This is a YouTube video titled "¿Por qué mi PERRO me SIGUE al BAÑO? 🚽🚶♂️🐕 (3 Motivos)" created on December 18, 2020. The content is an informative explanation by an animal expert discussing three reasons why dogs follow their owners to the bathroom, including protection instincts, learned behavior from puppyhood, and hyper attachment. It also covers how to manage this behavior and signs of separation anxiety in dogs.
A dog's attachment to its human companion is a natural occurrence and demonstrates a good relationship between the two. That's why it's normal to see these furry friends following their caregivers around the house, even to the bathroom. In this video by an animal expert, we'll explain the three reasons why your dog might always accompany you to the bathroom. Let's see what they are. One. To protect you. Dogs have always been used to living in a social group. In the beginning, it was essential for their survival since all members of the social group protected each other in this way, they might accompany you to the bathroom to protect you, just as they feel protected by you. For this reason, it's also common for your dog to look at you when they poop. At this time, dogs are vulnerable and seek the support of their social group. Discover other reasons why your dog looks at you while they relieve themselves in the video we've included in the card. 2. They've acquired this behavior since they were puppies When a dog is a puppy, it is in the process of behavioral development, which is essential for its present and future as an adult dog. This is a stage in which all of its experiences will profoundly affect the animal's behavior. Therefore, if it has been used to following you around while you go to the bathroom since it was a puppy and it is completely normal for it to continue doing so when it is an adult, it has acquired this behavior, and for it it is strange not to go with you. However, it may also be completely normal for it not to have acquired this behavior or for it to have learned that it is not allowed to enter that room. 3. It has hyper attachment. If the dog has acquired this behavior since it was a puppy, but its relationship with us is completely healthy, it should not be bothered. If we do not let it in and close the door, it will probably follow us and return to its resting place when it sees that it cannot get in. However, the dog may stay behind the door crying, scratching, or barking so that we let it in. In this case, the dog is showing symptoms of stress and anxiety. This is because the dog has become excessively attached to its human companion, since the latter gave it a lot of attention and physical contact when it was a puppy. This creates a strong bond with its caregiver in the dog, which is completely correct, but in some dogs that are more predisposed, it leads to hyper attachment. It is one thing for the animal to be attached to its guardian and another for it to become excessively attached. The latter causes the dog to enter a state of excessive anxiety when it is not with its caregiver, which leads to unwanted behavior. How can I manage this behavior in my dog? If your dog follows you to the bathroom and does not show signs of anxiety, if you do not let it in, there is no need to intervene because the animal already understands that it cannot go in. Now, if your dog accompanies you to the bathroom because it is very dependent, that is it has developed hyper attachment, it is essential to treat it to restore the animal's emotional stability. Dogs that develop this condition usually show other symptoms such as crying or barking when left alone, destroying objects or furniture, urinating inside the house, and even vomiting. All of these signs are also typical of separation anxiety. We're going to leave a video above in which we talk about the symptoms of separation anxiety and how you can treat it. The only way to distinguish this hyper attachment is through the withdrawal of social attention. It involves creating detachment from the animal, ceasing to be excessively attentive to it. You can let the dog spend time alone with a toy that you can put food inside. You can also take it to a park and let it interact with other dogs and allow other people in the house to take it for walks and spend time with it. In any case, if you can't correct the situation, we recommend that you go to a dog trainer or ethologist. Tell us, does your dog usually accompany you to the bathroom? Until next time, experts.
