6 Reasons Why Do Dogs Lay On Your Feet

If you are a dog owner, you probably caught your dog laying on your feet at some point in your life. It is a sweet gesture but do you know why dogs do it? Is it something to be concerned about, or is there nothing wrong with it? Many dogs like to lay on owners' feet; if your dog is one of them, stay with us and find out why your dog does it.

Why do dogs lay on your feet?

Dogs will exhibit different behaviors, and laying on owners' feet is one of them. There are various theories and reasons why dogs do it, and here are the most popular ones.

1. Showing affection

The first and most apparent reason dogs lay on your feet is to show affection. Your dog will look at you as a pack member and will show you affection every chance they get. There is nothing wrong with this behavior, and you can allow your dog to do it. There are many different ways dogs will show that they love you, and laying on your feet is one of them.

dog looking at owner

2. Anxiety

Some dogs that lay on your feet could have health problems such as anxiety or stress. Anxiety could be a reason if your dog doesn't show this behavior and then starts to lay on your feet out of the blue.

There are a few ways you can check if your dog is feeling anxious or stressed. Look for the dog's tail and see if he is tucked under his belly, are their ears pulled back, and if his whole body is lowered. Did your dog start to pant or drool extensively? These could all be signs of your dog feeling stressed and anxious.

Your dog will start to lay on your feet when he wants to seek comfort near you. If your dog is lying on your feet because of anxiety, you should find a way to help the dog. If you are unsure how, you should probably talk to your vet and find a solution together.

3. Natural behavior

Dogs can show many different natural behaviors in their life. Laying on your feet could be one of them. In the wild, dogs can be found in packs. When a pack leader stops to rest, all other members will gather around to seek safety and comfort. This could be why your dog likes to lay on your feet – to seek comfort and safety.

4. Territorial behavior

Did you catch your dog laying on your feet in the presence of other dogs? If so, the reason for this behavior can be territorial dominance. Your dog will try to communicate to other dogs that you are his owner and that they shouldn't approach you. This behavior is allowed if no aggression is shown. If your dog tends to be aggressive toward other dogs, you should stop this dog behavior.

5. Dominance

Have you ever come to a new place and a strange dog approached you and lay on your feet? If so, dominance could be the main reason. The strange dog will let everybody know he is in charge by laying on your feet. Although this may seem like cute behavior, it could escalate quickly. These dogs like to show dominance toward you and other pets around. This dog behavior should be stopped by their dog owners.

6. Guarding

Most dogs have guarding roots, and if you catch your dog laying on your feet, they could guard you. Your dog sees you as a pack member and will try to protect you by any means if there are dangerous situations. Your dog will be ready to defend you in any unforeseen situations by laying on your feet.

dog laying on owner feet

In most cases, there will be no real danger, but your dog will still do it. You should be very careful in this situation since this guarding could lead to potential aggressiveness from your dog.

Should you stop this dog behavior?

In general, if your dog lies on your feet, you have nothing to worry about, and there is no reason why you should stop this dog's behavior. If you catch your dog starting to get aggressive while showing this behavior, you should immediately correct your dog and stop this behavior.

Also, if you think that your dog does it because of stress or anxiety, you should help your dog and contact your vet. You should try to remove everything causing your dog to be stressed, and in most cases, your dog will no longer lay on your feet.

Conclusion

If your dog tends to lay on your feet, you have nothing to worry about in most cases. This is considered sweet dog behavior, and in most cases, they will do it to show you love, to protect and guard you. If your dog starts to get aggressive while showing this behavior, you should immediately stop it and seek help.

World Dog Finder team

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