If you’re wondering, why does my dog keep walking around the house, here are a few possible reasons:
- Attention-seeking
- Stress it picks up from you
- An upset stomach
- Fear of loud noises
- Stress due to a change in life (e.g., a new pet)
- Excitement
- Boredom
- Health issues.
If you want to learn more, read on.
Why Does My Dog Keep Walking Around the House?
Should I be concerned? Dogs tend to surprise us with the cutest things, like sleeping with their tongues out, eating flowers, etc.
But have you ever wondered, Why does my dog keep walking around the house?
Well, there could be a number of reasons for that behavior, but worry not — it’s probably nothing serious. Read on to find the most common explanations.
While every case is different, I’ve tried to outline some of the more typical reasons for the restless pacing.
However, if it’s accompanied by any other symptoms, like nausea or vomiting, call your vet immediately.
To make it easier, here’s what your pup itself might be thinking:
Attention Seeking
Dogs love attention. Unlike cats, which are super-independent, canines literally need constant interaction with you to function.
Belly rubs, cuddles, fetch the ball — they want it all! Even a day with little to no attention can confuse your canine buddy and make it feel unhappy.
Therefore, try to remember when the pacing started.
Does it match a period of your life when you were extremely busy and couldn’t provide your puppy with all your affection and care?
If yes, then that may be the reason for its behavior.
It may seem obvious, but most people don’t actually realize their pets are not aware of their busy schedules, late meetings, and the total absence of social life…
Dogs need constant reassurance and emotional support regardless.
That is why your pup may become anxious or confused if, for some reason, you can’t provide it with enough attention.
Therefore, no matter how busy you are, take some time for your best friend. Trust me; it’s worth it!
Stress It Picks Up From You
Are you in a panic mode because you’re moving and have a ton of things to do? Well, the chances are your dog is just as stressed as you.
In fact, upon hearing the question, Why does my dog keep walking around the house?, most specialists would ask, Is it stressed?
Canines can pick up on your emotions, so if you are a bundle of nerves, it’s no surprise your pup is restlessly pacing around.
Try to calm down, take a deep breath, and spend some time with your furry friend. You can play with it or go for a walk, or…just chill and watch Netflix.
The point is to unwind. When you’re back to your calm self, your pup will be able to relax as well.
If things don’t get better, though, you can ask your vet for advice. In extremely rare cases, they can prescribe some anxiety medication (especially if you’ll have to fly to your new place).
Upset Stomach
Let’s face it, dogs love eating trash… Buy all the expensive dog food you want — if your pup sees a four-day-old sandwich on the street, it’ll probably have a bite (or three).
And what goes hand-in-hand with eating garbage? You guessed it — an upset tummy.
Therefore, if you see your dog nervously walking from room to room, with visible contractions in its abdomen and a slightly lowered head, prepare your cleaning utensils…
Don’t worry though; most of the time they will just vomit (on your favorite rug), and things will be back to normal.
Fear Of Loud Noises
Another possible answer to the question, Why does my dog keep walking around the house? Is — it’s scared!
Canines absolutely hate loud noises. If you thought your puppy hated the postman, just wait to see its attitude towards New Year’s fireworks…
Anything from loud vehicles to thunder can set their doggy teeth on edge!
Again, pay attention to your surroundings, as that may help you get to the bottom of your furry friend’s behavior.
If the restless pacing happens during storms, for example, you can probably put two and two together.
One way to solve the problem is by simple preparation. For starters, watch the weather forecast, unless you want to be as surprised as your dog…
Assuming you know there will be a storm in the evening, close all the windows and pull the curtains a good hour before it’s expected.
Then, play some music or turn the TV on, jump on the sofa, and spend the evening cuddling with your pup, providing constant reassurance.
Just make sure you are as calm as possible because — as you already know — your canine will feel it if you’re stressed, which may make things worse.
Stress Due To A Change In Life
Even if you’re not moving or making other radical changes to your life, your pup can get stressed, and this time, it may have nothing to do with you…directly.
Have you recently gotten a new pet? If yes, chances are your doggy is not too happy about that. That’s normal and could be the reason for the strange behavior.
The best way to solve the problem is by providing as much attention to your pup as to the new member of your family.
That is extremely important, as you don’t want your furry angel to feel left out.
However, if you haven’t gotten a new animal and your dog is walking around the house for (seemingly) no reason, you may want to speak with your veterinarian.
There might be something else worrying your four-legged friend.
Excitement
Many people ask, Why does my dog keep walking around the house? without realizing their pup is just excited.
That behavior is especially common when the canine is waiting for someone to come over or something to happen.
If you’ve told your pup one of its favorite people is coming, for example, it could exhibit its excitement by pacing from room to room.
If that’s the case, don’t worry. That behavior is completely normal and just means your canine is hyped up.
Boredom
Besides the constant need for attention, dogs also get bored quite easily. That’s why specialists suggest playing with your pup as much as possible.
Not only does playtime get rid of any excess energy, but it also ensures your canine’s activity levels are high, thus lowering the risk of developing diseases.
The problem is, many dog owners simply don’t have the time (or that’s how they justify themselves, anyway) to play with their furry friends.
Some even skip walks because they are “busy”… Well, that’s not how dog parenting works (but if you’re taking the time to read this article, you already know that).
Forget about pacing out of boredom; dogs that get no playtime, cuddles, and attention are downright sad.
If you live as if you don’t have a puppy and treat it as a piece of furniture, you should reconsider your behavior, not your dog’s.
Health Issues
Nervous walking from room to room can also be a sign of a medical issue. Don’t freak out, though; those situations are rather rare — I’ve included them just in case.
If your dog is restless and its abdomen doesn’t look alright, but it hasn’t eaten anything suspicious, there might be a bloating issue.
Take a close look at your puppy’s belly. Is it enlarged? Does it look like it hurts when you press on it?
If yes, your canine might be suffering from dog bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus).
This condition should not be underestimated, so call your vet immediately when in doubt.
How to Help a Pacing Dog
As you can probably tell, there is no single universal answer to the question, Why does my dog keep walking around the house?
Therefore, each case should be treated individually.
If everything seems fine — your pup is eating normally, it doesn’t seem to be in pain, etc. — the cause is probably excitement or boredom.
You can start playing with your canine or go for a walk to stop the pacing. Anything that will keep it occupied would be beneficial.
However, should you notice anything strange, like tiredness, an urge to vomit, etc., I recommend consulting with your veterinarian.
They will perform all the necessary checks to see if your furry angel is fine.
To Sum Up
Your four-legged friend might be walking around the house for various reasons — anything from attention-seeking to health issues.
Therefore, it is important to keep an eye on it and take notice when the behavior occurs.
If the pacing is accompanied by anything suspicious, it is a good idea to make a trip to the vet.
There, you’ll be able to explain what concerns you and get answers that match your particular situation.
I hope this article provided useful information and answered the question, Why does my dog keep walking around the house?
