If your dog follows you but not your husband, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my dog follow me but not my husband? Likely reasons why your dog follows you but not your husband are that you are the one that feeds it, plays with it, gives it exercise, treats and the most attention or that your husband has encouraged your dog not to follow him.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your dog follows you but not your husband. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause.
Why does my dog follow me but not my husband?
Below are likely causes and what would make each of them more likely.
Encouraging the behavior
It could be the case that you have encouraged your dog to follow you around by rewarding the behavior. If you often give your dog treats, toys or extra attention, when it follows you, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.
You are the one that feeds it
Another likely reason why your dog chooses to follow you around is that you are the one that typically feeds it. This would be especially likely to be the reason if your dog tends to follow you around before you have fed it in the morning or before you would normally feed it later in the day.
Your dog is scared of your husband
It might also be the case that your dog is afraid of your husband. This would be more likely if he often shouts at the dog or is loud when he is around the dog. It would also be more likely if your dog tends to avoid him or it shows body language signs of being afraid around him such as hiding, crying or making itself appear smaller.
Your husband has encouraged your dog not to follow him
It could also be the case that your husband has encouraged your dog not to follow him by giving your dog rewards when it does not follow him or punishing it when it does. This would be more likely if your husband rewards it when it stays in its place or if he often gets it to stay where it is.
Separation anxiety
It might also be the case that your dog has separation anxiety. This is where your dog does not like being left without you and it gets anxious when it is left without you. This would be more likely if your dog starts to become anxious when you are leaving it.
If your dog still becomes anxious when you leave it with your husband, it could be the case that your dog does it because you are the one that feeds it and it is concerned that it will go without food for a long time. In this case, it could help to try feeding it before leaving it.
You are the one that trained it
If you are the one that gave your dog training, it could be the case that your dog has learned to follow you around because you trained it to do so. This would be more likely if your husband has not given it any training and you continue to give it training. In this case, it could help to try to get your husband to train it sometimes.
You are the one that gives it treats
If you often give your dog treats, it would be likely that your dog has learned to follow you because it can result in your dog getting treats.
You are the one that gives it the most attention
If you are the one that gives your dog the most attention, it would also be likely that your dog will follow you around in order to get more attention.
You are the one that gives it exercise
If you are the one that gives your dog exercise, it would also be likely that your dog follows you in the hopes of getting exercise. This would be especially likely if your dog tends to follow you around the most before it has gotten exercise.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your dog has always followed you
If your dog did not always follow you around, it would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started doing it. If your dog started doing it when you started training it, giving it treats, exercising it, or giving it more attention, it would be likely to be due to those things. Whereas, if your dog started doing it when your husband started spending less time with it, the cause could be that your dog learned that it gets more attention from you now.
If your dog does follow your husband sometimes
If your dog does follow your husband sometimes, it would also help to consider the timing. For example, if it does follow him before getting exercise, it would be likely that your dog sees him as the one that gives it exercise and you as the one that gives it everything else.
What to do about your dog only following you and not your husband?
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 has learned that it gets rewarded for following you around. Instead, it could help to avoid rewarding it when it follows you and to try to reward it when it follows your husband sometimes.
Get your husband to be the one to feed it sometimes
If you are the one that currently feeds it, it could also help to get your husband to be the one that feeds it sometimes.
Get your husband to train it
If you are also the one that gives it training, it would also help to try to get your husband to be the one that trains it occasionally.
Get your husband to be calm with it
If your husband is often loud around your dog, it would also help to try to get him to be calmer around it.
Why does my dog follow me and no one else?
Likely reasons why your dog follows you and no one else are that you are the one that feeds it, gives it exercise, gives it treats, gives it training and gives it the most attention. It would also be likely that your dog has learned that it gets rewarded when it follows you.
Why does my dog only wake me up?
Likely reasons why your dog only wakes you up are that you are the one that feeds it in the morning, you are the one that lets it outside in the morning and that you are the one that gives it exercise in the morning.
Do dogs favor one person?
Dogs will often favor one person but not always. When dogs do favor one person, it is often because that person is the one that feeds it, gives it exercise, trains it, gives it treats and gives it the most attention.
Why does my dog only follow me and not my wife?
Likely reasons why your dog follows you but not your wife are that you are the one that feeds it, trains it, gives it exercise, gives it treats, and gives it the most attention. It might also be the case that your wife has encouraged it not to follow her by rewarding it when it leaves her alone or punishing it when it gives her attention.