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It’s practically a guarantee that when it’s time for you to visit the bathroom, your dog will be shadowing you—which can be awkward!
So, what’s this all about? Why do dogs follow us into the bathroom, the one place where we need our privacy the most?
The 7 Reasons Why Your Dog Follows You to the Bathroom
1. There Are Interesting Scents and Sounds
There’s no question that bathrooms are full of interesting smells and sounds. Beyond the obvious, there are soaps, shampoos, lotions, and perfumes. It’s an absolute smorgasbord for a dog’s senses!
2. They Don’t Want to Let You Out of Their Sight
Dogs form strong social bonds with their humans, which can mean you have a shadow everywhere you go. If your dog is in the habit of following you around the house, it should come as no surprise that they also follow you into the bathroom.
3. It’s Pure Unadulterated Curiosity
Your dog is likely super curious about what you’re doing in there. After all, we humans typically spend a great deal of time in the bathroom, so naturally, your dog wants to know why.
4. You’re Part of Their Social Group
The ancestors of domestic dogs include wolves, which live in social groups. Our current domestic dogs retain some social behavioral tendencies related to group living, though their behavior has also been shaped by domestication and human social interaction. Your dog may view you as a social companion and prefer to remain close to you, which can lead them to follow you from room to room.
5. They Have Separation Anxiety
The strong bond that your dog has with you can sometimes be on the extreme side. If your dog shows signs of distress when you leave or cannot access you, you should consider consulting your veterinarian or a qualified veterinary behavior professional. A healthy relationship between you and your dog should allow for time apart without your dog being in distress.
6. They May Be Bored
There’s always the possibility that your dog is experiencing understimulation, so when you get up to go to the bathroom, your dog follows because there’s nothing better to do. If you suspect that this is the case, they need more exercise and walking, and extra toys and chews.
7. They’re Feeling Scared or Nervous
Your dog might be sticking to your side because something has them spooked, or they may not feel well. Maybe someone your dog doesn’t know is visiting, or there’s a thunderstorm or fireworks. Your dog might just be seeking proximity by sticking to you like glue.
Are There Dog Breeds More Likely to Follow You Everywhere?
Several breeds are commonly called “Velcro dogs” because they tend to stay very close to their owners, like Velcro! Many of these breeds were bred to be companions, especially lap dogs, while others were bred to work closely alongside humans.
- Chihuahua
- Dachshund
- Doberman Pinscher
- German Shepherd
- Golden Retriever
- Italian Greyhound
- Labrador Retriever
- Maltese
- Papillon
- Pomeranian
- Pug
- Vizsla
- Yorkshire Terrier
Training Your Dog to Not Follow You Everywhere
If you don’t mind your dog accompanying you to the bathroom, that’s great! But if you prefer to have a bit of privacy, there are a few steps that you can take to encourage your dog to wait patiently for you.
Stay
One of the simplest methods is to train your dog to “stay” if you haven’t already. If you need to train your dog to stay in a place, do so outside of the bathroom environment at first.
Once your dog has mastered this command, you can use it when you go to the bathroom. If your dog obeys, give them a treat once you’re done.
Just Keep Moving
If you frequently move around the house, enter rooms, and so on, make a point of occasionally leaving and returning without interacting with your dog each time. This can help reduce attention-seeking following behaviors and teach your dog that brief separations are normal.
Reward calm behavior when you return, such as when your dog stays relaxed while you’re busy.
Exercise Is Key
Adequate physical activity and mental enrichment are important for a dog’s overall well-being. If you ensure that your dog receives appropriate daily exercise, they may be less likely to follow you constantly out of boredom or excess energy.
This should also include keeping your dog mentally engaged. Mental exercises can consist of using puzzles and chew toys. You can even make your own!
A bored dog is more likely to develop attention-seeking or frustration-related behaviors. But when your dog uses toys designed to entertain them, these activities can help keep them occupied while you are busy elsewhere in the home.
Don’t Reward the Behavior
It’s important to take note of how you react to your dog when they follow you into the bathroom. You should ensure that you’re not unconsciously reinforcing your dog’s behavior; this can be something as simple as looking at them or petting them.
Scolding them is still a form of attention, which may encourage your pup to follow you. You should focus on giving treats and attention to your dog only if they stay while you leave the room. When they follow you, you must ignore them—don’t even look at them!
Everyone Must Follow the Rules
Everyone who lives in your household must stick to the rules. If your dog follows others into the bathroom, they must ignore your dog.
It can also be quite helpful to have everyone in the home participate in taking care of the family pet. If everyone takes turns feeding and walking them, your dog’s attention and interaction patterns may become more distributed among household members rather than focused primarily on one person.
Conclusion
The most common reason your dog follows you to the bathroom is that they only want to be near you. It’s a common behavior in many dogs, and if it does not bother you, just know that your dog enjoys your company and social interaction, and that’s a beautiful thing.
But if your dog seems genuinely distressed while you are in the bathroom, speak to your vet. You might need to have an animal behaviorist work with you and your dog in order to ensure that they remain comfortable and confident when briefly separated from you.
Featured Image Credit By: Gorsky Roman, Shutterstock
