The worst part is dog owners often unknowingly encourage this behavior by making a big deal out of leaving for the day or when they arrive back home. Unfortunately, many dogs get separation anxiety when their humans leave them alone. Dogs are now bonded with humans much in the same way as human children. This need has been shaped over time during the process of domestication. This one might seem to be the most obvious, but dogs really just like to be loved by their humans! They crave human companionship at all times.
Often called “velcro dogs,” these clingy pups will need to be close to you at all times. These dogs have an inbred need to work and satisfy their humans, so they will follow their owner around, eager to please and be given a task, all day. Breed TraitsĬertain dog breeds, particularly those that were bred specifically to work side-by-side with people, will be more likely to form close bonds with their humans. So long as you are the one who feeds your dog, he will stay close behind and be especially attentive when you approach his food source. Food MotivatedĪ potentially obvious reason your dog may follow you around is that dogs are highly food motivated, and you are their gateway to food! It doesn’t even have to be around meal time - dogs will happily accept food at any time and will follow you around in hopes that more food is on the way. This can make your dog more likely to follow you around. If a dog has spent a long period of time bonding with a human through positive reinforcement during canine training, then he will learn that good things such as treats, playtime, and affection will come to them from that particular human. This imprinting period occurs when the puppy is between three and 12 weeks old but can last throughout their lifetime. If a puppy imprints on a human, he will depend on them for everything and follow them around dutifully. Puppies can imprint on people when they are very young, and consider their owner to be their mother. Yes, this is a real thing, and it happens quite frequently with many different species in the animal kingdom, including dogs. So whether you find it endearing or not, here are a few possible reasons.
There are actually several different possible scientific explanations for your dog following you around. However, there may be more to this behavior than you might think. If you have yourself a “velcro dog” who is right there on your heels no matter what you happen to be doing, it might grow to be a little bit of a nuisance. If you have ever thought, “ why does my dog follow me everywhere ?”, then this post is for you. This post will look at several different potential reasons your dog might follow you everywhere you go, ranging from the more obvious, to factors lying deep underneath the furry surface.
However, there might be more real science behind why dogs want to follow you around than you might imagine. Even the most loving dogs can be a bit much at times and you might even suspect it’s that undying love that keeps them glued to your side. You love your loyal canine companion and with good reason! They’re called “man’s best friend”, after all.īut as much as you love spending quality time with your pup, there are probably times when you wonder why your dog keeps following you around everywhere you go.