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Have you ever tried to close the door to the bathroom, only to realize your dog followed you and wants to come in?

To be honest, the first time my dog tried to do this, I thought that he was the clingiest dog in the world.

Wanting to find the cause of my dog’s needy behavior, I stumbled upon the term Velcro Dog Breeds.

Velcro Dog Breeds

Velcro – noun – trademark a fastening consisting of two strips of nylon fabric, one having tiny hooked threads and the other a coarse surface, that form a strong bond when pressed together

Dog – noun – a domesticated canid, Canis familiaris, bred in many varieties.

Velcro Dog is used to describe dogs who like to follow their owners everywhere and are always clinging close by. And while this dependency is bred into many breeds, dogs can become suddenly clingy for a number of different reasons. 

Clingy dogs take love and devotion to a whole other level, and it’s really nice to have a dog shadow your every move.

However, if your pooch has become clingy all of a sudden, you should talk with your vet and schedule a checkup to be on the safe side.

Some dogs become overly attached to their owners as they get older and start to have trouble seeing and hearing.

Below, you will find a list of super clingy dog breeds that will follow and enjoy spending time with you all day every day!

We have two clingy dogs at home. I’m talking about you, Elsa and Raven!

Elsa is a 3-year-old black Labrador Retriever and I sometimes think she wants to be attached to me because she nuzzles so closely.

Raven is a 9-year-old Golden Retriever. She’s a typical Golden and if her head is not on your lap then it’s on my wife’s lap or she’s snuggling with my kids.

Goldens and Labs (Honorable Mention) are definitely velcro breeds but there are others that will cling to you.

So without further adieu…

9 Dog Breeds That Are Clingy

If you are looking for a dog that will follow you around and never leave your side, you came to the right place! 

However, before you decide to bring an extra clingy dog into your home, ask yourself whether you are comfortable having a shadow 24/7.

If you don’t mind relinquishing your privacy for the foreseeable future, consider any one of the following super clingy velcro dog breeds!

1. Vizsla 

There is no better way of kick-starting the list of the clingiest dog breeds than with the Vizsla dog breed.

Nicknamed the “Velcro Vizsla,” this athletic medium-sized dog breed forms extremely strong bonds with its owners. The Vizsla’s Velcro dog nature has a lot to do with the breed’s hunting origins.

Developed in Hungary as a pointer and retriever, this breed had to stay close to the hunter, never straying too far from its handler.

The years of working closely with people are evident in the breed today. Most Vizslas are always close to their owners, never leaving their sight and acting like shadows. 

Despite their clingy nature, Vizslas are very active and hardworking dogs that need regular exercise to stay in good shape.

When properly exercised and trained from an early age, the Vizsla will make an affectionate, gentle, and obedient companion.

Please note, when left to its own devices, your Vizsla will easily become bored and destructive and may even become a barker. 

If you look into dog breeds that never leave your side, you will hardly find a better candidate than a Vizsla!

This breed will follow you everywhere, bathroom included, and will cling to your side at all hours of the day and night.

On the other hand, if having a dog hot on your heels isn’t your cup of tea, choose another dog breed.

2. French Bulldog

Created in England as a companion dog, the French bulldog is a very clingy breed that craves a lot of human affection and attention.

The bat-eared, small, but powerfully built Frenchie is an excellent choice for first-time owners and adapts well to apartment living. 

Like all other clingy dog breeds, the French bulldog seeks constant companionship and thrives when provided with affection.

When not provided with the attention it needs, your Frenchie will outright demand it! Bear in mind, that the French bulldog might be small but has a larger-than-life personality and a stubborn streak.

Frenchies don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time and some even develop separation anxiety.

If you have long working hours and can’t interact with your Frenchie much, consider getting another dog breed.

On the other hand, if you have enough time and are looking for an affectionate lap dog, the Frenchie is a great choice. 

3. Pug

Originally bred to be a lap dog, the pug craves human companionship and is a true velcro dog.

Sturdy, compact, and small, pugs have larger-than-life personalities and aren’t afraid to show their clownish nature just to get attention.

Affectionate and friendly, this breed adapts well to apartment living, although they don’t appreciate being left at home alone.

This breed has a happy-go-lucky approach to life and makes a great addition to families with children, singles, or seniors when provided with lots of attention.

