Why does my dog look back at me when we walk?

If your dog has been looking back at you, when you walk with it, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about them.

So, why does my dog look back at me when we walk? Possible reasons why your dog looks back at you when you walk are that it wants to make sure you’re still with it, it’s looking to you for direction, to see that you’re ok or it might want to go faster.

There are actually a number of possible causes and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.

Reasons why your dog looks back at you when walking

Below are a number of possible causes and what would make each of them more likely to be the main cause.

It wants to make sure you’re still with it

The reason why your dog looks back at you is likely to be that it wants to make sure that you are still with it. This would be more likely if it walks on a long lead or it only looks back at you when it is off the lead.

It is looking for direction

Another possible cause is that it is looking at you to get direction from you and to see what way you are going. This would be especially likely if it does it when it is just in front of you on a short lead. However, it could still be the cause when it is far ahead of you. It would also be more likely if you often take different routes when you are walking it.

To see that you’re ok

Another possible cause is that it is looking back to make sure that you are ok. This would be more likely if it looks back at you when other people or animals are near you.

It wants to go faster

Another possible cause is that it wants to go faster. This would be more likely if it looks back at you when it is pulling on the lead.

Things to consider

Below are a number of things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.

What else happened when your dog first started looking back when you walk

If your dog did not always look back at you when walking your dog, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. For example, if it started doing it when you started walking it on a different route, it would be more likely that your dog is looking back at you to see where you are going.

What is different when your dog does not look back

It would also help to consider the timing of when your dog looks back at you since the timing could have something to do with it. For example, if your dog does it when other people are passing you, it would be more likely that your dog does it to make sure you’re ok.

What to do about your dog looking back when you walk

Below are some options when dealing with the behavior.

Allow it to continue

If it seems to be doing it naturally and it is not behaving abnormally in other ways, one option would just be to allow your dog to continue doing it.

Walk alongside it

Another option would be to walk beside your dog. Doing this would allow it to see where you are going.

Train it to stop pulling

If it seems like your dog has been doing it because it wants to go faster and it pulls on the lead. It would help to train it to stop pulling on the lead and to walk with you instead.

You can watch the video below for tips on how to do it.