When Does a Dog Walk Behind Its Owner
Your dog will most likely walk behind you in 3 different scenarios. The first two would happen when you are out walking them, either on a lead or off the lead. The third would be within the household whilst going about daily tasks.
The pack mentality is something that has been agreed upon for many years and it is still the common theory behind much of a dogs behaviour. When it comes to domesticated dogs, the pack mentality is certainly something that is thought to be present, but your dog’s behaviour might not be as obvious as you think. One reason for your dog walking behind you could be a submissive trait that stems from the pack mentality, practised by their ancestors. Your dog is aware of their place in the pack and see’s you as a figure of authority, whilst respecting you as the leader. Your dog is essentially letting you lead as they believe you are the one to make the correct decisions. However, in recent years the theories surrounding pack mentality have changed and researchers have started to lean towards a more co-operative approach. Some modern research has used examples in wolf packs, where each member of the pack relies heavily on each other, suggesting that the different ranks in a pack are not as important as once thought.
Another reason for your dog walking behind you is that they fear you. If you have used a more outdated approach to dog training you may find your dog is fearful of making the wrong decisions. If this is the case it may be time to approach your dog training from a more positive reinforcement stance. This will show your dog that they can make their own decisions but when you want them to do something they will still be obedient.
The final reason may be linked to the area they are in. If you are walking your dog in an unfamiliar territory they may be cautious about there surroundings. From personal experience when I walk my dogs in their favourite place they run straight off and essentially lead me along the same route we always take. However, this is completely different when I’m walking across unknown moorland, where they have never been. They are usually more cautious and if they do go on ahead they always make sure I’m in sight.
Companionship is something you always want to have with your dog, it’s one of the reasons they are the most popular pets in the world. The reason your dog walks behind you could be linked to the bond you share with them. As mentioned before dogs are pack animals and the welfare of the pack is the most important thing on their mind. An article by VCAHospital summarises research regarding the behaviour in wolves whilst travelling. The literature says that there is a regard to the packs’ safety even stating observations of older alpha wolves taking a position at the back of the pack to ensure their safety. This linked with theories that wolves are more co-operative may indicate why your dog finds it necessary to walk behind you. Put simply your dog is protecting you from the place they feel is most vulnerable and keeping you safe is their top priority.
#8: They’re under control
Dogs would prefer to go off-leash on walks. And I’m sure many owners would agree that this is the ideal situation.
But some situations call for the use of a leash. In such a case, it’s good to have an obedient dog.
If your dog walks behind you on a leash, it means they’re under control. Otherwise, you’ll have a dog struggling to run away from you.
How to get your dog to stop walking behind you
Below, I will mention a number of things that you can do to get your dog to stop walking behind you that will work well when implemented together.
Positive reinforcement training is where you get your dog to display the behaviors that you want to see by rewarding it when it does what you want or shows signs of doing it.
To use it to get your dog to walk beside you, you would reward it with treats when it walks beside you and stop rewarding it when it lags behind.
You can also train it to come on command so that you can call it whenever it starts lagging behind. I have written about how to train a dog to come on command, in the past, here.
It might be tempting to punish your dog for walking behind you but you should avoid doing so. If you do it might not know what you are punishing it for and it could cause it to develop feelings of resentment towards you.
While it is important not to punish it for walking behind you it is also important to avoid rewarding it for walking behind you. If you do reward it when it goes behind you then it will learn that walking behind you gets it things that it wants.
Instead, it would help to use the positive reinforcement method mentioned above and to train it to come when you call it.
TEACH DOG TO WALK BEHIND YOU- Stop Reactivity NOW!
Walking your furry friend is probably one of life’s greatest, albeit most simple, pleasures. It can be a great time to build on the human-dog bond you share, explore together, or just enjoy the sights and sounds all around you.
In a fur-fect world, your canine companion will keep step, while proudly and gallantly walking beside you. But nope, not Fido! He insists on lagging behind, following closely but at a sluggish pace. It’s a fair question, one surely asked by dog owners worldwide – why does my dog walk behind me?
A dog walking behind you can be due to his curiosity to interact with his surroundings. When he is in unfamiliar places, it makes him feel uneasy so he is taking his time to assess the environment. Since he views you as the leader, walking behind you reassures his safety.
While it is not one of the earth’s most serious problems to have, it can be frustrating, particularly if you have a multi-dog household – all of which trying to travel at different speeds.
Today, we focus on the slowpoke of the family. Most people would rather deal with this behavior than having Fido drag them around the block, but aside from being slightly annoying, it is important to pinpoint, which of the many possible reasons, applies to your specific pooch and to rectify the situation if need be.