He may be trying to be funny, or he could simply want to hang out with his best buddy.
Why does my dog follow me upstairs?
Dogs often follow people around due to curiosity and excitement, although there is also a chance that your dog may have been raised in an environment where she was encouraged to follow her owner everywhere.
If this sounds like your dog, try using some treats to encourage her to follow you upstairs instead of just following along behind you when you go down the stairs.
There are several reasons why a dog might follow you up the stairs.
For example, if your dog has never been taught how to walk politely on a leash, then she may decide that going upstairs is more fun than going downstairs.
Another reason your dog might want to go upstairs is if she wants to see what’s happening inside your home.
This can include watching TV shows and seeing toys and other items that you normally keep hidden from her view.
Is it because they’re trying to be cute?
It’s true that dogs love to be around us and will often try to get as close to our legs as possible — especially when we’re on a computer.
But sometimes, it seems like your dog is intentionally trying to make you laugh by following you upstairs.
A puppy may need a little help getting up the stairs, but most adult dogs can manage it on their own.
If you notice your dog struggling to climb the stairs, here are some reasons why this might happen:
Older dogs usually have slower reflexes and less muscle strength.
They tend to tire easily and need more breaks than younger dogs.
Be sure to give them plenty of rest between trips up and down the stairs.
Or is there a deeper reason?
Your dog may follow you up the stairs because they want to be close to you or because they want to play.
Puppies may need a little help getting up the stairs, but older dogs should be able to do it on their own.
Here are some reasons why your dog might be following you upstairs:
1. They want to be near you
The most obvious reason is that they want to be near you.
If you have a small dog and your legs are long enough for them to jump into your lap while you’re sitting at your desk, then they’ll gladly hang out there.
This can be especially true if they’ve been cooped up in the house all day.
2. They want to climb things
If your dog enjoys climbing, they’ll love going up and down the stairs.
They’ll also enjoy jumping onto furniture and other items that let them get up high.
Your dog will love playing with you as well — just remember to keep any toys away from the stairs!
3. They want to explore
Some dogs like to explore new places.
Maybe they’ve never seen a tree outside before, or maybe they’ve always wanted to check out the basement.
Whatever their motivation, they’ll happily go exploring up the steps.
Just make sure you don’t take them down into the basement unless you know how to handle them safely.
Dogs who aren’t properly trained shouldn’t be allowed down there.
When we see something new, our brains work overtime to figure out what it is.
Dogs are no different — if they see an unfamiliar object, they’ll probably want to investigate it.
And when you’re walking up the stairs, your dog will likely follow right along behind you.
Of course, if you have a big dog, this behavior isn’t recommended.
You should only allow a small dog to come with you when you’re going up the stairs.
5. They’re bored
Another common reason that dogs follow people upstairs is that they’re bored.
If you’re taking your dog for a walk in the park during the day, they’ll likely follow you around.
But if you’re home all day, they may decide that hanging out with you is more fun than being by themselves.
Some dogs may even choose to sleep on top of the stairs, which can be dangerous.
Make sure your dog has plenty of exercise and stimulation throughout the day and night, and they won’t be tempted to follow you upstairs.
Could it be that they’re trying to protect us?
Puppies may need a little help getting up the stairs, but older dogs should be able to do it on their own.
If your dog climbs the stairs in front of you and then runs back down them when you start walking away, you might think this is cute behavior — especially if you have young children who will be delighted to see your dog running after you.
But what if your dog is following you upstairs and doesn’t seem to understand why you’re leaving?
Or what if your dog starts jumping up on you as soon as you walk through the door?
What if your dog is constantly sniffing at your legs while you’re sitting at the computer?
These behaviors can make you wonder whether your dog wants to be near you or if they really just don’t know any better.
But there’s another possibility: Maybe they’re protecting you from something dangerous.
Let’s look at some examples of dogs following their owners up the stairs in order to keep an eye on them.
Dogs Following Their Owners Upstairs
A German Shepherd was being trained for law enforcement by his owner, who wanted him to come down the stairs when she called him.
Unfortunately, the dog didn’t realize that the people downstairs were armed and dangerous.
When his owner yelled “Police! Get Down!” the dog took off down the stairs instead, and started barking at someone who wasn’t even there.
A Chihuahua followed her owner around the house, sniffing everything and making sure no one came into contact with her.
She would bark loudly if anyone approached her owner.
A Jack Russell Terrier was a good boy until he heard a loud noise coming from the next room over.
His owner told him to stay, but the dog decided that it was time to investigate.
When the owner opened the door, he found a man pointing a gun at her.
A Pomeranian was always following his owner around the apartment building when she went outside.
