The idea of owning a dog who is so faithful and loyal to you that they never want to leave your side can sound appealing and let’s face it, adorable. However, in theory, it can lead to you questioning your dog’s happiness, their confidence, and their needs. Is there one particular reason you are being followed everywhere? Does this mean you have an anxious dog? Let’s have a look as we tackle this question head-on.
Labradoodles recognize you as the leader of their pack. They follow you out of respect, love, and anticipation. Imprinting can be behind your dog’s shadowing behavior or it can be anxiety, or just boredom. Working dogs have these instincts to follow the pack.
Should you be worried about your dog’s attachment to you or is there nothing to worry about? It all depends on how they seem in general and if there are other telltale signs that something isn’t quite right. Let’s explore this further.
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It’s in The Genes
Dogs are a member of the pack and you are their leader. They look to you for guidance, love and as their authoritative figure. This is an inbuilt instinct in dogs, and it is one reason they always have one eye on your movements. There is a phrase in the doggy world known as “Velcro Dogs”. This phrase describes dogs that never want to move from your side and can often be a trait found in working breeds who are with their owners a large part of the day.
Imprinting is another important factor to consider. Between 3 and 12 weeks of age, puppies can display this imprinting instinct and once adopted by their humans, can display it towards them too. Imprinting in animals has been researched for hundreds of years and lots of studies have been carried out. You may well have seen YouTube videos on ducks who follow humans around. It’s no different in the doggy world and puppies often imprint on their human companions.
It’s important to factor in a dog’s start in life. We don’t like to think of a dog having a bad start but of course, it does happen. If you are taking on a rescue dog, they may be more likely to imprint on you and suffer from anxiety issues. Imprinting, Velcro dogs, and anxiety don’t always go hand in hand but a dog who hasn’t had the best start may be more prone to bigger separation issues.
Companionship
Put simply, some dogs just like your company. They thrive when they are with you, learn from you, and adore you. Your Labradoodle feels happiest when at your feet and they follow you because they want to stay close by.
This isn’t usually an issue as long as you can leave the home without any causing any anxieties. It’s important to keep your pooch well socialized with other people and dogs in order to extend their worldly perspective. This process of companionship has been shaped over many years as dogs have evolved into domesticated animals.
Trying to Tell You Something
Sometimes your Labradoodle might just be trying to let you know something isn’t quite right. They might need to visit the garden to go potty, or perhaps they are simply a little bored and restless. Both issues can be easily rectified.
Bored dogs just need something to engage their minds – maybe a puzzle toy or a chew toy will help? Or maybe they just need a good long walk and a play with their human best friend.
Anxiety
Sometimes dogs are anxious, but this doesn’t mean you’ve done something to cause this anxiety. Some dogs are just prone to being anxious or it can be triggered by a particular event. It’s not necessarily just dogs with a bad upbringing that can show these traits. Occasionally dogs with a fantastic start in life and a loving family will still be a worried dog.
Anxious dogs might feel the safest next to you. So, they are following you because it offers them reassurance. This can, of course, be an issue when you have to leave them home alone. Sometimes white noise, the radio, or the TV on low can help keep dogs calm. Or leave them with a t-shirt that smells of you providing that it is safe to do so.
Creating their own safe space is important too. There will usually be other signs of anxious behavior such as shaking, restlessness, panting, paw-licking, and even, in some instances displays of aggression.
Attention
Who doesn’t like to feel good or be rewarded with kind words or gestures? It’s no different in the doggy world and when they approach their human and get love and affection why wouldn’t they keep coming back for more?
They learn very quickly that approaching you will earn them a pat on the head, a tummy rub, or maybe some playtime. They associate you with positive outcomes and will never tire of receiving these. If your Labradoodle shadows you, then the chances are you are a positive influence in its life. Well done!
Can Velcro Dog Behavior be Problematic?
Most of the time your dog’s shadowing tendencies won’t be anything to worry about and as we’ve discussed, can be quite normal. A lot of this behavior will come from inbuilt instincts dating back to pre-domesticated days. It can also just be a sign of loyalty which we know Labradoodles have in abundance. But sometimes this behavior can lead to problems that need to be addressed.
Should your dog come to hate being home alone then you may need to address it using some of the ways we have already discussed. If your dog shows any signs of aggression when you get close to other dogs or people, then this needs your attention urgently.
Teaching commands such as “stay” and “lie down” in your doggy designated area can help break the shadowing problem. This can take time so patience and learning these commands from a young age will come in useful should such habits form later. If your dog seems contented and relaxed, then the chances are you are just fun to follow around.