Why Does My Goldendoodle Follow Me Everywhere?
Goldendoodles are extremely loving and friendly dogs. When my family wanted a dog that’d get along with the entire family, a Goldendoodle was the natural choice. However, I was surprised to discover that our new addition had a habit of following us around the house. Here’s what I’ve learned about why Goldendoodles follow you everywhere.
Why Does My Goldendoodle Follow Me Everywhere?
A Goldendoodle may follow you around the house because they’re bored, expecting food or a reward, or because they’re scared.
Those aren’t the only reasons why your Goldendoodle follows you everywhere. Read on to find about more reasons and how you can persuade your dog to relax.
Why Does My Goldendoodle Follow Me to the Kitchen?
Your Goldendoodle may follow you to the kitchen because they’re hungry or because they expect a reward. You likely keep your dog’s dish in the kitchen. They understand that when you enter the kitchen, it sometimes means that you’re filling their dog bowl.
A natural instinct is to follow you to the kitchen in preparation to receive food. It’s also their way of telling you that they’re hungry. They may even stop beside their dog bowl expectedly.
Another reason they may follow you to the kitchen is that they think they’re going to be rewarded. If you keep your treats in the kitchen in a certain place, then any time you approach that place will make them think that you’re getting a treat.
Dogs love treats. It’s only natural that they’ll follow you immediately because they expect a treat.
Your Goldendoodle may be telling you that they’re thirsty. They also know that water comes from the kitchen. If their water bowl is empty, then following you to the kitchen is their way of saying they need water.
Why is My Goldendoodle Following Me Around the House?
Whether you’re doing chores or just going from room to room, you may find your loving Goldendoodle right behind you. They’re always close at hand. They may be following you because they’re bored.
Goldendoodles are a crossbreed between Golden Retrievers and Poodles. Both dogs have a lot of energy. They’re used to hunting. They often use a lot of energy to retrieve waterfowl and other quarries for their owners. Since you likely don’t take your Goldendoodle hunting, they have a lot of energy that’s not being used.
Without physical stimulation, they’ll likely take the opportunity to get some exercise by following you around the home. It’s, at the very least, entertaining for them.
Both Golden Retrievers and Poodles are also smart. They need to be intelligent in order to learn the basics of hunting and quarry retrieval. Your Goldendoodle is also intelligent. With intelligence comes the need for mental stimulation.
Goldendoodles become bored easily. Watching you walk around the house is entertaining for them because it sparks their curiosity. They wonder where you’re going and what you’re doing. Some may even think it’s a game.
There are a few ways you can help your dog relax and keep from following you. The most important is to give them plenty of physical exercise. A Goldendoodle has a lot of energy. They should, at the very least, be taken outside for a walk for 20 minutes to a half-hour every day.
Dogs need to be able to run around freely, too. You should consider putting in a fence of some kind. Fetch is a game that most Goldendoodles love. It allows them to act on their natural instincts to take off after a quarry and deliver it to you. They can expend plenty of energy while receiving a good amount of mental stimulation, too.
Speaking of mental stimulation, that’s another way that you can help your Goldendoodle relax at home rather than follow you everywhere. Because of their intelligence, it’s easy for Goldendoodles to become bored. A bored Goldendoodle is a dangerous Goldendoodle for your furniture and shoes.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways that you can help keep your Goldendoodle entertained. Giving them chew toys is one method. Chewing requires a lot of concentration. If the chew is a treat, then it’s also a delicious way to pass the time. Chew toys don’t always have to be treats. The actual toys work just as well.
You’ll find balls, ropes, and other chew toys that work well for Goldendoodles. They can spend hours chewing on it and occupying themselves. Just don’t be too surprised if they bring you the chew toy and expect you to play fetch with it.
Another way to help keep them mentally stimulated is to teach them tricks. Because their ancestors are used in sports, Goldendoodles are great at learning. One important trick to teach them is to stay. Once they learn it, you can implement it while you move around the house doing what you need to do without worrying about them being right behind you.
They’ll enjoy the process of learning the trick, and you’ll appreciate the outcome.
Why Does My Goldendoodle Follow Me to the Door?
You may experience a brief bout of panic when your Goldendoodle rushes with you to the door. You may even have to fight a bit to keep them from following you right through the door. The reason that your Goldendoodle follows you to the door is that they expect to be taken on a walk.
If you only have one door in your home that you use to go in and out of the house, then that door may be associated with walk times for your dog. Any time you approach the door, your dog may think that they’re going to receive a walk.
There are a few ways you can keep your Goldendoodle from following you to the door and escaping. One is to block off access to the door. There are several dog gates that you can use to restrict access to your dog near your door. You no longer have to worry about them rushing to you when you open the door to come inside or rushing past you when you open it to leave.
Another method is to set up a ritual that lets your dog know when it’s time for a walk. You should place their
Your Goldendoodle May Be Frightened
It may be difficult to think that your lovable Goldendoodle is scared of anything, but they can be. Like all animals, sudden loud sounds can startle them. Even abrupt changes to a daily routine can cause them stress or anxiety. If your Goldendoodle is following you around the house, then it may be because they’re frightened.
They may be frightened, themselves, or they may be frightened for you. If they’re frightened, then they’re following you around because they trust you with their safety. They see you as their pack leader. They rely on you to keep them safe.
You can help ease your dog’s fears by giving them plenty of attention and distracting them. A game of fetch might help them take their mind off of their fears. You may even want to take them out of the situation on a walk to help ease them.
If your Goldendoodle is frightened for you, then they may be following you around the house to keep you safe. They want to be there in case an enemy shows up and threatens you. By working as a pack, you can defeat any threat.
You can ease your dog in this capacity as well by playing with them and soothing them. Distracting them can help them forget their fears and focus on something else.
Your Goldendoodle May Be Trying to Tell You Something
If your Goldendoodle seems agitated while following you around, then they may be trying to tell you something. A ball may be stuck under the couch. They may not be able to access a treat. Perhaps their food or water bowl is empty. There are plenty of reasons why your dog may be trying to get your attention.
If you’re walking around the house, then your Goldendoodle may have no choice but to follow you around in order to gain your attention.
There’s a chance that your Goldendoodle may also feel sick or be injured. They may be following you because they need your help. Take the time to listen to your dog. Follow them if it seems as though they’re trying to lead you somewhere. Otherwise, do a quick check over them to ensure they’re not harmed.
Is Your Goldendoodle Following You Because of Separation Anxiety?
One big reason your Goldendoodle may be following you everywhere is because of separation anxiety. Poodles are known to suffer from separation anxiety. That may be present in your Goldendoodle as well. The reason they’re following you everywhere is that they don’t want to be apart from you.
Separation anxiety is difficult to break. One way you can help ease it is to wear out your dog. Another method is to give them plenty of mental stimulation. It may also help if you bring another dog into the house. They’ll have someone to socialize with while you’re gone.
Closing Thoughts
Having your Goldendoodle follow you around the house can be annoying. However, they usually do it because you’re interesting to them or they’re in need of something.
There are a few steps you can take to help keep your dog from following you everywhere. Keeping them distracted or mentally stimulated and giving them plenty of exercise are two main solutions.