One day, the owner left the building first, and when she got outside, she noticed that a strange man was following her.
A miniature pinscher was very curious about everything around him, including other animals.
One day, he went up the stairs to watch his owner open a package.
As soon as the owner pulled the string, the dog ran down the stairs with the package.
It turned out to contain poisonous snakes inside.
Dogs Following Other Dogs Upstairs
An Irish Setter followed a friend who lived above him.
One day, the friend came home early and was surprised to find the dog waiting for her at the top of the stairs.
The dog had been hiding under the staircase all day, waiting for the friend to get home.
After the cat hid in a cupboard, the Doberman followed it up the stairs.
At the top of the stairs, the cat jumped out and attacked the dog.
Luckily, the dog survived and the cat was killed.
Two dogs followed each other up the stairs.
They ended up fighting, and the larger dog bit the smaller dog.
The smaller dog died later that night.
Or maybe they just want to be close to us?
When we see our pets following us around, there’s no denying they love us, right?
Maybe it’s because they want to show off for us, or maybe they’re just trying to keep us company.
But what if they don’t like us at all and they’re actually attempting to get rid of us?
It’s possible that some dogs might try to follow us up the stairs in order to get rid of us.
If this is the case, however, it would only happen after they had been abandoned by their owners for an extended period of time.
This is because dogs who have been left alone for such long periods of time have become accustomed to being on their own.
For example, if you were to leave your home one day without saying goodbye to your dog, he would probably follow you upstairs in an effort to stay close to you.
However, if you were to leave your house for more than a few days, your dog would realize that there was nobody home, and he wouldn’t even bother to follow you upstairs anymore.
So, why does my dog follow me upstairs?
Is it possible that they’re trying to get rid of me?
Whatever the reason, here’s how I’d explain it to them.
Whatever the reason
Whether they’re helping you carry something heavy, following along as you make your way through the house, or just wanting to cuddle, dogs can get pretty attached to their owners.
It’s natural for them to want to be close by if they’re happy and content, but sometimes, they may also find it difficult to navigate objects or steps without help from their human companions.
If you notice that your dog seems reluctant to go upstairs or down the stairs, you might wonder whether he has any special needs.
Here are some reasons why your dog may prefer to stay near you instead of going where you’re going.
1. Your dog may be afraid of heights
If your dog is scared of heights, he may feel uncomfortable going up or down the stairs.
He may be worried about falling off the ladder or being at risk of injury if he tries to run across the top step while you’re carrying him in your arms.
2. Your dog may have trouble climbing stairs
Some breeds of dogs are more physically capable than others.
Bulldogs, for example, have very short legs, making it hard for them to reach the higher levels of a staircase.
3. It’s possible your dog has arthritis
Arthritis is painful and can cause joint stiffness, which can make it difficult for your dog to move around.
This can lead to difficulty getting up the stairs to come join you.
4. You may have a small home
If your home isn’t large enough to accommodate both you and your dog, your dog may prefer to stay close to you when you go upstairs or downstairs.
5. Your dog may be an escape artist
Dogs who like to explore their environment will probably want to go wherever you go.
They may try to climb up the stairs or jump over the couch to get closer to you.
6. Maybe he wants to play
Many dogs enjoy playing tug-of-war, chasing each other around, or even wrestling.
If you’re heading upstairs, your dog may want to tag along and see what happens.
7. He may be lonely
Maybe your dog doesn’t like being alone.
He may want to be close to you because he misses you when you’re gone.
Or he may be bored and looking for something to do.
8. He may be confused
Sometimes, dogs aren’t sure how to behave around new people or situations.
If you go upstairs, he may think you’ve abandoned him.
He may start barking or whining, hoping that you’ll come back to him.
He may not understand why he can’t go upstairs with you.
9. He may be shy
Shyness can be a real problem for certain breeds of dogs.
If your dog is intimidated by new people, unfamiliar situations, loud noises, or tight spaces, he may be uncomfortable going upstairs or down the stairs.
He may be frightened and want to hide away from people and places he doesn’t know well.
10. He may be curious
You may have noticed that most dogs are naturally curious.
When they’re young, puppies are always sniffing around, eager to learn everything they can about the world they live in.
As they grow older, however, many dogs become less interested in exploring their surroundings.
11. He may be tired
Older dogs often don’t want to exert themselves unless they really have to.
If you’ve been running around all day, your dog may not want to go upstairs or down the stairs.
12. He may not know what else to do
Your dog may be bored and feeling restless.
If you’re heading upstairs, he may want to follow you to keep himself occupied.
Once you’re done, he may decide to head back downstairs.
13. He may be hurt
If your dog hurts himself going up or down the stairs, he may want to stay close to you until he feels better.
