My Dog Won’t Let Me Out of His Sight: What to do?

If your dog won't let you out of his sight, it's usually because he is strongly bonded to you, has learned that following you brings good things like food, walks and attention, or feels anxious when you're apart. A sudden change, especially in an older dog, can also point to illness, pain or failing eyesight or hearing. Clinginess on its own is harmless, but if your dog barks, scratches at doors or panics when you leave the room, it's worth working on.

In this blog post, we’ll look at the most common reasons and share a few tips to help your dog feel more comfortable when he’s away from you.

What is My Dog Trying to Communicate When He Follows Me Everywhere?

There could be a few different things going on if your dog follows you everywhere. Maybe he’s trying to protect you, or maybe he’s just really attached to you and gets anxious when you’re not around. Some dogs even panic when their owner jumps into a pool or lake; we cover what to do when your dog panics when you jump in water.

If your dog is following you around constantly, it’s important to try to figure out what the root of the behavior is. Common reasons include:

• Breed and personality. Companion breeds and dogs bred to work closely with people, such as herding and sporting breeds, are often natural "velcro dogs".
• Reinforcement. If following you to the kitchen often ends in a treat, your dog will keep doing it.
• Boredom. You are the most interesting thing in the house, especially if your dog isn't getting enough exercise and mental stimulation.
• Anxiety. Dogs with separation anxiety, or dogs that have recently been through a change like a move or a new family member, may stick close for reassurance.
• Health and age. Dogs that feel unwell, are losing their sight or hearing, or are developing canine cognitive dysfunction can become much clingier.

Once you know why your dog is behaving this way, you can start to work on a solution. If your dog fixates on one particular person, see why a dog may be obsessed with your husband.

Solutions for Dog Following You Everywhere

If your dog is following you around because he’s anxious, there are a few things you can do to make him feel more at ease.

1. First, try to create a routine for him and stick to it as much as possible. Dogs thrive on routine and it can help to calm their nerves.
2. Secondly, teach him to be comfortable on his own in small steps. Reward him for relaxing on his bed or mat, then practice stepping out of the room for a few seconds and coming back before he gets upset, slowly building up the time. Keep your departures and returns low-key, and give him a food puzzle or chew to enjoy while you're away.
3. If his anxiety is severe, talk to your veterinarian. After examining your dog, they may recommend a behavior plan, a referral to a veterinary behaviorist, or anti-anxiety medication, which can be a really helpful part of the solution for some dogs.

If your dog is following you around because he’s trying to protect you, there are a few things you can do to change his behavior.

1. First, try to be consistent with your commands and rewards. If you tell him to “stay” and he does, make sure to give him a treat or praise him immediately. This will help him understand that he’s doing what you want him to do.
2. Secondly, try to socialize with him more often. The more he’s around other people and animals, the more he’ll realize that he doesn’t need to protect you all the time.

These are just a few solutions for solving this problem. If the clinginess started suddenly, comes with other changes such as eating or sleeping differently, confusion, or reluctance to move, or if nothing seems to be helping, consult with your veterinarian. They can help you figure out what’s going on and come up with a plan that will work for you and your dog.

Your Dog Could Be Following You Around Simply Because He Loves You!

Not everything is indicative of a problem! In some cases, your dog could be following you around simply because he loves you and enjoys your company. If this is the case, you’re lucky to have such a loving and attached dog. Just make sure that you’re giving him enough attention and exercise so that he doesn’t become anxious or destructive.

Common Questions

How do you know if your dog is too attached to you?

If your dog is following you around constantly and getting anxious or destructive when you’re not around, he might be too attached to you. It also simply depends on what you consider to be “too attached”. You can train your dog to go to a specific area of your home to give you space, should you need it.

Is it bad if my dog follows me everywhere?

It’s not necessarily bad for your dog to follow you around everywhere. However, you should listen to what your dog is trying to tell you if you feel that something is wrong.

Often you can figure out what your dog wants by checking the basics: has he been fed, walked, let out to potty and given some playtime? If those needs are met and he still seems unsettled, look for other signs of stress or illness.

Should I ignore my dog if he follows me?

It depends. If your dog is following you around because he’s anxious, ignoring him might make the problem worse. However, if your dog is just following you around because he loves you and wants to be around you, there’s no need to worry. Just make sure that you’re giving him enough attention and exercise, so you can rule out those problems.

Why is my dog so needy for attention?

Dogs are complex beings with many different thoughts and feelings. Some dogs are naturally more needy than others. Sometimes, your dog has a problem with his environment, routine, diet, or other factors that will make them clingier. Bedtime habits can be telling too; see why your dog goes to bed before you.

Take note of which actions seem to solve the problem so that you can replicate that success later on.

What does it mean when your dog sits in front of you and stares at you?

It’s happened to all of us, our dog is sitting in front of us expectantly and we haven’t the slightest clue what they need or want! Obviously, this could be due to any number of reasons and not all of them are bad or problematic.

It might indicate anything from he needs to go outside to he wants a taste of your delicious dinner. This is rarely a cause for concern.

Key Takeaways

All in all, your dog following you around isn’t a huge concern. If you are having problems with your dog being too clingy, try to be consistent with commands and rewards, and socialize with him more often.

These solutions will help you to fix the problem in most cases. However, if you’re still concerned, you may want to consult a behaviorist.