Why does my dog sit on my foot?

First, we must emphasize that there is no single reason that explains why a dog sits or lies on its feet or on top of its guardians.Dogs' behavior and body language they are complex and varied, so a behavior can have different causes and meanings , depending on the context in which it develops and the individual who carries it out.

If you want To understand why your dog leans on you or lies on your feet, it is essential to interpret its posture and its expressions while carrying out this behavior, as well as paying attention to the environment and in the context where it executes This action.

Next, we will help you to interpret this behavior of your best friend, but we also recommend you to read our complete guide on dog poses and their meanings to better understand your dog.

It is very important not to get carried away by false myths who claim that whenever a dog sits on his guardian It is a demonstration of dominance.Dominance is intraspecific, that is, it is damaged and exclusively among individuals of the same species.Therefore, thinking about the relationship between a guardian and his dog in terms of dominance does not make sense and usually causes many errors in education and upbringing of dogs, negatively impacting their character.

In addition, it is essential to combat the false myth that a "dominant dog" is one that behaves in a manner aggressive with other dogs.Aggression is a behavior problem that needs to be treated properly, with the help of a trained professional.In turn, dominance is part of social interaction and language of dogs, allowing hierarchical organization between two or more m members of a community, occurring precisely at the moment when a meeting or social interaction between two or more individuals takes place.

A "dominant dog" is dominant in relation to one or more dogs , but it will not necessarily be dominant in relation to all other dogs, since the interaction is somewhat dynamic, so we should not understand dominance as an aspect or feature of a dog's personality, much less associate it with aggressiveness.

Your dog is not showing his dominance when he sits on your feet and it is a serious mistake to use aggressive or abusive methods to "correct" this behavior, since you will be exposing your hairy to negative emotions, such as stress, fear and anxiety, and the worst thing is that you will reprimand him for misinterpreting his behavior, seriously affecting the bond.

On the other hand, if you suspect your dog is becoming possessive, reacting negatively when someone tries approaching you or your things, you should know that you are facing a problem of resource protection , and should not be confused with dominance.In this case, we advise you to go to a veterinarian specialized in canine ethology that could rule out pathological causes and investigate the origin of this possessive behavior in your best friend, as well as help you establish specific causes for your treatment.

If you want to know more about dominance in dogs, we recommend you read our article entirely dedicated to the dominant dog.Next, we will tell you the possible reasons that explain why my dog sits on my foot.

Now you know that this behavior can have several meanings and that in no case It is related to the errors of the theory of dominance.So why does my dog sit on my foot? There are 5 main causes:

To enjoy your company: you can not deny that dogs are extraordinary companions, always willing to accompany us in our best moments and comfort us in the most difficult phases.The reasons why your dog sits on your feet is to be with you and express his affection.
Because he seeks warmth and comfort: in his first weeks of life, it is very common that puppies sleep well attached and even on top of each other to keep warm and fight the cold.If your dog sleeps on top of you or on your head, it is probably looking not only to share the warmth of your body, but also to feel safe and comfortable in your company.
To express their support for you: dogs easily perceive changes in our mood, because they are able to interpret our postures, facial expressions, gestures and attitudes, since they mostly use body language to communicate.Even if you do not say a word to your dog, he will know when you feel sad or you are going through a difficult time in your life, so you can support yourself in you or lie close to you to communicate your support and fidelity, "in good times and in bad".
To communicate to others that you are their guardian: anal glands contain pheromones that are a species of "chemical identity", that is, they concentrate substances that "inform" about the main characteristics that identify each individual.When a dog smells the ass of another, he can obtain information about his sex, age, state of health, type of nutrition, etc.When your dog sits on your feet or on top of you, it leaves its "characteristic smell" on you.In this way, it can communicate to the other dogs that you are its guardian.
Because it needs to call your Attention: if you spend many hours away from home or are too busy to devote special time to your hairy, it is possible that he sits on top of you or on your feet to get your attention, either because he is hungry, wants to walk, wants to get something or just to remind you that it is time to share a good time together.

Therefore, we identify that sitting on your feet or on top of your tutor is not a negative behavior or dangerous in dogs.Logically, it is important to observe whether this behavior is accompanied by others that demonstrate possessiveness or hyperapist, since these can become serious behavioral problems that impair the coexistence and social life of the dog and your tutor.