He may also be worried about you leaving him behind.
14. He may be hungry
Dogs are omnivores, meaning that they eat meat, vegetables, fruit, and grains (among other things).
If your dog has been sleeping indoors, he may be hungry and want to go upstairs or downstairs to feed himself.
15. He may be thirsty
Just like humans, dogs need water to drink every day.
If your dog hasn’t had anything to drink, he may want to go up or down the stairs to get some fresh air and to take care of his thirst.
16. He may be sick
A lot of dogs suffer from separation anxiety when they’re left alone in their crates for too long.
If your dog is anxious and upset when he stays alone, he may want to go upstairs or downstairs to comfort himself.
We love our furry friends!
When I was growing up, my sisters and I had an indoor cat named Gizmo.
When I think about him now, I remember how he used to follow me around in my room, waiting for me to open the door to let him outside.
He would jump onto my bed, then curl up next to me as I read my favorite book.
If I got up to get something from the kitchen, he would follow me down the hall and into the kitchen.
It wasn’t until much later that I realized he must have been watching me from the top of the stairs all along.
My dog, Lulu, is just like Gizmo.
She likes to go everywhere with me.
Sometimes she will wait at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at me expectantly.
Other times, she will run ahead of me, waiting for me to catch her before she runs back up the stairs toward me.
As long as I am holding her leash, she wants to be right by my side.
I don’t know why she does this, but I love it.
I often wonder if she is thinking about Gizmo, wondering what he is doing in his room, or if she is imagining herself playing with him again.
But whatever the reason, she knows that following me upstairs means she gets to spend time with me, which is always good.
So, what do you think?
Is your dog following you up the stairs because they want to be close to you, or because they want to play?
Or maybe they are just curious about what’s going on up there…
And we’re glad they follow us upstairs!
We’ve all seen pictures of dogs sitting in laps and snuggling with humans.
That’s why many people think that dogs like to be around us.
But it’s more than just companionship.
Dogs have an innate desire to please us, which means that they will always try to get attention from us if possible.
Dogs are social animals who thrive off human interaction.
They enjoy being around other dogs, as well.
In fact, many pet stores even promote their pets as “companions” rather than “pets.” This is because they are often seen as family members by their owners.
That said, there are some breeds of dogs who are better suited to the task of following you up the stairs.
For example, the bulldog is a good candidate.
These dogs are known for being stubborn and having a strong personality.
But they also have very short legs, making them prone to falling down when they take steps too quickly.
To avoid this problem, most bulldogs will go back and forth between the top two steps when climbing up the stairs.
And since they’re naturally curious about everything around them, they’ll continue looking at things above and below them until they find something interesting enough to pique their interest.
Another breed that likes to follow you up the stairs is the poodle.
Poodles were originally bred as hunting dogs, but many of these dogs now live happy lives as household pets.
Poodles tend to be very intelligent and quick-witted, which makes them excellent guard dogs.
Since they can move quickly, they’ll do whatever it takes to keep intruders away from their home.
The boxer is another breed of dog that enjoys following you upstairs.
Boxers are generally friendly and outgoing, meaning they don’t mind being around humans.
They’re playful and eager to please, which helps them make great housemates.
Most boxers don’t mind going up and down the stairs either, as long as they know what they’re supposed to do.
Of course, every dog needs to work hard to learn how to climb stairs.
It’s important to teach them to walk up and down the stairs slowly and calmly.
If your dog isn’t used to stairs, start slow and gradually increase the number of stairs he has to climb each day.
Remember to praise him when he does well.
You might think that a dog wouldn’t be interested in playing with toys while he’s up on the stairs.
However, many dogs enjoy playing with toys, especially if they’re given the opportunity to use their paws to pull the toy along with them.
You can also buy small rubber balls or Kong toys filled with peanut butter or treats.
Place one of these toys near the top of the stairs and let your dog grab it with his mouth.
Then, toss it toward the bottom of the stairs.
Watch as your dog tries to catch his treat.
If you want to give your dog a break, you can always give him a treat instead.
Just remember to only feed him treats that he doesn’t normally eat.
This way, he won’t associate eating with climbing the stairs.
If your dog seems like he wants to run up the stairs, you might be tempted to say no.
But resist the urge.
Instead, ask yourself whether it would really hurt your dog’s feelings to turn down a chance to play with his best friend.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for taking the time to read this article.
I hope you found it interesting and informative.
If you have any questions about the topic discussed in this post, please let me know in the comments below.
Hi, my name is Megan Turner and I have worked in a dog’s shelter for four years now. It is truly my dream job, and I see hundreds of dogs every month being united with new owners to give them a loving forever home.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