However, when left to their own devices, or ignored, pugs can become very unhappy. Like a true companion dog, your pug will crave your affection and cling to your lap as if his life depended on it.

And while they are content spending their days being petted and adored, pugs are also comical dogs that enjoy silly antics.

Bear in mind, that pugs are very smart, but they can also be very stubborn, which can make housetraining challenging.

However, if you have time to spend time and train your dog every day from an early age, the pug will be an ideal companion.

4. Chihuahua

Chihuahua, the smallest dog breed in the world, is also one of the clingiest Velcro dog breeds.

Fun-loving, agile, and smart, the chihuahua likes nothing more than to be close to its people and the sole focus of their attention. Due to their clannish nature, chihuahuas don’t get along very well with other breeds and prefer to be the only pet.

This tiny dog will shadow your every move and will eagerly jump in a carrier and behave just to stay close by wherever you are.

Although they demand attention from anyone they meet, chihuahuas form strong bonds with a single person. If by any chance you become this special someone, forget about looking at any other dog again!

Chihuahuas indeed demand a lot of attention, but they also worship their owners and make loyal companions and great watchdogs.

My old roommate’s girlfriend had a Chihuahua. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the friendliest of dogs. However, not all Chi’s are like this. If you do get a chihuahua, start training and socialization early on to help your puppy grow into a well-behaved and obedient dog.

5. German Shepherd Dog

The German shepherd dog is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, and probably the one dog breed everyone recognizes on the spot.

Developed in Germany for herding sheep, the German shepherd is a working dog breed that is used to perform a wide range of tasks.

Highly intelligent, obedient, and trainable, German shepherds are valuable members of police and military units, but they are also amazing companions.

While it’s hard to imagine that such a big dog can be clingy, German shepherds are extremely loyal and will always be by your side. 

Smart and active, your German shepherd will need daily exercise to stay in good shape and will excel at agility courses.

And while they are completely devoted to their families, German shepherd dogs are aloof toward strangers! To raise a friendly and well-mannered dog, start training and socializing your GSD puppy from an early age. 

Please note, that this breed needs companionship and contact with its owner and can easily develop separation anxiety when left alone a lot.

An anxious German shepherd will resort to barking, digging, chewing, and other forms of destructive behavior to ease their worry. So, if you have long working hours or travel a lot, you should consider a less clingy dog breed. 

6. Italian Greyhound

The Italian greyhound is a slender, agile, and elegant-looking dog bred to hunt by sight and chase small game.

And while they were used for hunting, Italian greyhounds were prized companion dogs due to their gentle and highly affectionate nature. Kind and loving, this breed is an amazing family companion that seeks attention and affection.

The Italian greyhound loves to spend time with its human family and will be the happiest spending all day snuggling with you on the sofa.

Sensitive and affectionate, your Italian greyhound will shadow your every move and won’t mind following you to the bathroom or waiting until you finish showering. 

While Italian greyhounds are playful, curious, and affectionate with their owners, they are shy and reserved towards strangers. However, when properly socialized from an early age, your dog will be willing to be petted or held by visitors. 

Remember that although highly intelligent, this breed has a short attention span.

This makes training difficult and you will have to find a high reward treat that will motivate your pooch to train. Furthermore, even when motivated, Italian greyhounds can be extremely difficult to house-train. 

If you are looking into clingy dog breeds, the Italian Greyhound is an excellent choice! They need a lot of love and affection and will follow you all day long and seek cuddles.

However, if you value your privacy and your “me time,” this breed isn’t the right dog for you.

7. Golden Retriever

The Golden retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds and an amazing family dog. Originally bred to be a gun dog, the golden retriever is still a capable working breed that excels at many tasks.

Smart, gentle, and easy to train, this breed can adapt to any home and makes a great companion to people of all ages. 

While they might not seem clingy, goldens were bred to work with people and have a strong urge to stay close to their owners at all times.

They seek constant companionship and should live indoors with their human family. Golden retrievers get along with everyone, including children and other pets, and like to be involved in all family activities.  

Since they are hard-wired to please, you won’t have any trouble training and socializing your golden from a young age.

Unlike other Velcro dog breeds, your golden might not follow your every move, but he will snuggle with you on the sofa and watch TV. 

