They express their love.
If your dog picks up toilet paper and brings it to you, this is his way of telling you he loves you, even in the bathroom.
First and foremost, dogs are pack animals. Their human family is their pack, and the house is their territory. This means that they need to patrol and protect it, and that means all of it, including the bathroom. Particularly the bathroom, in fact, if your behavior means what your dog thinks it means. When a dog urinates or defecates, he or she is marking the area with his or her scent. So, of course, your dog believes that is the reason you are in there. If you spend so much time marking that area, it must be very important. If you go into the bathroom alone, your dog believes that you are trying to protect the pack territory undefended. Not only is that dangerous for you, according to your dog, but it also puts the food, water, and square footage of the “territory” at risk. Of course, your dog is going to follow you and help you out! Your dog is also backing you up for your own safety. you are doing what you need to do in the bathroom, you are extremely vulnerable. Or, you would be if you were in the wild, and your dog cant tell the difference. He may be with you because his instincts tell him that you may be attacked by a predator while unable to run away.
If your dog is following you into the bathroom because he or she is following you everywhere, you may need to condition him out of this behavior. A good place to start is to desensitize your dog to the signal of you getting up out of your chair or headed for the door. Try getting up and sitting back down over and over again, then leave the room and walk in a circle before going back to where you started. Eventually, he or she may get bored and stop feeling curious about where you are about to go and what you are about to do.
If conditioning doesnt work, or if your dog seems truly distressed whenever you are apart, separation anxiety may be the culprit. If the anxiety is mild enough, try giving him or her a favorite shirt of yours or a beloved toy whenever he or she needs to be alone. A hidden-treat toy may also work, but if the distress is more severe, you may need to resort to more involved options. Counterconditioning works for many dogs. This involves short separations that gradually get longer over a number of weeks. Because this can be a delicate process, experts recommend that owners consult with a veterinarian or behaviorist before starting. These professionals may also be able to suggest whether medications can be helpful in the meanwhile.
Constant companionship can be one of the biggest mixed blessings about having a dog, no doubt about it. Your dogs presence in the bathroom may be your least favorite part of that mixed blessing. Just know that, as is often the case with difficult dog behaviors, your dog thinks that he or she is helping you! Be kind and patient if you need to correct the behavior, but dont feel like you need to “hound” him or her about it. More than likely, the dog is just being a good pack member!
Of course, part of the draw may be simple curiosity. Your dog is fascinated by anything you do and anywhere you go, and he may just plain need to know what is going on when you are in the bathroom. It is an interesting place in and of itself, especially because it is full of all kinds of smells. And you are in there too, which means that your dog is even more drawn to it. Your dog loves your company. That is part of why he or she stares at you when you are on the toilet. He just wants to connect with you. Most of the time, thats okay. If your dog cant seem to leave you alone at all, however, in the bathroom or elsewhere, he or she might be experiencing some separation anxiety. If this is the case, he or she might need some help being alone, if only for his or her own comfort.
They worry about you.
Your dog may be worried about you going to the bathroom, and standing close to you and staring at you is an attempt to bond and protect you.
This Is Why Dogs Follow You Into The Bathroom. I Never Knew This!
Living under the same roof as a dog is like having a second shadow that follows you everywhere. Dogs love to walk their owner from room to room and enjoy their presence. For them, intimacy is a somewhat abstract concept, if not nonexistent. But why do dogs follow us to the bathroom?