting under your feet with every step you take?
- Do they bark excessively, pace around frantically, or become destructive when you’re not in the same room? (this could be a clear cut case of separation anxiety)
See if you can pick up on one or two of the subtle behaviors your dog exhibits on a day-to-day basis. You’ll be much better equipped to establishing the root cause of your dog’s obsessive desire to follow you.
But in addition to the above, take note of the following to see if they help…
Meet Your Dogs Needs
A dog with an unfulfilled need is rarely going to give you a moment of peace regardless of how much you want them to.
So consider the following…
- Has your dog recently been to the bathroom?
- Have they had their fill of entertainment and exercises? (walk, games, etc…)
- Are they hungry?
It may sound irrelevant, but your dogs’ obsession with following you could simply be because you’re not meeting some of their basic needs.
And they may simply misinterpret you getting up to go to the bathroom as a cue that you’re going to feed them, let them out for a potty break, or even grab the leash take them for a walk.
Again, this is where you need to keep a close eye on your dog and monitor their behavior around particular times when they feel the need to follow you.
If all their needs are met, then you know it’s something else entirely.
Related Post: Why Is My Dog So Obsessed With Me? – Dealing With An Obsessive Dog
Comfort & Distraction
As well as meeting all of your dog’s basic needs, you should also never underestimate the power of a few simple comforts and/or distractions.
The reason being is that if your dog is already happy and content with what they are doing. They’ll be less inclined to divert their attention away from it to follow you to the bathroom.
Even something as obvious as an extra blanket in their doggy bed along with their favorite chew toy could be all that’s needed to avert their attention away from what you’re doing.
The trick with this, however, is to give your dog their favorite toy immediately before heading to the bathroom for maximum impact. As they’ll be a lot more likely to give it their full attention when they first get hold.
Use Positive Reinforcement
In addition to providing additional comforts and distractions, you could always go the extra mile by tossing your do a few treats to entice them to stay put.
If they go for it, quickly head off and do whatever it is you need to do and then reward your dog with praise, attention, and a few more treats ‘If’ they’ve stayed put the whole time you were gone.
The idea here is to build up positive associations in your dog’s mind that NOT following you to the bathroom equals praise, attention, and a few extra treats whenever they comply.
In time they’ll eventually start to piece together that staying put gets them more of what they want. And they’ll continue to act upon it if they know there’s a reward to coming their way.
Teach Them To Be Calm
While we’d all like to think of our dog as a beacon of perfection that knows can do nothing wrong. The truth is that no dog is immune from feeling a little fearful or anxious at times.
This is where the power of teaching your dog how to be calm and in control of their emotions can really help deal with the issues at hand.
Better still, it can often help alleviate other behavioral issues leaving your dog a lot more capable of handling situations that they otherwise couldn’t.
Again, this is where those 5 step-by-step calming exercises I talked about earlier come in really handy.
Not only will they teach your dog to be calm. If used consistently, they’ll also permanently eliminate any neediness your dog may have previously had when it comes to being left alone.
Wrapping Things Up
While dogs can exhibit a lot of unusual behavior at times, following their owner to the bathroom is probably right up there on the list of crazy things they do.
And while it might not seem like a critical issue at first glance, it’s still something that can develop into a more serious problem if left unchecked.
I think the key thing to remember here is to be observant and closely monitor your dog to see if you can spot anything out of sorts in their day-to-day routine. You might be surprised to find it’s something very simple causing the issue that could be avoided.
However, if further measures are needed, a few distractions can work well, along with some of the counterconditioning techniques highlighted above.
But at the end of the day, if you give it time, apply all of the above, and use the calming exercises discussed. You’ll be well on your way to having a cool, confident dog that doesn’t shadow your every move.