Dog Obsessed? 13 Reasons Why Your Dog Follows You Everywhere

It’s a common enough scenario – you’re trying to get the laundry done, cook dinner, or grab a quick shower. But every time you turn around your dog is right there behind you.

You’ve trodden on him, you’ve tripped over him. You may even have sat on him, yet still he follows you. Nothing will deter him in his quest to be with you at all times!

So why do dogs follow you around the house like this, and what can you do to help your pup learn to be a bit more independent?

Dogs really are family

Dogs are often referred to as man’s best friend (or woman’s, obviously), and for good reason. They offer companionship, loyalty, and unconditional love.

“Many people report that they are as emotionally involved with their dog (Canis familiaris) as they are with their family or friends and the dog-owner relationship has been suggested to resemble that between a child and its parents,” write animal behavior researchers Rehn and Keeling (2016).

Indeed, the special connection between humans and dogs is based on a “complex bond,” with dogs showing behaviors toward their owners similar to those seen in human infants and chimpanzees, according to fellow researchers Siniscalchi and colleagues (2013).

That’s all well and good, but sometimes dog owners might find their canine companions a little too clingy, so to speak.

Velcro dogs that follow their owners everywhere, refuse to be left alone, and constantly want attention can become a bit annoying sometimes – much as though we love them.

Before we try to change our dogs’ behavior, however, we have to first figure out why they’re following us around.

Is it normal for your dog to follow you around?

Many of us have special bonds with our dogs that are based on attachment and affection.

According to Siniscalchi and co (2013), such bonds are “emotionally relevant,” often involve a deep level of trust, and can form between family members, friends, romantic partners – and even pets.

Yes, that’s right, “even pets.” Well, let’s be honest, there’s not much “even” about it!

To anyone who’s ever shared their life with a beloved pet, this is already perfectly obvious.

But as we’re talking about dogs here, let’s look at some of the data.

The Strange Situation Procedure, as the Siniscalchi study explains, involves controlled observations of a subject’s response to an unfamiliar room with an unknown adult (stranger).

The subject is then subjected to three short episodes of separation/reunion from the attachment figure.

Siniscalchi et al. found that, in earlier studies using the Strange Situation Procedure, dogs tended to respond better to stressors (like being separated from an owner they are bonded with) when the pet parent was confident with their pup and the pair had prior training experience together.

This response was also based on differences in owners’ genders, particularly how much verbal communication each gender used.

The researchers then examined 18 different canine behaviors during the Strange Situation Procedure and in terms of following behavior, found, well, the following:

• Most of the dogs (85%) followed their owner to the door at some point.
• 51% of the sample (25 dogs) followed the stranger to the door when he left the room during two of the eight trials.
• Only 4 dogs (16%) never showed following behavior.

So there you have it. It’s all in the science! Dogs who are attached to their owners like to follow them. It’s a completely normal canine behavior.

Nevertheless, there’s such a thing as being over-attached.

While a certain degree of following around can be healthy (and, let’s face it, pretty cute too) when it becomes excessive or disruptive and your dog is super clingy and needy, it can be a sign there’s a bigger issue to contend with.

What, then, are some of the main reasons why your dog might follow you everywhere?

Here are 13 possibilities:

#1. He likes being with you

Some dogs love nothing more than to spend as much quality time with their favorite person as possible.

Perhaps your pup feels comforted by your presence or wants to be part of whatever’s going on.

This can be especially true for the rescue dog who may have been neglected or isolated in the past, or the young puppy separated from his littermates and mother too soon.

I’ve seen this a lot in our rescue dogs where, given the choice between going to run around in the yard or hanging out with us in the house doing nothing much, they most often select the latter. How adorable is that?

If this sounds like your dog, it’s important to be sensitive to his needs and try not to leave him alone for too long, especially if he is prone to separation anxiety (see #11).

#2. It makes him feel good – quite literally

Building on #1, your dog may follow you around because it makes him feel good to be near you.

Perhaps he associates your presence with positive emotions, such as happiness, security, or comfort.

Or perhaps the act of following you helps to release some of those feel-good hormones (such as dopamine and oxytocin) in his brain that can help him feel calmer and more relaxed.

