Do you have a Boston Terrier who follows you to the bathroom? If so, you’re not alone! This is actually a common behavior for Boston Terriers. There are a few different reasons why this might happen, but most of the time it’s simply because your Boston Terrier wants to be close to you.
In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most common reasons why Boston Terriers follow their owners to the restroom. We’ll also provide tips for how to deal with this behavior. Thanks for reading!
Reasons Why Your Boston Terrier Is Following You To The Bathroom
First, know you are not alone when it comes to your Boston Terrier following you to the bathroom. We conducted a poll on the Boston Terrier Society YouTube channel as well as the Twitter community, and the results are conclusive from Boston Terrier Parents.
YouTube – 88% of 359 Boston Terrier owners say their Boston follows them to the bathroom.
Twitter – 85% of 64 Boston Terrier owners say their Boston follows them to the bathroom.
Does your Boston Terrier follow you to the bathroom?
— Boston Terrier Society (@Boston_Society) November 18, 2022
Now on to why your Boston follows you to the potty.
1. They’re Velcro Dogs
Boston Terriers are often referred to as “velcro dogs” (a term I just coined) because of their strong bond with their owners.
If you’re the one who provides them with food, water, and love, it’s only natural that they would want to be close to you at all times – even when you’re in the bathroom!
2. They Want to Be Involved in Everything You Do
Another reason why your Boston Terrier is following you to the bathroom is because they want to be involved in everything you do. If they see you getting up and going to the lavatory, they’ll want to follow you and see what you’re doing. This is just their way of showing how much they love and care for you.
3. They Pick Up on Your Energy
Dogs are very intuitive creatures and can pick up on our energy, even when we don’t realize it. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, your dog will likely sense this and want to be close to you for comfort. This is especially true for Boston Terriers, who are known for their sensitive nature.
4. They Don’t Like Being Left Alone
Another reason your Boston Terrier may follow you into the bathroom is because they don’t like being left alone. This breed is known for their separation anxiety, so it’s important to make sure they always feel safe and secure. If they see you leaving the room, they may follow you in an attempt to stay with you.
Learn more about Boston Terrier separation anxiety and what to do in this article: Boston Terrier Separation Anxiety: Guide & Remedies.
5. They’re Curious
Another possibility is that your Boston is following you to the bathroom because they’re curious about what you’re doing.
Dogs are naturally curious creatures, and they may want to see what you’re doing when you go into the bathroom. This curiosity can sometimes lead to bad habits, such as getting into the trash or chewing on things that they shouldn’t.
Learn more about what Boston Terriers enjoy besides being curious in this article: 10 Things Boston Terriers LOVE!
6. They Smell Something Interesting
It’s also possible that your Boston is following you to the bathroom because they smell something interesting coming from in there.
Dogs have a much better sense of smell than humans, so it’s not surprising that they would be drawn to something that smells good to them. If your dog seems particularly interested in the bathroom, it might be worth taking a look inside to see if there’s anything that could be attracting them.
Here is a PBS special covering just how powerful a dog’s nose can be. Check out this video below:
7. They Hear Something Strange
Another reason why your Boston may follow you into the bathroom is that they hear something strange coming from in there. Dogs have much sharper hearing than humans, so it’s possible that they can hear things that we can’t. If your dog seems agitated or nervous when you go into the bathroom, it could be because they’re picking up on something that we can’t hear.
Here is a very interesting video covering the science behind a dog’s keen since of hearing. I have the video set to start at only the dog portion of the video but watching the whole video is worth it because of the amazing facts in the show. check it out below:
8. They Want Your Attention
It’s also possible that your Boston is following you to the bathroom because they want your attention. This is especially true if you tend to give them lots of attention when you’re in the bathroom, such as talking to them or petting them.
Dogs are very intuitive creatures, and they quickly learn which behaviors result in getting attention from their owners. If your dog is following you to the bathroom for attention, the best thing to do is ignore them until they stop doing it.
9. They Are Highly Intelligent
Boston Terriers are known for their intelligence, which means they can quickly figure out the routine of their owners.
If you always head to the bathroom at a certain time or after completing certain activities, your Boston Terrier will soon pick up on this and start following you – just in case you’re about to head to the bathroom!
So are Boston Terriers smart? Check out this video where I talk about Boston Terrier intelligence plus survey data from Boston Terrier parents.
10. They Need Reassurance
Boston terriers can sometimes be anxious and will often look for reassurance from their owners. Following you wherever you go is a way for them to find comfort in knowing that you are nearby – even if it’s just while you take care of your bathroom business.
Tips On How To Stop Your Boston Terrier From Following You To The Bathroom
If you are wanting to put an end to your Boston Terrier following you to the bathroom because you want privacy on the toilet 🙂 here are some helpful suggestions you can follow.