8. Doberman Pinscher

At first glance, the Doberman Pinscher looks intimidating, but underneath all that muscle hides a cuddly, affectionate, and loving dog.

Bred as guard dogs, Doberman Pinchers are highly energetic and intelligent dogs. They are used by the military and police but are also great family companions and guard dogs.

While they may look scary and vicious to those who don’t know them, Dobermans have a sweet personality and like to spend time with their family.

Similar to a chihuahua, Dobermans form strong bonds with a single family member. And while they like to interact with the whole family, they will seek their special human above everyone else. 

Since they thrive on praise and human companionship, Dobermans like to be involved in all family activities and should live indoors.

Fun-loving, protective, and affectionate, Dobermans won’t hesitate to defend their people. A properly trained and socialized Doberman Pinscher isn’t aggressive or vicious without reason. 

9. Shetland Sheepdog

Often known as Sheltie, the Shetland sheepdog was originally used as a herding dog. Nowadays, Shelties are popular family companions due to their affectionate, gentle, and loyal nature.

Although they aren’t lap dogs, Shelties like to spend time with their people and will do anything to get your attention. 

Highly intelligent and trainable, this breed will pick on new tricks with ease and gladly perform just to spend more time interacting with you. Like another famous herder the Border collie, the Sheltie is naturally reserved towards strangers.

However, with early socialization, your dog will learn to be more trusting of visitors and show how affectionate and clingy they can really be. 

FAQs About Velcro Dog

What Is A Velcro Dog?

A Velcro dog is a dog that wants to be close to its owner at all times. Often described as being super clingy, Velcro dogs like to follow their owners’ every move and are always close by.

If your dog is following your every move and is always hot on your heels, he is probably a Velcro dog.

While Velcro dogs might seem very needy, they just have a strong urge to be close to their owner and feel more comfortable that way.

Furthermore, certain breeds are predisposed to become clingy since they were bred to work closely with people. Ultimately, all dogs that were bred for companionship, work, or hunting have the potential to become Velcro dogs. 

How Do I Stop My Dog From Becoming A Velcro Dog?

Owning a Velcro dog is not a big problem for the most part. However, there might be times when you would like to maintain some distance and have privacy.

The right training techniques can help your dog to be more independent and curb their neediness. 

Teaching your dog the stay command can be of great help if you want to go to the bathroom alone for a change.

Instead of letting your dog follow you, use the stay command to keep them at a distance. Start with short distances and gradually move further away until your dog learns how to stay put even when you are out of their sight. 

Are Poodles Velcro Dogs?

The poodle is a very affectionate and faithful companion dog that forms strong bonds with its owners.

Poodles often show this affection by staying close to their owner or never leaving their side, so it’s safe to say they are Velcro dogs. However, while very affectionate, some poodles become very clingy as they get older.

It’s completely normal for older poodles to become more dependent on their owners, since they may experience hearing loss and vision problems.

If this is the case, don’t be annoyed by your dog’s clingy behavior. Instead, try to make them feel comfortable and reassure them that you are there by their side.   

Why Does My Dog Never Leave My Side?

There are several reasons why your dog follows you everywhere and never leaves your side.

Working breeds were bred for centuries to be close by and work with people, so they are more likely to stay by your side. On the other hand, many dogs like to have company and prefer to be close to their people at all times. 

What Does It Mean When A Dog Puts His Paw On You?

Your dog pawing at you is a sign that they want to communicate something and can be interpreted in several ways.

In most cases, dogs will paw at their owners as a way of showing love and affection. However, this act can also be a sign that your dog is feeling insecure and wants your attention. 

Conclusion

Although Velcro dog breeds come in all shapes and sizes, they have one thing in common – they will follow your every move!

If you don’t mind having a canine shadow and don’t need privacy to go to the bathroom, a Velcro dog can be an ideal companion. Here are some extra clingy dog breeds:

In the end, while Velcro dogs may seem overly needy, there’s nothing wrong with owning a dog who wants to spend every second by your side.

Do you have a Velcro dog? If so, what breed of dog do you own?

Tell us about your experiences in the comment section below.

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UPDATE: This post was originally published on December 23rd, 2022. We periodically update blog posts with new experiences and information to keep them as relevant as possible.

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