Yes, really! Did you know that when dogs make eye contact with their owners and adopt a loving, puppy-dog gaze, it increases the release of oxytocin? In both the dog and the human?

Oxytocin is often referred to as the “cuddle hormone” or the “love hormone,” as it creates feelings of happiness, love, and connectedness (Nagasawa et al., 2015).

So as a result of this boost of feel-good hormones, your dog gets positively reinforced for following you around.

No wonder he keeps doing it!

#3. He gets yummy rewards

In addition to all those happy hormones flooding his brain, your pup undoubtedly benefits in other ways by following you everywhere.

For example, if you give him tasty treats or play with a favorite toy when he’s hanging out with you, again his behavior is being rewarded via positive reinforcement.

And as we know, dogs are masters at learning through classical conditioning – when an association between two stimuli (e.g. his owner and getting a treat) is established, your pup will start to anticipate the treat based on seeing the person (that would be you).

In other words, your pup’s a lot smarter than you may think!

#4. He’s trying to get your attention

Dogs are social creatures who often rely heavily on their owners for interaction and stimulation.

If your dog doesn’t feel he’s getting enough attention from you, he might get creative in the ways he tries to get it.

So don’t be surprised if he starts following you around or doing other attention-seeking behaviors (e.g., scratching, barking, whining, pawing) if he feels like you’re ignoring him or are too busy to attend to him in that moment.

#5. He’s bored

Along with not getting enough attention, boredom is another common reason why dogs follow their owners around the house.

If your dog’s home alone for many hours during the day, or doesn’t have much to do in his environment (e.g., not enough toys, puzzles, scent games, or chew items), he may seek out your company as a way to make up for those long, lonely hours.

And if he’s bored, he might also feel a bit anxious – another reason why he may follow you around the house.

So it’s a good idea to provide him with plenty of fun and engaging toys and activities when you’re not home or busy doing other things.

#6. He’s scared, anxious, or stressed

Perhaps the most common reason why dogs follow their owners everywhere is that they are afraid to be left alone.

As I said, dogs are social animals and often rely on their group, or family, for safety and companionship.

So it’s completely understandable that being separated from their owner can cause them to be stressed or anxious.

You may also find that you have an increasingly anxious dog who follows you around more as he gets older.

Like people, as dogs age, they can lose confidence and experience increasing levels of anxiety.

Following you around can make them feel less vulnerable – especially if they are also experiencing a loss of hearing and/or vision as can be common in older dogs.

Ditto if you have a puppy. He may have only just been separated from his mom and siblings and it’s all completely new to him.

He may be missing his littermates and feeling rather unsure of everything, so is trying to seek reassurance and comfort from you.

Sometimes your dog may follow you around because he’s afraid of something specific that’s happening at the time, such as a thunderstorm or fireworks.

In such cases, the best thing is to try to keep him distracted, maybe put on some dog music (yes, that’s a thing!) such as Through A Dog’s Ear or Relax My Dog, or classical music to create some background noise, and give him a Stuffed Kong or LickiMat to distract him.

By providing him with some mental stimulation he’ll be engaging his rational brain. This will inhibit his emotional brain and help relax him.

#7. He has separation anxiety

There’s a reason so many people ask why their dog follows them to the bathroom.

Other than the fact that he’s just being sociable or curious, if your dog habitually follows you around and gets distressed if he can’t see you or get close to you, it may be a sign he’s dealing with chronic stress or anxiety.

He may have separation anxiety, fear of abandonment, or some other underlying issue that may need to be addressed by a professional trainer or behavior consultant. (I’ll list my three top recommendations for canine separation anxiety specialists at the end of this post*.)

Separation anxiety is extremely upsetting for dogs because they feel unable to cope when left alone.

Some dogs go into a complete panic.

According to CertaPet (2021), signs of separation anxiety behaviors include:

• Excessive barking or howling (50.7% of 2,600 dogs surveyed)
• Urinating or defecating indoors (24.3%)
• Destruction of objects or property (22.5%)
• Chewing shoes, bedding, or clothing (16%), digging (14.4%)
• Chewing furniture (14.2%)
• Escaping (7.7%)

Sadly, separation anxiety is very common in dogs, especially post-pandemic when so many pups got used to their owners being home a lot more.

