You go to the bathroom and shut the door.
Then you hear a whine.
Maybe see a paw reaching under the door.
Possibly, you even hear scratching.
You open the door to find your dog staring at you like you ate all his treats.
Dog parents know there is no such thing as privacy.
At first, it may seem like dogs follow you into the bathroom simply because they’re nosy.
But there’s more to it.
Your Dog Thinks You’re Part of the Pack
Dogs are naturally social animals.
Sometimes a bit more social than we’d like.
I think my dog got extra servings of the social gene.
Dogs instinctively know their wild ancestors survived in packs. Safety comes in numbers.
While your dog may live like a king or queen, with eight dog beds, special dog treats, and meals served to a five-star standard, your pup’s wild instincts still exist.
Your dog considers you family.
That means you are part of your dog’s pack.
Pack members don’t stray to mysterious areas behind evil closed doors.
When you go to the bathroom, your pup has a natural instinct to follow you to make sure the pack stays together and safe.
You Accidentally Created a Bathroom Buddy
Your dog is great at learning behaviors.
Especially if there’s a reward in it.
When you go to the bathroom, you might be:
- Talking to your pup
- Petting your buddy while you dry your hair
- Giving your dog special attention
When your dog finds a behavior that gets rewarded in a positive way, they are likely to repeat it.
Small rewards like petting and talking definitely counts.
That means if your dog first followed you to the bathroom and was rewarded with:
- Attention
- Pets
- Praise
- A funny voice
- Interesting smells
Congratulations! You accidentally created a bathroom sidekick.
Your Dog Is Curious (And Slightly Nosy)
Dogs love to investigate everything.
You are likely the most interesting thing in your dog’s life.
Your pup may even follow you from room to room.
But when you disappear behind a closed door, it’s totally suspicious and unacceptable.
Most dogs are great furry detectives and love to sniff out everything. That includes the bathroom trash can.
You may not think you need emotional support putting on your makeup, but your dog might have a different opinion.
Velcro Dogs Take It to Another Level
While some dogs are very independent, others seem to cling to their humans.
Some dogs stick to their people better than Velcro.
Dog breeds like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Pomeranians, Labrador Retrievers, and Vizslas are even referred to as Velcro dogs.
They simply need to be near their people at all times.
My dog, Henry, is usually right behind me.
But when he thinks I’m sick, stressed, or getting ready to leave, he’s more clingy.
Henry has even followed me into the bathroom in stealth mode. I’ll find him a half hour later, taking a nap on the bathmat behind the closed door.
I now refer to the bathroom as “the puppy cave.”
Should You Be Concerned?
Most of the time, your dog following you to the bathroom is completely normal.
But if your pup panics, destroys things, or becomes extremely distressed whenever you’re out of sight, it may be separation anxiety instead of simple pack instincts. Talk to your vet or an animal behaviorist for help.
The Bottom Line on Why Dogs Follow You Into the Bathroom
Your dog isn’t simply being intrusive by following you to the bathroom.
Well, he is being intrusive, but there’s more to it.
Your furry buddy follows you because he loves being near you, enjoys the attention, and sees you as part of his pack.
Think of your next bathroom visit as a strange pack activity.
Fun Dog Fact: Dogs are experts at recognizing routines and patterns. Your pup may know you’re leaving the house before you even think much about it. If you are putting on makeup or fixing your hair, your dog may recognize it as a sign that you’ll be leaving soon.