If you notice that your dog It becomes aggressive when you receive visitors at home or when someone tries to greet you on the street, this possessive behavior can be very dangerous, especially for children, and must be treated by a properly trained professional, so we advise you to consult a veterinarian first specialized in ethology.On the other hand, if your dog carries out destructive behaviors during your absence and constantly demands attention, you should be aware of the symptoms of separation anxiety and you can turn to a canine educator to guide you in the treatment of these problems of conduct.

Now you know why my dog sits on my foot! What reason do you think drives your dog to do it? Leave us your comments and share your experience!

Comments

Common blackbird feeding - Care of pigeons and rescued adults

The Blackbirds ( Turdus merula ) are intelligent and affectionate animals that must always live in freedom, in their natural habitat.But, sometimes, we must keep them in captivity.It would be the case of the offspring that we can find outside their nest and that They do not know how to assert themselves because they cannot yet feed themselves, but they may also need help from adults who have an injury or illness. In this Animals and Pets Online article we are going to focus on The common blackbird feeding as a fundamental part of its recovery before releasing it.Do you have a blackbird in captivity rescued? Don't you know which food is most suitable for blackbirds? Then this article interests you, keep reading! Characteristics of the common blackbird The blackbird is a common bird in Europe.It presents sexual dimorphism , which means that the female and the male are different with the naked eye.Yes, the male is totally black and yellow-orange beak and eye ring, while t...

Malt for cats - Different uses and how often to offer it

Cats are especially clean animals that spend hours grooming.lick ingest a lot of hair.If you live with a cat, you've sure seen it seen coughing and even vomiting hairballs. That's when some people turn to cat malt , a very useful product of natural origin that improves digestion and intestinal transit of our cat. Discover in Animals and Pets Online everything related to malt for cats, including the necessary doses, at what age It should be offered or information about vomiting.All the benefits of this product below: What is malt? Cat malt is a paste of color similar to honey and denser texture .It consists of vegetable oils and fats, malt extract, fiber, dairy products and yeast mainly.It also often contains dyes, preservatives and vitamins. There are numerous brands in the market with different formats.The most frequent is in the form of a tube of toothpaste.The composition varies slightly according to the brand but the basis is malt extract.Some cats show a prefe...

Prague mouse dog: features

The Prague mouse is also known as buzzard from Prague or Pražský krysařik and is originally from the Czech Republic.It is a toy dog or mini dog and it is that in its adult stage it does not usually exceed 3.5 kilograms in weight.It is really small.In this tab Race of Animal Expert we will share with you all the information related to the Prague mouse either about its origin, the characteristics, the character it has or the care it needs. We will also talk about their education, something very important if there are children at home, but also essential to prevent them from barking a lot or behaving in a negative way inside the home.If you are thinking of adopting a Prague mouse do not hesitate to continue reading to discover the history that precedes it and curiosities about it. Origin of the Prague mouse The Prague mouse begins its history in the Middle Ages, in the royal palaces of central Europe, more specifically in Bohemia (Czech Republic) where it was a highly prized ...

The smartest rodents

There are more than 2800 different rodent species that populate all parts of the planet, except in both poles.Son species that are not in danger of extinction, quite the opposite, and on many occasions some species are considered a pest. If survival is considered a parametroutile to measure animal intelligence, no doubt Among the rodents are some species of remarkable intelligence. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will show you some rodents possessing a very considerable intelligence.Continue reading the most intelligent rodents : The common rat The common rat, or brown rat, is perhaps the representative of mammals whose survival is more plausible in any circumstance.It is much stronger, larger and more aggressive than its congenre the black rat, or country rat. The common rat is native to China, and from there it has managed to expand throughout the world, especially in the sewerage of all cities and towns.Various tests have been carried out with them, including m...

My lovebird has diarrhea - Causes and treatment

Lovebird has become one of the most frequently birds they find in our homes.Their color, their beauty, and that nickname of "inseparable" that we like so much, makes them as appreciated as the canaries were once. But the arrival of any bird, exotic or not , puts us in front of new situations that sometimes we are not accustomed to face.Animals and Pets Online will try to help distinguish pathological situations from those that are not, and to handle us in the event that our lovebird has diarrhea , In the following article we explain the possible causes that cause it . It is not always diarrhea, even if it seems We may notice that there are more liquid stools than usual in our lovebird on the floor of the cage and identify it as diarrhea, even if it is not. Evacuations Sewers in birds are made up of a greenish part (they can vary in color if they take feed, they are real feces), a white part (urates, mineral salts), and a liquid part (urine).Everything goes out...