The CertaPet survey reported that over 75% of dogs across the United States experience separation anxiety to some extent.

So if your dog is constantly following you around, take a step back and evaluate why he may be feeling so stressed out.

If needed, seek professional guidance to find the best solution for your pup.

#8. He’s curious

Sometimes dogs just want to know what’s going on.

For example, every single time I get up from my desk and go to the kitchen, especially if I open the fridge, our little Esme appears like a furry shadow at my heels. Sometimes she’s still half asleep!

Let’s be clear, she’s not doing it because she wants to be with me or is seeking attention (she gets plenty of that already!).

She just wants to know what I’m up to – specifically what I might have in the fridge for her next treat.

It’s that classical conditioning at work again. The opening of the fridge door comes to mean a potential food reward. And behavior that gets rewarded gets repeated.

Bob’s your uncle, as we say in England.

#9. He’s anticipating something exciting

If your dog is following you around and seems to be particularly enthusiastic at certain times of the day, it could be that he’s anticipating something super exciting!

Maybe it’s dinner time, maybe it’s time for his walk. Or maybe it’s both!

Dogs are smart enough to read our cues (such as putting on our walking shoes or opening the food cupboard) so they know what to expect and react accordingly.

If your pup is highly attentive at certain times of the day, it could be that he’s just waiting excitedly for something special to happen.

I like to think of this in terms of highlights, so to speak.

Think about how many good things your dog has in his daily routine.

These will include mealtimes, treats, games, play, walks, a stuffed Kong, you coming home, and whatever else you’ve got going on that he loves.

The more highlights the better. This will elevate his overall mood state and make him calmer during downtimes so he’s less likely to get bored or stressed.

#10. He’s trying to tell you something

While it may seem like a nuisance at times, there could be a good reason why your pup just can’t stop running after you.

He might have an underlying health issue that requires attention, or maybe he’s uncomfortable due to some sort of pain or injury.

Or perhaps he’s trying to tell you that something is bothering him or a certain situation isn’t quite right and needs your help figuring it out.

A quick trip to the vet for a check-up would be a good idea in this instance.

#11. It’s genetic

Dogs have been bred for thousands of years to perform specific tasks for humans.

For example, herding dogs, such as Border Collies, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers, were originally bred to help with herding and guarding sheep, or hunting.

These types of dogs needed to stay close to their human to await their next order.

Meanwhile, some toy breeds, such as Chihuahuas and Pugs, were bred specifically to be lap dogs.

This means the little guys may feel best when close to you and may follow you around eagerly awaiting their next cuddle.

Other dog breeds, such as the Dobermann, were bred to guard so may also prefer to stick close to their owners (The Kennel Club, 2022).

For these reasons, certain breeds of dogs may simply have it in their genes to follow their owner’s every move.

While the behavior can be cute and endearing, it can also be frustrating if you are trying to get something done and your dog is constantly underfoot.

Try providing your pup with a special toy or bone that he only gets when you are leaving the house, or need to keep him occupied while you’re busy with something at home.

#12. He wants you to be safe

Maybe your dog just wants to make sure you’re okay.

Maybe he knows you’re upset about something or maybe he’s just a super-sensitive pup who always has your back!

Or maybe there’s some life-threatening emergency. For example, our one-in-a-million pitbull-Labrador cross, Maggie, used to try to save me from “drowning.”

There was a time when I was big into swimming and, fortunately, at the time we lived in a house that had a lovely pool.

Every time I got in the pool to swim my laps, Maggie would run up and down the side, diligently following my every move.

If I stopped at one end to take a breather, she’d pull at my swimming goggles or swim cap with her mouth to try to make me get out of the water.

Following me like this was Maggie’s way of letting me know she didn’t think I was safe and would keep trying to “rescue” me until I finally got out of the water.

I still have her teeth marks on my swimming float. How I miss her.

#13. It’s a natural behavior

We’ve come full circle. It’s a natural behavior for dogs to follow their owners. Well, to some extent at least.

But if you have one of those velcro dogs who engages in overly clingy behaviors, you might need to work on some training or behavior modification exercises to help your pup gain a bit more independence.

That said, it’s always best to take things slow and remember that dogs who are overly dependent can be an indication of other underlying issues, such as separation anxiety or even boredom.

