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Depending on your mood, a dog that follows you everywhere can be annoying or adorable. The behavior is also confusing if you’re not an expert on pet behavior. So what is it about the canine companions in our lives that makes them stick by our sides at all times?
Most experts agree on a few different reasons why some dogs are clingy around their owners. One is their pack mentality. Dogs may have been domesticated thousands of years ago, but they still consider themselves to be part of a group like their wild ancestors. When there are no other dogs around, their human family becomes their pack. According to Reader’s Digest, this genetic instinct is also what motivates dogs to watch you closely and seek out your physical touch.
The second reason for the behavior has to do with the bond between you and your pet. As veterinarian Dr. Rachel Barrack told the American Kennel Club, puppies as old as 6 months can imprint on their human owners like they would their own mothers. Even older dogs will bond with the humans in their lives who show them care and affection. In these cases, a dog will shadow its owner because it sees them as an object of trust and security.
One other possible explanation for why your dog follows you has more to do with your treatment of them than their natural instincts. A popular training tactic is positive reinforcement—i.e. rewarding a dog with treats, pets, and praise when they perform positive behaviors. The point is to help your dog associate good behaviors with rewards, but after a while, they may start to associate your presence with rewards as well. That means if your dog is following you, they may be looking for treats or attention.
A clingy dog may be annoying, but it usually isn’t a sign of a larger problem. If anything, it means your dog sees you in a positive light. So enjoy the extra companionship, and don’t be afraid to close the door behind when you need some alone time.
A version of this story ran in 2020; it has been updated for 2023.
This article was originally published on www.mentalfloss.com as The Reason Your Dog Follows You Everywhere.