Sharing a home with a dog can be a lot like suddenly having an extra, very furry shadow. Even if your pet isn’t a true “Velcro dog” who can never leave your side, you might notice that they become extra curious when you get up to leave the room because they want to follow you. And for some reason, it seems to happen when you’re just taking a quick bathroom break.
As Pet Helpful reports, if your dog follows you to the bathroom, you’re not alone. This is a pretty common behavior, and usually a harmless one at that, even if it makes you feel like you can never get a minute of privacy.
There are a few reasons why dogs get into this habit, and here’s the great news: Most of them have to do with how much they love you! After all, they wouldn’t follow you around if they didn’t truly enjoy your company, but that’s not the only reason your dog follows you to the bathroom. Below are Dogster’s 10 vet-verified reasons why your dog is following you into the loo.
1. They Want to Be Included
Dogs can form strong bonds with their owners, and with that, they want to be included in everything you do, no matter what—even the bathroom is fair game. Dogs don’t think of you going to the bathroom as an off-limit activity for them or a private matter; it’s simply another room they want to follow you into because it looks like another activity to participate in with you. After all, going to the bathroom can be considered an activity, right?
2. They’re Curious
Dogs are instinctively curious creatures and don’t like to be excluded in anything, so when you trot to the bathroom, your dog wants to know what you’re doing in there (sitting on the toilet is not an obvious event to dogs). Of course, sitting on the toilet is not the only thing you do in the bathroom. They are curious about everything you do, like taking a bath, showering, putting on makeup, brushing your teeth, etc. A bathroom is a place they know you frequent, and they want to see what’s up.
3. They’re “Protecting” You
As creepy as it may seem, your dog is not spying on you while you relieve yourself or shower. Instead, they are there to protect you. They know you go to this room often, and your dog interprets that room as your territory, so in their eyes, it needs to be protected. Regarding your dog’s point of view, something could be lurking in there that they need to save you from. When you think about it, it’s a cute behavior!
4. They Love Your Company
One of the sweetest reasons is that your dog just loves you to pieces and cannot stand the thought of not being near you. Dogs are naturally sociable animals, and they long to be in your company, no matter where you are. That’s why they are sad when you leave and excited when you return—just because you’re going to the bathroom doesn’t mean they don’t want to follow along to simply be in your presence.
5. They Love to Smell Different Scents
We all know the bathroom can have an unpleasant scent, but your dog doesn’t care. However, bathrooms can have all sorts of scents, like shampoo, hairspray, lotions, and a whole slew of others. Dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell and can have a field day smelling all the different scents in a bathroom, so this alone could be a reason why they’ve followed you.
6. They’re Worried About You
Consider this scenario: you’re standing in front of the mirror—you may be flossing, plucking your eyebrows, or any other number of things that make you make funny faces. Or you could be feeling sick and making faces while sitting on the porcelain God. To your dog, they may feel that there’s something seriously wrong with you, and they follow you in because they’re concerned. How… sweet.
7. Your Dog Is Experiencing Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is something many dogs experience, and if your dog follows you from room to room, this could be the reason they’re also following you into the bathroom. Dogs with this type of behaviour will be anxious when you leave their presence or if left alone, and if you go into the bathroom, your dog will follow simply to stay with you.
8. Privacy, What’s That? The Pack Animal Mentality
Dogs have no concept of privacy, and the bathroom is commonly known as a private room to many, but your dog doesn’t view it that way. Dogs belong to a gregarious species. This means that they are pack animals and have evolved to live within a social group. Initially, this was a prerequisite for the survival of the individual, and that is why dogs have such a deep-rooted instinct in their brains to get closer to another individual from their social group with whom they maintain strong emotional ties.
Going to the bathroom is an everyday, normal event for dogs, and even though it’s also normal for humans, your dog simply thinks they are staying with you in the pack. To them, there is nothing private about going to the bathroom.
9. They Receive Positive Reinforcement
It’s hard not to pet your dog while they’re in the bathroom with you, while you’re doing whatever is warranted at the time. If you do this or even give your dog a treat afterward, you may be showing them that by following you into the bathroom, they’ll get that reward. In other words, you are unknowingly giving them positive reinforcement. This is fine if you don’t mind your dog being in there, but if you want to stop the behavior, you’ll need to stop using positive reinforcement.
10. You’ve Got a “Velcro” Dog
Depending on the breed, some dogs are needy and can be clingy with their owners. Herding dogs are typically more independent and don’t engage in this behavior as much, but some dogs long to be near their owner no matter what. Some dogs get stressed when their owner is out of sight, and they must find them. That said, your “Velcro” dog will likely follow you wherever you go, including the bathroom.
If your dog is following you persistently or seems unable to settle when you’re not nearby, it’s a good idea to speak with a qualified behaviourist, who can assess the situation and guide you on the best way to support your dog.
How to Manage This Behavior
If your dog follows you to the bathroom and does not show signs of anxiety when you forbid him to come in, there is no need to intervene because he already understands boundaries. However, if your dog accompanies you to the bathroom because he is too dependent or has possibly developed hyper-attachment, you will want to intervene and treat him to restore his mental stability, as dogs that develop separation anxiety can also show other signs like crying, barking, destruction of objects and furniture, urinating inside the house, vomiting, etc.
So, if your dog shows any of these signs, Dogster recommends you teach him to be more independent by using the following techniques:
- Let your dog spend time alone with a toy so that he learns to be entertained on his own.
- Increase his socialization by taking him to a dog park.
- Let other people in the house walk and spend time with him.
However, in some severe cases, the anxiety is such that it will be very difficult to correct the situation without professional help. In this case, it is advisable to consult a dog trainer or a veterinarian.
The “Bottom” Line
The unconditional love of dogs for their humans is a fact known and cherished by all dog owners. If it is sometimes funny and inconsequential for your pooch to follow you everywhere, even to the bathroom, this behavior can be a sign of separation anxiety. So, if this behavior bothers or worries you, do not hesitate to call a professional who will be able to help you reduce your dog’s anxiety.
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Photo Credit: Mary Swift / Shutterstock.com
