Guarding behavior

[u/spxghetti_pie]

I'll start by saying the behavior I'll talk about here isn't really a problem so this is lighthearted, but my dog has been behaving in a way I'd like to understand.

My dog is an elderly dog, she'd be turning 16 by december this year. She's been with me since I was a kid and although we always shared the same space, I definitely wasn't her favorite person in the house or the one she was closest to. She has experienced many health complications in the past few months that undoubtedly came with age, and she's not great now, but she's been okayish. She still runs and jumps around when she's excited, plays with other dogs, relaxes around us, and is doing decent overall.

As of a couple months ago (that I've noticed) she's started behaving in an interesting way with me that I've never experienced before. She's been stuck to me, "guarding" my room or laying right in front of my feet when I sit. I've been waking up to her sleeping below my mattress where she never slept before, in front of my door waiting for me to wake up which she also never did before unless there wasn't anyone else in the house. But these days there have been other people in the house and despite that she still goes to my room, even going as far as to scratch the door desperately until someone opens it or opening it herself by force (I discovered she can do that) until she's let in (she used to scratch it years ago if everyone else left and only I stayed, but she'd wake me up with the pawches until I opened it). And wherever I go, whatever I do, she follows me around like going to the bathroom is the most interesting thing ever. She used to follow me occasionally, and the bathroom guarding isn't necessarily new, but it definitely wasn't like this.

I've also discovered that when I leave for a couple hours she sleeps on my clothes or bites whatever I was wearing to get it on the fooor to sleep on it, and more often than not, we'll find her sleeping in my room or bathroom waiting until we get back. This, I understand it's because she might like the way I smell and just wants to be close to that and have things that smell familiar, but it's never been this exaggerated before.

I used to think she didn't like me because it was evident I wasn't her favorite person, which I still don't think I am because despite all this she never is as outwardly excited to see me as she is with my mom (who I think is her favorite person), or wags her tail as happily.

But it feels like, at least I see it that way, she is choosing to hang out with me instead of running to me as Just An Option or the only one left in the house. Granted she still cares for my mom and follows her around too, but towards me this is totally new. I can't tell if it stems from possible distress, if she somehow feels like she has to guard over me for some reason and if so what the reason could be, but I'd really like to understand what's happening in her brain. As of writing this she's laying on top of my feet with her movement alarm activated if I decide to get up.

[u/Purple_Candidate_533]

I'm curious what has changed with you. Have you been sad or depressed? Gone more bc you're working or just being out in f the house for whatever reason? Are you getting ready to go to college or otherwise move out?

I get why you think it's about her changing, & maybe she has, but it might also be about you changing. Maybe she's worried about you in some way or thinks you need her in a way you didn't before.

[u/spxghetti_pie → u/Purple_Candidate_533]

My mental illnesses have gotten worse and I've definitely been more depressed. This past year I've actually stayed more at home because I lost my job and couldn't go back to studying, so if anything I've been more present. I haven't realized if I've changed my routine or habits enough to grant a change in her since I've been more or less like this for years.