Why Does My Cockapoo Follow Me Everywhere?

Does your Cockapoo follow you all over the house? Wherever you go, you’re either tripping over their paws or accidentally stepping on them. Even if you need to go to the toilet, your Cockapoo tries to follow you inside or is content to lay against the door, like some furry draught excluder; talk about pressure.

There’s a word Cockapoo owners commonly use when they have a dog like this. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “velcro” dog. It’s a pretty apt description for a dog that sticks with you, like glue.

This article will discuss why some Cockapoos are velcro dogs from the start and why others gradually grow into this clingy behavior. Should you be concerned or worried about this behavior? You should be if it’s starting to be a big problem.

What Is A Velcro Dog?

This type of Cockapoo wants to be a constant companion for its owner. Your dog may be a velcro dog if they follow you around the house, never leaving your side, even to the point of panicking when they don’t know where you are. Velcro, or clingy dogs, want to be near to their humans.

Not all Cockapoos have this trait, but it’s fair to say the vast majority are precisely like this. Typically this behavior is reserved for one human the dog bonds with more than any other. For example, take my dog Luna; when it’s just her and me in the house, and I’m working in my office, she’s pretty content to leave me to go and sleep on the sofa. However, once my wife gets home, Luna follows her everywhere and never leaves her side.

Why Does My Cockapoo Follow Me Everywhere?

Your Cockapoo’s shadow-like habit may be cute, aggravating, or even a little concerning to you, so you may want to find out why your dog does this. However, it is generally expected that Cockapoos will follow their owners wherever they go.

Companionship

We’ve bred dogs for generations to crave our companionship. It might come as a shock to a dog to find they will be spending their days alone. 

Because dogs are incredibly social, they are typically eager to spend as much time with us as possible while we are nearby.

Boredom And A Lack Of Mental Stimulation

Not receiving enough mental and physical stimulation can lead to boredom in Cockapoos. They’ll hop up and follow you around everywhere you go since they’re bored. Your dog’s primary source of entertainment is you, so if they get excited when following you around, it could mean they are bored and in search of something to occupy them.

Does your Cockapoo stop following you if you give them a chew toy? If this is the case, he was most likely bored!

An abrupt shift to clinging Behaviour

When your Cockapoo is ill, it can be frightening and perplexing, and it may cling to you as a way of coping. Clingy conduct might be an early warning indication of an illness. 

I recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out any medical issues if your Cockapoo has suddenly started following you around everywhere without any apparent causes.

Anxiety

Because they are anxious about being alone, some dogs come to rely on our company. Research suggests that separation anxiety may be the cause of these symptoms. It’s true that many dogs who are overly anxious or worried exhibit shadowing behavior, especially during storms or other stressful situations.

Keep an eye on your Cockapoo’s body language to see if their fear of the unknown or desire to be close to you is driving the clingy behaviour. 

When you’re getting ready to leave home, a worried dog may show pinned ears, big eyes, severe panting, or an elevated level of stress. Very anxious Cockapoos may refuse to eat a treat or play with a toy when they know you are leaving.

Positive Reinforcement Training

Your Cockapoo will learn that staying close to you means getting pampered and very probably getting some treats.  When you stop what you’re doing every time you see your dog and shower them with praise and affection, you can appreciate this type of behaviour.

If you encourage your dog to be close to you, possibly even allowing your dog to sleep on or in your bed, they will undoubtedly become dependent on your presence. Treating your dog this way is a personal preference, and there’s nothing wrong with this. 

However, it’s essential to understand there are many situations when you are encouraging your dog to engage in specific behaviour, and it’s vital to be aware of this.

Age-Related Anxiety

Age-related anxiety can be stressful for dogs and is especially common. As dogs age, they lose some of their senses, such as sight and hearing, the same as humans. It’s scary enough for us, and we understand why it’s happening. But for dogs, it’s must be incredibly stressful; there’s no wonder they seek comfort by their owner’s side.

It’s In The Dog Breed

Dogs of certain breeds have a natural predisposition to follow their owners wherever they go. In particular, herding and guarding breeds such as Border Collies and Shelties are known for always following their humans. 

Humans have raised these dog breed types for thousands of years to track and guard sheep flocks. Understandably, these dogs will follow their owners if there are no sheep or other livestock to keep them occupied.

Velcro Dog and Separation Anxiety: What’s The Difference?

The first thing to realise is while dogs suffering from separation anxiety are also velcro dogs, not all velcro dogs suffer from separation anxiety. Dogs with separation anxiety are very different from velcro dogs because they fear being apart from their owners. Separation anxiety is seen more in dogs who are clingy with their owners than dogs who aren’t.

Velcro dogs may be predisposed to developing separation anxiety, according to some experts. 

Experts linked separation anxiety to a dog’s excessive attachment to its owner in a 2001 study. But it doesn’t indicate that Velcro dogs are more likely to suffer from separation anxiety. You’ll know yourself when you’re away from your clingy Cockapoo, whether they suffer from separation anxiety as well. 

Is Your Cockapoo’s Clingy Behaviour A Problem?

It shouldn’t be a huge issue if your Cockapoo follows you around. There are a couple of exceptions to this situation: if you find it irritating or if your dog is distressed at being left alone. An affectionate Cockapoo companion is one thing, but a lonely one is quite another.

Test the theory by fixing a safety gate at the entrance to the room, then leave and close the door. Alternatively, if your dog always follows you into the bathroom, leave them outside. If this distresses your Cockapoo, it’s more a sign of separation anxiety. 

Another sure sign your Cockapoo has separation anxiety is if your dog senses you’re getting ready to go somewhere and starts to exhibit some concern. Usually, your dog might get over fussy, whine or cry a little, follow you from room to room, and generally show symptoms of stress. Your Cockapoo knows you’re leaving, and they are unhappy. 

I give Luna a Kong full of her favourite treats or a healthy dental chew. Something safe and will last for at least a few minutes. After a few times, she understood that it meant something good was coming her way and calmed her down when we left the house.

This type of behaviour modification is acceptable if your Cockapoo has mild separation anxiety; however, if it’s more severe than that, you might need to enlist the help of a professional trainer or behaviourist. Sadly, separation anxiety doesn’t go away by itself, and your Cockapoo will need some help.

Conclusion

If your Cockapoo only shows signs of velcro dog behavior, it’s up to you to determine whether or not to intervene. 

I don’t think that’s strange at all, and in fact, many Cockapoo owners find it endearing. However, there are situations when clingy behaviour might be unsafe, for example, while you’re cooking or cleaning the bathroom.