Why Do Dogs Put Their Paws On You?

When your furry friend extends a paw towards you, it's often a plea for attention. Dogs are social creatures who crave interaction with their human companions. Once we bond with a dog, we become one of the most important resources for attention and comfort. Attention seeking behaviours often get a bad rep when they’re overused and inappropriate but pawing for a scratch over barking at you is much more polite. Dogs have individual personalities just like humans and even more like us, their genetics play a big role in that. Breeding often determines a large portion of personality so if your pup’s parents loved a cuddle, you may be on the receiving end of a paw for one too.

Pawing for attention can also be to direct your attention towards something. It might be time for food or time to go on a walk. They might not have a watch or be able to read the time but your canine companion will always know when you’re late taking them out and will often paw at you to let you know. They’re very helpful in communicating when you’re not done petting them and if you try to pull your tired hand away you will get a tap from a raw or even a little shove from a nose to remind you of your job as fuss giver.

Pawing is often a manifestation of your dog's affection and attachment towards you. It's their way of expressing love and closeness, as well as feeling safe and content in your presence. Sometimes a paw in your directly won’t be requesting a cuddle but they might just want to be closer to you. Dogs will often nap with a paw on their favourite person as a means of comforting themselves. It helps them to feel safe when they know you’re close by and it means that if you get up for any reason, especially if it’s for a snack, they’ll know all about it and come with you.

If your pup loves to put a paw on you while they rest, consider getting a blanket that you can cuddle up with together so when you’re not home to sit with them, they still have something that smells of you to help them feel relaxed.

It’s long since been disproven that your dog does things to try to have dominance over you, it simply isn’t true. Even the wolves those initial studies were performed on have since been proven to have lived cooperatively and worked together rather than use outright aggression and sneaky tactics to try and be the boss. When your pooch paws at you, they’re not trying to be the boss of you but they can be cheeky and test boundaries sometimes. Our canine companions are always learning, if you’re doing work and you’ve asked them to go lie down or given them something to play with, you might find a sly little paw reaching over to see if they can still access your attention.

Our beloved pets are smart, sometimes too smart and you might give them a little scratch before sending them on their way again which in their minds means the behaviour paid off. When you’re with your pooch, you’re likely the most valuable thing in the room so it’s no wonder that they will see what they can get away with. If they had it their way you would probably do everything with them in your lap!

Beyond seeking attention or expressing affection, there are additional reasons why your dog may paw at you. Dogs use their paws to interact with and explore their surroundings, whether it's digging, scratching, or investigating objects. If you’ve sat on the couch and they’re scratching at you, you might have unknowingly sat on their very well hidden toy or their secret spot where they’ve pushed a treat for safekeeping. Pawing can be a form of scent marking, as dogs leave behind their scent through the glands in their paw pads, communicating with other animals in their environment. While they don’t usually do this directly to you, they can often be found kicking at and scent marking things that smell like you.

Persistent pawing, especially if accompanied by signs of discomfort or lameness, could be indicative of underlying medical issues such as arthritis or joint pain. If your poorly pooch is pawing at you and struggles to settle even when you sit with them, they could be trying to tell you that they aren’t feeling well.

By deciphering your dog's pawing behaviour, you can strengthen your bond and enhance communication between you and your furry friend. By paying attention to your dog's body language or cues and responding with affection, play, or reassurance as needed, your pooch will learn that you can be relied on to fulfil their needs.

So, the next time your furry friend extends a paw towards you, take a moment to appreciate the subtle messages they're conveying, and respond with love, patience, and understanding, after all, they don’t paw just about anyone! For more advice about your pooch, check out our blog or speak to a member of our team today.