Why Does My Dog Sit on Me?

Why Does Your Dog Like to Sit on You?

Dogs have a lot of unusual habits: they roll around in the dirt, sniff your crotch, lick themselves, and even consume trash (something you should not let your Dog do).

Most of these behaviours appear bizarre, at least to us, since we expect our Dogs to have human impulses.

Even if there's a perfectly nice empty seat on the couch or a warm Dog bed just for them, these furry creatures will frequently choose to sit directly on top of their humans.

While most of us enjoy this behaviour because snuggling with our pets is one of the many advantages of owning one, if your Dog is too big or noisy or appears overly attached, you may wish to train him not to sit on you.

So, why is my Dog sitting on me? It could indicate that he is seeking your attention or that he is attempting to protect you.

It's possible that your dog is bored or that he senses that you're ready to leave.

You may be sitting in his spot or his position.

You should have a good understanding of your dog's desire to sit on you since it will assist you in deciding how to respond to his behaviour.

Fortunately, all of these are discussed here:

He Wants Your Attention

Your Dog cherishes your attention and will always try to gain it, particularly if you haven't been paying attention to it recently.

As you give your Dog food, it's natural for it to jump on you or to look sad and yelp when you leave the room.

However, some habits, such as your Dog following you around the house, always coming to sit under you, poking you with its paws, and barking for no apparent reason, are considered excessive attention-seeking.

It's simple to confess that it's difficult to ignore your Dog when it's sitting immediately beneath you, especially if it's barking and moving about continuously.

You might wish to break the behaviour by just giving him attention and treats when he isn't vying for your attention; you don't want an ill-mannered and obnoxious dog who whines when you're too busy to play or go for a walk.

Dominance

When your Dog sits on you as a display of dominance over you or others, it's a reason for concern, and your Dog needs to be trained out of this habit.

This is dominant behaviour, and it is not cute if he sits on you and begins to behave aggressively, such as growling at you or at other humans or animals who try to approach you.

If your Dog is acting this way, lift him off you or put him in time out.

When other pets are around, it's natural and okay for him to want to be on your lap, but he shouldn't be aggressive about it.

Any obnoxious barking or snarling should not be encouraged or rewarded.

He Is Experiencing Separation Anxiety

When Dogs sense their lords are ready to embark on a journey, they usually sit on them.

This is a regular occurrence in Dogs suffering from separation anxiety.

If your Dog senses that you're ready to leave for work or leave him alone for a few days, he'll sit on you.

He will become increasingly restless, worried, and dissatisfied throughout this period of anxiety.

While you leave the room, he'll most likely weep.

Your Dog Has a Request

Let's imagine you sit down at your desk to complete a long-overdue project.

You check the digital clock on your desk and see that it's 3 p.m., the time you'd normally go for a walk with your dog, but you can't since your boss just assigned you a new deadline.

Your Dog comes to sit beneath your legs as you sit at your desk, ready to get to work.

You start to wonder what this may imply.

You should assess whether your Dog is coming to sit under you because it wants something and attempts to communicate with you.

If your Dog only does this at certain times of the day, this is most likely the case.

If your Dog only comes to sit under you when you're eating, for instance, it could be that your dog is expecting crumbs and goodies or that your dog only sits there when it's time for its exercise.

Safety And Comfort

In the company of their owner, Dogs tend to feel safe and secure.

They are more relaxed and at ease in the presence of their master.

Your Dog may be sitting on you because it simply wants to be near you.

This is particularly prevalent in puppies or Dogs who have been introduced to a new home or if you have recently relocated to a new apartment and your Dog is adjusting to the new surroundings.

Also, think about when your Dog sits under you to see if that might assist you to figure out what's causing the behaviour.

Is it true that your Dog only sits on you when other people are present? Some Dogs are hesitant to approach strangers since they are confused by new scents they don't recognize.

Have you lately acquired a new pet or given birth to a child? This could be why your dog is sitting on you.

He Is Bored

If your Dog becomes bored with active activities such as playing with toys, bones, and puzzles, he will want to sit on you.

You should make sure that your Dog gets enough exercise and participates in other exciting activities to keep him from sitting on you at every opportunity.