How do I stop my dog from following me everywhere?

First of all, define the motivation for your dog’s behavior.

Is he in pain or struggling with separation anxiety, or is he just bored or excited about something?

Your first port of call should be your vet who can help you figure out if there are any underlying medical issues.

If your dog is dealing with separation anxiety, then it’s best to seek the help of a positive reinforcement dog trainer or behavior specialist (ideally who specializes in separation anxiety*) to develop strategies for helping your pup gain more independence and feel comfortable with – and even enjoy – having some alone time.

Other than that, try some fun behavioral training exercises to redirect your dog’s attention and focus.

For example, you can provide him with puzzle toys or interactive games that will stimulate his brain and keep him busy when you need a bit of time to yourself.

Some of my favorites are snuffle mats, stuffed Kongs or LickiMats, or simply hiding treats in old cardboard boxes (we have lots of little ones that the cat food is packaged in) around the house and letting the dogs seek them out and then work to get the treat out.

Sniffing lowers the heart rate and also a dog’s blood pressure, so is a great way to help your dog feel calmer (Budzinski & Budzinski, 2019).

You can also work on training exercises that reward your pup for calm, independent behavior and teach him to be alone for a short time in a positive way.

For example, clicker training is a great way to build your dog’s confidence and impulse control, and help him learn how to chill out.

Baby gates or Xpens can be helpful for managing the environment but only if your dog does not show any signs of stress in his body language and facial expression.

Here’s dog trainer extraordinaire Emily Larlham explaining how to train your dog to feel happy and relaxed about being separated from you:

Here’s Emily again demonstrating how to train a calm settle:

Finally, make sure your pup is getting enough physical activity and exercise in the form of walks, play, interactive toys, and games.

Remember, consistency and positive reinforcement are key to helping your dog learn new behaviors.

Final thoughts

Dogs, just like humans, all have their own personalities and inclinations, so what motivates one dog may not be the same for another.

Whatever your dog’s reasons for following you around, always take the time to understand what’s going on in his head and how you can best help him feel calmer, safer, and happier.

Above all, be patient and kind with your furry friend. He’s just doing what comes naturally. After all, you’re his favorite human in the whole wide world!

Want to find out more about how your dog shows he’s bonded with you? Check out my article Why Does My Dog Lick My Ears? (6 Must-Know Reasons).

Recommended Products

• Kong
• LickiMat
• Relax My Dog Music
• Snuffle Mat
• Through A Dog’s Ear (iCalmPet)

Resources

• At the Heart of the Walk – Christina and Aurélien Budzinski
• Does the attachment system towards owners change in aged dogs? – Paolo Mongillo, Elisa Pitteri, Paolo Carnier, Gianfranco Gabai, Serena Adamelli, & Lieta Marinelli
• “Like Owner, Like Dog”: Correlation between the Owner’s Attachment Profile and the Owner-Dog Bond – Marcello Siniscalchi, Carlo Stipo, & Angelo Quaranta
• Measuring dog-owner relationships: Crossing boundaries between animal behaviour and human psychology – Therese Rehn & Linda J. Keeling
• Oxytocin-gaze positive loop and the coevolution of human-dog bonds – Miho Nagasawa, Shouhei Mitsui, Shiori En, Nobuyo Ohtani, Mitsuaki Ohta, Yasuo Sakuma, Tatatsushi Onaka, Kazutaka Mogi, & Takefumi Kikusui 
• Separation Anxiety in Dogs & Dog Owners in 2021 – CertaPet
• Separation Training for Puppies and Adult Dogs [Video] – Dog Training by KikoPup
• The Calm Settle – for dogs and puppies [Video] – Dog Training by KikoPup
• Why does my dog follow me everywhere? – The Kennel Club

NEED A DOG TRAINER OR BEHAVIOR EXPERT?

If you need more help dealing with a training or behavior issue, please find professional help from a force-free dog trainer who can consult with you either in person or remotely.

GOOD PLACES TO START ARE:
- COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers
- Pet Dog Trainers of Europe
- International Companion Animal Network
- Institute of Modern Dog Trainers
- Pet Professional Guild 

All dog owners deserve to have successful relationships with their canine companions!