Do dogs get more protective of you when you are alone?

Question

I am home alone and my dog keeps following me and sitting near me. And he has food and water and he went to the bathroom. He keeps looking out the window and barking at everthing. He never does this when my family is home.

Answer 1

I think some dogs definitely get more protective and more alert. When I was 9, and my dad left on a business trip, my mom and brother and sister and I were home without him. My dog, who slept in my room, woke up in the middle of the night, barking at the window.

After an hour or so of wondering what was wrong with him he finally calmed down and went back to sleep. The next morning, we found out that our neighbors whose backyard was connected to our backyard, had been burglarized! My dog was protecting us after all!

I hope nothing happens while you're alone, but it sounds like you'll have a protector (or at least an alarm) if something does happen :)

Answer 2

I have 5 dogs, and it can get a bit crowded on the sofa when my hubby isnt home, they are all big dogs, they like to sit as close to me as possible when i am home alone, but at every little noise, at least two of them will go and 'patrol' the house, and it can get pretty noisy if my bull arab thinks there is something to bark at, he weighs 213lbs and has an earth shaking bark. Thankfully my kids have learnt to sleep through it. But when my hubby is home, they are all as quiet as mice in the house, he thinks they just pick up on me being a bit paranoid. We live in a rural area, my closest neighbour is miles away, so i do get a bit worried being there by myself, but the dogs make me feel better.

Answer 3

I have a seizure alert dog and when I am not home alone she normally spends her time out in the living room or some other place in the house. But if I am alone I can't shake her. She even follows me into the bathroom.

Answer 4

Absolutely. I had a friend in elementary school whose poodle acted very similarly when we were playing alone. Especially with children (even as they grow up), dogs seems to possess an innate sense that they must protect the young.

Dogs also possess a similar innate sense of their owners/friends when they (the humans) are sad. I know that whenever I am sad or upset my miniature schnauzer knows to find me, no matter where I am in the house, and offer affection. Usually, she will paw at my pant leg or try to lick my hand.

Answer 5

Yes it is possible that he is being more protective of you. It is also possible that something outside is distressing him. There could be an animal out side arousing his interest or a female dog nearby that is in heat. There are any number of reasons he could be doing it. There could even be a unfamiliar scent in the area. As I said it could be many things.

Answer 6

Yes DP is correct. If your uncomfortable being alone then that puts your dog into alert mode.
Therefore it becomes more protective.

Answer 7

Probably because you feel somewhat uncomfortable when you are alone, so you are alerting him to a problem... You are making him feel like he needs to protect you.. If you were calm, confident, and at ease, he wouldn't feel the need to act like the alpha and protect...

Answer 8

he probably senses that your the only one home. Dogs gte very protective especially when they feel someting is wrong. Its a natural thing to do.

Answer 9

He sounds anxious. He might think he's protecting you, but I bet he just doesn't want to be alone and wants to be where you are.

Answer 10

Well, maybe your more nervous when you are alone. Dogs can sense our stress and anxiety.