Why does puppy follow me everywhere

Canines share a special bond with their owners, but sometimes, their companionship might feel a little too constant. It may seem like a furry shadow follows you throughout the house—even into the bathroom.

Why does your dog follow you everywhere? Instincts are a big part of the reason. According to the American Kennel Club , a pet who glues himself to his owner's side is often called a "velcro dog. It's also common for puppies to imprint on their owners and look to them as they would their mothers. Giving your dog positive reinforcement like affection and treats may be another reason for their clingy behavior. Another reason your dog might stay close to your side is positive reinforcement.

Barrack says. For example, if your dog sleeps in your bed , you might be creating a dependency and reinforcing his need to be close to you at all times. The focus is on that person because of what they give access to. What was their life like before they came to live with you? For example, an older dog may be losing his sight or hearing, becoming more fearful of the environment and dependent on having you near. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer. Could a dog who is attached to you at the hip be showing signs of separation anxiety?

The big difference between separation anxiety and being a velcro dog is anxiety itself. There are various approaches owners can take to help a dog who exhibits these traits. Many of us get a dog so we will have a constant companion. Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side. Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration.

However, as we mentioned above, this is obviously not practical for many people. Better options include leaving them something to serve as a distraction. Try and associate this good reward with leaving the house , turning on the radio or TV for noise.

You can also reduce outside stimulation by keeping windows covered. The same is true for coming home. Try not to give them lots of attention when you walk through the door.

This acts as a reward, and may indicate to your dog that bad behaviour eventually leads to a reward attention! Above all, never punish your dog for bad behaviour while you were away; aside from the fact negative reinforcement behaviour can be cruel, is not as effective.

As positive as most dogs will not connect their bad behaviour with receiving a punishment hours later. You could also talk to your vet about the problem — there are some drugs designed to reduce anxiety in dogs that may help. They can also recommend behavioural therapists or behaviour classes that may benefit. Ultimately, the best way to treat separation anxiety is to prevent it in the first place — most separation anxiety behaviour is learned as a puppy, so addressing it early is key.

This involves getting them used to being left alone for short periods of time. You can do this even without leaving the house, by going to another room they cannot get to. As mentioned previously, do not make a fuss of them before or after, so they can see it is a normal thing to happen.

It is a good idea to keep the area you leave them regularly, so they associate it with normality. And again, reward good calm and do not punish bad anxiety. Stair gates are a great way to practise, as they can be physically left alone, but can still see, hear and smell you. Start for only a moment or two, reward them for staying behind the gate with no bad behaviour, and open it again; gradually repeat this for longer and longer periods of time, until your puppy can be left behind the gate with no issues.

Speak to your vet about puppy training, and how you can help prevent separation anxiety. Whether your pet simply likes to follow you around the house, or gets terrified at the prospect of you going to work, understanding the reasons why your dog acts like they do is important.

Just be careful not to step on any tails! Your email address will not be published. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. My dog has started vicious behavior towards my husband when I am on the bed with the dog and husband walks in or if I am in the sitting room watching TV on the sofa….