12 invasive species in Argentina and its consequences

According to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development e , through the National Information System on Invasive Exotic Species, more than 650 invasive species were detected in Argentina .Many of these species were introduced by man, with the intention of obtaining economic benefits, "increase" the local level of sport hunting, or combat pests that were damaging agriculture or livestock. Although the idea of greater diversity in nature may seem interesting, the introduction of exotic animals and plants, Without a previous study of its environmental impact, it usually threatens the survival of the native fauna and flora of the country .In this new article of Animals and Pets Online, we present the main 12 invasive alien species in Argentina and its consequence s for the country's ecosystem. 1.Pinto starling (Sturnus vulgaris) The introduction of these birds is very recent in Argentina, but it already generates great concern for its impact on fauna...

Animals with exoskeleton - Names and examples

The body of the largest vertebrate animals is not a mystery to most of people: it is known that it has a skeleton, internal vital organs (heart, brain, etc.), a dermis of variable and organ characteristics through which the five senses are manifested, among other characteristics. However, have you wondered what the invertebrate morphology is like? Then you need to know all about the animals with exoskeleton, names and examples. Don't miss this Animals and Pets Online article! What is the exoskeleton? The exoskeleton is an external structure that covers the body of various animals, including arthropods.It is characterized by being resistant but flexible .This structure It consists of different substances depending on the subfile to which the animal belongs: chitin for insects and fungi, calcium in mollusks and corals or silica in diatoms among other components. In turn, the exoskeleton is formed by three structures : Cuticle : non-cellular layer secreted by the hyp...

Differences between a Persian cat and an angora

Although both breeds are known and popular, for some lovers of cats the differences between a Persian cat and an angora are not entirely clear, perhaps because they both have a spectacular long coat, but the differences between both races are remarkable and, if we want to adopt any of these cats, it is important that we have them in order for our new cat to adapt as well as possible to our home. This is why in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will expose the differences between a Persian cat and an angora .If you intend to adopt any of these cats, this article of Persian cat vs Angora is essential! Physical differences between Persian and Angora cats We begin this review of the differences between a Persian cat and an angora for the most obvious, that is, those that refer to physical aspects.These are going to be the following: The nose: it is, perhaps, the most important and significant, in addition, at first glance it will allow us to differentiate a Persian cat a...

Bears

Grizzly Bear The grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) one of the emblematic animals of the United States, however, this has not allowed him to get rid of being one of the most endangered animals of the American continent.Grizzly bears are close relatives of the brown bears of the continent Eurasian, but the distance... Eyeglass bear The spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is also known as Andean bear, frontal bear, South American bear, jukumari and ucumari.According to IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), between 2,500 and 10,000 copies of bears are released.glasses, for this and for the continuous... Bear kodiak The Kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi), also known as the Alaskan giant bear, is a subspecies of brown bear native to the island of Kodiak and other coastal towns in southern Alaska.These mammals highlight their immense size and remarkable robustness, being one of terrestrial mammals more... Brown bear The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a usu...

EVERYTHING about PETERBALD CAT

Peterbald cats are part of the so-called hairless cats , because they do not have fur, unlike most feline breeds.Specifically it is an "oriental version" of the famous sphynx cats, obtained from crossing with other feline breeds.In addition to their appearance, these cats stand out for their affectionate and affectionate character, so if you are a person with enough time, peterbald can be your best companion. Do you want to know everything about peterbald cats and their recent origin? From ExpertAnimal we will tell you all about these curious felines without hair, we will talk about the characteristics of peterbal, care and much more. Origin of the peterbald cat Peterbald cats are originating in Russia , where in the 90s eastern shorthair cats with Siamese cats and a certain variety of sphynx cats were crossed, as the intentions of the breeder who made these crosses was to obtain a cat like the sphynx but in an oriental style. It was not long until in 1994 the cr...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog