Why Your Dog Follows You To The Bathroom But Won't Look At You When a Dog Walks By

Ever notice how your dog follows you to the bathroom? 

Or how they seem to love lying on your dirty clothes, just to feel closer to you? 

In those calm moments at home, it’s clear—your dog is obsessed with you. They want to be by your side, doing whatever you are doing.

So, why is it that as soon as another dog shows up, it’s like you don’t even exist?

It’s because your dog’s attention got hijacked by something that doesn’t matter. We call that a distraction. 

I used to hate these moments with a passion. Now I look forward to them! Here’s why: 

Dogs have been bred for thousands of years to help us. They’re hard-wired to care about what we’re doing, to assist us, to want to follow our lead. It’s part of their DNA, and you can see it when everything is calm and quiet at home. They want to pay attention to you. That’s their natural state.

But here’s where most dog owners get stuck:

Your dog hasn’t been taught that this same loyalty and attention applies everywhere. You haven’t yet shown them that when distractions appear, paying attention to you is still the best option.

That’s why, when you’re out on a walk or in a busy park, you feel like your dog suddenly has selective hearing. They’re overwhelmed by all the excitement and simply haven’t learned to tune into you in those moments.

This is not something that will happen on its own for most dogs.

They need to learn that paying attention to you—even when that squirrel runs by—is far better than giving in to distractions.

The good news? This is already inside them, just waiting to be unlocked. It’s like tapping into the software Mother Nature installed at birth.

When you show them that listening to you leads to better rewards, less stress, and more connection, they’ll have a lightbulb moment: “Ohhhh, I get it. This is way better! I feel calmer, happier, and more at ease when I’m paying attention to you.”

That’s the magic. They’ll start to want to listen, want to follow your lead, because it feels natural and right to them. It’s what they were designed for—to be man’s best friend.

You don’t need to change your dog; you just need to remind them of their true nature. And trust me, once they get it, their behavior issues will melt away.

I can’t wait for you to see your dog’s “aha!” moment and watch their attention shift back to you.