1. Understand why your Boston Terrier is following you to the bathroom.
There are a few reasons why your Boston Terrier may be following you to the bathroom. They may be seeking attention, they may need to go to the bathroom themselves, or they may be curious about what you’re doing. If you can figure out why your dog is following you, it will be easier to stop them from doing it.
2. Don’t give your Boston Terrier attention when they follow you to the bathroom.
If your Boston is following you for attention, the best thing to do is to ignore them. Don’t look at them, speak to them, or pet them. This may be difficult at first, but eventually, they will get the message that they are not getting any attention by following you and will stop doing it.
3. Put your Boston Terrier in another room before you go to the bathroom.
If your Boston is following you because they need to go to the bathroom themselves, put them in another room before you go so they can’t follow you. This will give them the opportunity to use the bathroom in peace and will prevent any accidents from happening.
4. Close the door to the bathroom so your Boston Terrier can’t see or follow you inside.
If your Boston is curious about what you’re doing in the bathroom, closing the door will help to deter them from following you inside. You can also try putting up a baby gate if closing the door isn’t an option.
5. Give your Boston something else to focus on when you go to the bathroom.
If your Boston is bored and follows you out of boredom, giving them something else to focus on will help to keep their attention off of you. Try giving them a toy or a treat-dispensing puzzle toy so they have something else to occupy their time with while you’re in the bathroom.
Here are some cool options covered in this video when it comes to treat dispensing puzzles for dogs. And be sure to visit Amazon to check out your options and pricing here: Treat Puzzles.
6. Ignore your Boston.
Another way to keep your Boston Terrier from following you to the bathroom is to ignore your dog when he or she follows you. This means that you should not give your dog any attention, including eye contact, petting, or speaking to him or her. If you do this consistently, your dog will eventually learn that following you into the bathroom does not result in any rewards and will stop doing it.
7. Use a baby gate.
If you have a baby gate, you can use it to block off the entrance to the bathroom so that your dog cannot follow you in. This is an effective way to keep your Boston Terrier out of the bathroom if you cannot be there to supervise him or her.
Need a baby gate? Check pricing for baby gates here on Amazon: Baby Gates.
8. Put up a barrier.
Another way to block off the entrance to the bathroom, if you don’t have a baby gate, is to put up a barrier such as a piece of furniture or a baby gate. This will prevent your dog from being able to enter the room and will help to deter him or her from trying to follow you in.
9. Give your dog a treat when he or she stays outside of the bathroom.
One way to positively reinforce good behavior is to give your dog a treat when he or she stays outside of the bathroom while you use it. This will help your dog associate staying outside of the bathroom with getting a reward and will encourage him or her to continue doing it in the future.
Need some Boston Terrier dog treat ideas? Here are the best dog treats for Boston Terriers based on a survey from 1,000 Boston Terrier parents. See it in this YouTube video below:
10. Train your Boston to stay in another room.
If you cannot keep the door closed, you can train your dog to stay in another room while you use the bathroom. You can do this by teaching your dog a cue such as “stay” or “wait.” Once your dog is proficient at staying in another room, you can begin to gradually increase the amount of time that you are gone.
Here is how to teach your Boston Terrier the stay command –
The stay command is an important one for any dog to learn. It can help keep your dog safe in potentially dangerous situations, and it can also be used as the foundation for other commands. Here are a few tips for teaching your dog the stay command.
Start with short sessions: Trying to teach your dog to stay for long periods of time from the start is likely to be frustrating for both of you. Instead, start with short sessions and gradually increase the duration.
Use positive reinforcement: Reward your dog with treats or praise whenever they successfully obey the stay command. This will help them to associate the command with something positive.
Practice in different locations: It’s important to practice the stay command in a variety of different locations, as this will help your dog to generalize the behavior.
Be consistent: Like with all training, consistency is key when teaching your dog the stay command. Make sure that everyone in the household uses the same cue word or hand signal and rewards the behavior in the same way.
Following these tips should help you to successfully teach your dog the stay command.
Read this list of essential obedience training your Boston should know before you start teaching them tricks: The 10 Most Important Commands To Teach Your Boston Terrier!
Final Thoughts…
So why does your Boston Terrier follow you to the bathroom? There could be a few different reasons, but most of the time it’s simply because your pooch wants to be close to their favorite human!
Boston terriers are affectionate and loyal companions who want to be with their owners as much as possible – even when it’s time for a bathroom break! With their intelligence, velcro-like attachment, and need for reassurance, it’s no wonder why Boston terriers often tail you.
If you’re looking for ways to bond with your Boston Terrier even more, why not try learning more about human traits that these pups just can’t stand?
After all, understanding what makes your dog tick is one of the best ways to forge an even stronger connection with them. (5 Human Traits Boston Terriers Hate)