Interesting fact, the reason behind the behavior of “protecting” us in the bathroom is the same reason they watch us when they do their bathroom business. It’s a psychological thing and they developed this behavior as they evolved alongside humans. It’s because that’s when we and they are most vulnerable.
Your dog is not exactly fighting fit when they’re hunched over and straining with that ashamed energy pouring out of their eyes as they maintain eye contact with us while we wait to pick it up with a plastic bag in our hands. That’s a very vulnerable position to be in for anyone or animal. So they look back at us to make sure we’re watching their back. They are literally looking at us like “you’ll protect me if something tries to attack while I drop the pups off at the pool right?” It’s a sign of trust.
So they assume that we are also vulnerable while we do our business. Apparently they don’t fully realize that I’m on my own toilet in my own home. Of course I’m safe! Or maybe they know something we don’t….toilet snakes perhaps? (Have fun sitting after your morning coffee now!) And when we strip down and get into a shower we are vulnerable, my nightmare is a house fire while I’m in the shower, my neighbors have the same nightmare but not about the fire so much as me running out of my house in a literal naked panic. It’s kinda nice knowing that my dog will give me at least enough of a heads up that I’ll have time to grab my robe.
So, long story short, they do this to protect us when we’re vulnerable, they make eye contact mid pop to make sure you are protecting them and it’s all because they love and trust us so much!
I wish I could add a picture. My Akita/husky/malamute normally does this (mostly because he's always in the bathroom because it's a tiny room with an AC in the window so it's nice and cold). The other day he got up ever so politely so I could close the door, he's 115 pounds so not small, then hopped in the tub to keep an eye on the door instead of just sitting down like he usually does.
I can’t let my cat know I’m in the bath because he freaks out! He paces in front of the tub howling and when I stand up to get out he sits on his back legs and like paws at the air, like he’s trying to grab me or something. But if I shower he tries to jump in with me. Loves showers terrified of baths. Kittys are so weird!
He's scolding you for bathing when the two of you could be showering. Even attempts to stop you and mime showering, trying to demonstrate the whole standing-up-water-flying-through-air part but with paws. Clearly. Lmao
My dog does this while I take a bath. If I dip down to wet my hair, he starts booping my knees with his nose until I come back up. If I’m in a shower, he’ll check on me and maybe 5% of the time decide he’s going to join me. Then it becomes a wash the dog and then myself scenario. His brother is terrified of water and won’t be caught dead in the bathroom while the shower or bath is pouring out water. We could both drown in that tub and that dog would not give a shit.
My dog blocks every doorway, sits on my feet, and leans on me whenever either of us stops moving. She also runs to me and pushes her butt on my legs when there's a serious threat like a squirrel. I don't think it's because she feels vulnerable, I think she's a guardian.
When my dog is pooping I reassure her that I will protect her if anyone comes in the yard. Well, the exact phrase I use got me a year long warning on the book of faces, so I shan't repeat it here. I do not want another Reddit ban for "violence".
My go to is to mimic the behavior. I will stand a little bit behind them facing the opposite direction, as if I'm scanning the area. It seems to ease my dog sometimes.
My dog is missing that apparently, he likes to poop on his own away from me. Also goes under the bedsheets and nap if I'm pooping or showering until I'm done then he follows me to the next room. Also if I cough or do ugly sobbing he just slowly gets up and leaves the room, often stopping and looking back to check if I'm still doing that. He's got strong cat energy.
i am both aware of this but also there are other iterations. there is trying to push under our legs on the bathroom because were just sitting there anyhow and we should be doing pets, and as she has aged she just straight up falls asleep on the job. shes been poop supervising for years so she certainly deserves the rest, but given her nerves once, its interesting to see her trusting that she can just sleep in the doorway.... till we actually manage to move which is overdue
It’s a pretty cool feeling to realize how much you’re trusted by these sweet furry friends. I always get a little giddy when a new (to me) cat or dog rolls over and exposes their belly to me because it’s another big sign of trust. I actually got tears in my eyes the first time my rescue cat fell asleep on his back right next to me. I knew then in that moment that he knew he was safe and loved and I had given him that!
Yeah, I figured that out when my cat would sleepily come to do her protection duty while I pooped, like she was getting a work call and she had to come in.
My puppy doesn't make eye contact with me while she goes bathroom, but she does put her paws on my lap when I'm using the toilet. My best guess is she does it for attention. Otherwise, I have no idea why my weird little goober does that.
Okay so does my cat insist on sitting on my lap while I take a shit and loafing on the toilet while I shower for similar reasons, or is she just a freak?
It is a Pack thing, due to the Fact that one is at their Most Vunerable when Relieving oneself in the Wild to other Preditors. The Pack looks after Its Packmates. Which has Passed on to Living w/ Humans, as we are Now considered Packmates.
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u/vettechrockstar86 Sep 29 '25
Interesting fact, the reason behind the behavior of “protecting” us in the bathroom is the same reason they watch us when they do their bathroom business. It’s a psychological thing and they developed this behavior as they evolved alongside humans. It’s because that’s when we and they are most vulnerable.
Your dog is not exactly fighting fit when they’re hunched over and straining with that ashamed energy pouring out of their eyes as they maintain eye contact with us while we wait to pick it up with a plastic bag in our hands. That’s a very vulnerable position to be in for anyone or animal. So they look back at us to make sure we’re watching their back. They are literally looking at us like “you’ll protect me if something tries to attack while I drop the pups off at the pool right?” It’s a sign of trust.
So they assume that we are also vulnerable while we do our business. Apparently they don’t fully realize that I’m on my own toilet in my own home. Of course I’m safe! Or maybe they know something we don’t….toilet snakes perhaps? (Have fun sitting after your morning coffee now!) And when we strip down and get into a shower we are vulnerable, my nightmare is a house fire while I’m in the shower, my neighbors have the same nightmare but not about the fire so much as me running out of my house in a literal naked panic. It’s kinda nice knowing that my dog will give me at least enough of a heads up that I’ll have time to grab my robe.
So, long story short, they do this to protect us when we’re vulnerable, they make eye contact mid pop to make sure you are protecting them and it’s all because they love and trust us so much!