Meanwhile, you should be aware that all breeds require varying amounts of activity.

Make an effort to find out from your veterinarian how much or what activity level is appropriate for your dog.

A Breed’s Behaviour

Some breeds are more inclined than others to sit on you.

Lapdogs are little Dogs such as Shih Tzus, Maltese's, and Chihuahuas.

They're the right size for squeezing onto any lap and have the calm demeanour to sit peacefully.

Small breeds may also snuggle in your lap to gain a higher vantage point from which they can observe their surroundings clearly because they want to be warm or avoid other dogs, rowdy youngsters, or other humans.

Of fact, some huge Dog breeds appear to be unaware that they are larger than their human's lap and attempt to cuddle nonetheless.

They may be continuing to cuddle since they were allowed to do so when they were puppies and wanted to be on your lap.

Show of Affection

After a long day without you, your Dog may simply be relieved to see you.

Sitting beside or on top of you is a common approach for many Dogs to spend time with you.

If you praise your dog's positive conduct with pets and cuddles, he may have learnt that doing so earns him a lot of love.

Scent

Dogs want to sit on you to disperse their smell, which is a way for them to mark their territory and claim you.

This isn't so much a caution to others that your Dog has taken you, as it is a warning to others that you've been taken!

Sitting on you is a very innocuous way to claim your territory compared to the other ways Dogs like to indicate their area, such as urinating.

If there are other pets or children present, or if you've recently returned from somewhere with the scent of other animals on you, Dogs may become more aggressive.

He Wishes to Deepen His Relationship with You

Sitting on you could simply be a way for your Dog to demonstrate his or her affection for you.

Dogs may sit on your lap because they feel safe and secure there or curious about your movements.

If they're more inclined to sit on you after you've gone, it's probably because they've missed you.

When Dogs have separation anxiety, they may want to cling to you once you've returned home.

You Are Staying in His Position

If you occupy the area that your darling Dog considers his own, such as his sleeping position or bed, he may sit on you.

Expect him to sit on you as a means of urging you to go sit somewhere else.

Many people would tell you that you should teach him to sit somewhere else, but you are expected to leave his seat and cease infringing on his privacy.

He Is Protecting You

Your dog's primary mission, as you are aware, is to defend you from harm.

He believes that sitting on you or close to you is one of the best ways to keep an eye on his lord.

This will allow him to maintain a close eye on you as he tries to stop any potentially dangerous strangers from approaching you.

Unless your Dog shows signs of overprotection, the behaviour does not need to be discouraged in this context.

Overprotective behaviour includes snarling, snapping, flaring nostrils, baring teeth, and even lunging at anyone who tries to approach you (particularly if the person is a stranger).

This is not a good thing to encourage because you don't want your Dog to hurt himself or others.

You Unconsciously Rewarded Him

Your Dog is more likely to sit on you since you frequently reward him when he behaves in this manner.

Either you offered him a lovely reward, a tasty dinner, or a toy when he came to sit on you, or you patted him on the back.

Even though it isn't for the correct reasons, this is known as positive reinforcement.

If you continue to treat your Dog anytime he sits on you; he will continue to have this attitude.

How Can You Get Your Dog to Stop Sitting on You?

Sometimes our Dogs do things we don't want them to do or act in ways we don't like.

To get your Dog to quit, you'd have to take deliberate and measured actions as a Dog owner.

Stopping your Dog from sitting on you shouldn't be an issue if you follow the guidelines below:

Train Him

If you spend your time training your dog, he will behave the way you want.

Tell him to take a seat on the floor while you take a seat on the bed.

The more you tell him to sit on the ground, the faster he'll understand what you're saying.

Cease Rewarding Him for Sitting on You

When he sits on you, you should stop rewarding him.

When he perches on your lap or under your arm, you shouldn't give him what he wants.

Instead, tell him to take a seat somewhere else.

Give Him Your Attention

Your interactions with your Dog are extremely important to him.

As a result, you must pay him as much attention as possible.

Take him for a walk, participate in training with him, and make sure you play with him.

These things will help him avoid boredom, and he won't need to sit on you to seek your attention.