If your dog always wants to be with you, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my dog always want to be with me? Likely reasons why your dog always wants to be with you are that it has separation anxiety, your dog likes the attention, or that your dog is waiting to get something from you.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your dog always wants to be with you and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my dog always want to be with me?
Below are some likely causes and what would make them more likely.
Separation anxiety
The reason why your dog has been being a velcro dog could be that it has some separation anxiety. This is where your dog does not like being left alone and being left alone causes it to become anxious. This would be more likely if your dog becomes anxious when you are leaving it alone by doing things such as crying and pacing.
Encouraging the behavior
It might also be the case that you have been encouraging the behavior by giving your dog things it wants when following you around. If you tend to give your dog things such as toys, treats or extra attention, when it follows you around, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.
Fearfulness
Another possible cause is that there is something that has been causing your dog to be fearful. This would be more likely if your dog has started needing to be around you all the time suddenly such as after moving home or if your dog does it more at certain times such as when there are loud noises inside.
Your dog wants something from you
It could also be the case that your dog is waiting to get something from you. This would be more likely if your dog has to be around you more before getting fed or before getting exercised. In this case, it could help to give your dog food and exercise at a regular time each day so that your dog knows when it can expect to get food or exercise.
Nature
Dogs were bred to be with their owners for hours on a daily basis. Dogs also are pack animals. Therefore, it is natural that your dog often wants to be around you because it is in its nature to want to be around other members of its pack.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your dog has always wanted to be with you all the time
If your dog has started wanting to be around you a lot suddenly, it would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started doing it. For example, if the behavior started after you moved home, it could be the case that your dog is not yet comfortable in its new environment. Whereas, if your dog started doing it since you started feeding or exercising it at a different time, your dog might be doing it because it is waiting to see when it will be fed or exercised.
The timing of when your dog wants to be with you
If your dog tends to want to be around you more at a certain time, it would also help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if your dog does it more before getting fed, it would be very likely that it is waiting for food. Whereas, if your dog does it more when you are sitting down, it could be the case that your dog likes the attention it gets from you.
What to do about my dog always wanting to be with me?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Avoid encouraging the behavior
As mentioned above, it could be the case that your dog always wants to be with you due to the rewards and attention that it gets. If you want your dog to do it less, it would help to reward it when it does not follow you around and to avoid giving it rewards when it does.
Limit reasons why your dog might be anxious
It would also help to limit possible reasons why your dog might be anxious. Ways to do so could include letting it stay in a quiet part of the house and giving it food, exercise and letting it pee before leaving it for a long time.
Give your dog exercise
It would also help to ensure that your dog is able to get a sufficient amount of exercise on a daily basis for its age and breed.
Feed your dog at a regular time
It would also help to try to feed your dog at a regular time each day so that your dog is less likely to follow you around in the hopes that it gets fed for the rest of the day. It would also help to ensure that your dog is given the right amount of calories for its age, breed and activity levels.
Let your dog do it
If the behavior has not been bothering you much, it would also be an option to simply allow your dog to continue doing it.
Why does my dog always want to sit with me?
Likely reasons why your dog always wants to sit with you are that your dog feels safer around you, your dog likes the attention it gets or that your dog is waiting for food or exercise. It would help to consider if there is a certain time your dog wants to sit with you since the timing could have a lot to do with it.
Why does my dog always want to lay with me?
Likely reasons why your dog lays with you are that your dog feels safer around you, it likes the attention or that it is waiting to get food or exercise. It would help to consider if there is a certain time that your dog does it such as before getting food or exercise but not after.
Why does my dog always want to be under me?
Likely reasons why your dog always wants to be under you are that your dog feels safer under you, your dog has some separation anxiety or that your dog is waiting for you to give it things such as food or exercise.
Why does my dog always want to be behind me?
The reason why your dog always wants to be behind you is likely to be that your dog is waiting to get things such as food or exercise or that your dog feels safer by being near you.
How do dogs choose their favorite person?
Dogs choose their favorite person based on how that person interacts with it and who is the one that feeds it and exercises it. If a person gives the dog a lot of positive attention and is the one that feeds and exercises it, the dog will be very likely to choose that person as its favorite person.
Why is my dog so obsessed with me?
If your dog is obsessed with you, it is likely to be due to things such as separation anxiety, liking the attention it gets from you or wanting things such as food and exercise from you.
Is it bad that my dog follows me everywhere?
It is not necessarily bad that your dog follows you everywhere and is very common. It would help to consider why your dog is likely to be following you around and to deal with any problems that comes with it. For example, if it seems to be the case that your dog is doing it due to hunger, it could help to feed it earlier and to ensure that it is getting the right amount of calories for its age, breed and activity levels.