Not everything is a demonstration of dominance in dogs

Not everything is a demonstration of dominance in dogs

It is very important not to get carried away by false myths that state that whenever a dog sits on his guardian it is a demonstration of dominance. Dominance is intraspecific, that is, it occurs only and exclusively among individuals of the same species. Therefore, thinking about the relationship between a tutor and his dog in terms of dominance is meaningless and often causes many mistakes in the education and upbringing of dogs, negatively impacting his character.

In addition, it is essential to combat the false myth that a “dominant dog” is one that behaves aggressively 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 the social and language interaction of dogs, allowing hierarchical organization between two or more members of a community, occurring precisely at the time when a meeting or social interaction between two or more takes place. individuals

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. Therefore, 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 demonstrating its dominance when it 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 part is that you will reprimand him for misunderstanding his behavior, seriously affecting the bond.

On the other hand, if you suspect that your dog is becoming possessive , reacting negatively when someone tries to approach 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 veterinary specialist in canine ethology that can 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.

Why does my dog ​​sit or lie on top of me?

Now you know that this behavior can have several meanings and that in no case is it 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 cannot deny that dogs are extraordinary companions, always willing to accompany us in our best moments and comfort us in the most difficult phases. One of the reasons why your dog sits on your feet is to be with you and express your affection.
• Because it seeks heat and comfort : in its first weeks of life, it is very common for puppies to 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, he is probably looking to not only share the warmth of your body, but also 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 don’t say a single word to your dog, he will know when you feel sad or are going through a difficult time in your life, so he can lean on you or lie close to you to communicate his support and fidelity, “in good times and in the evil ones”.
• To communicate to others that you are their guardian: the anal glands contain pheromones that are a kind of “chemical identity”, that is, they concentrate substances that “inform” about the main characteristics that identify each individual. When a dog smells another’s ass, he can get information about his sex, age, health status, type of nutrition, etc. When your dog sits on your feet or on top of you, it leaves its “characteristic smell” on you. This way, you can tell other dogs that you are their tutor.
• Because he needs to get your attention: if you spend many hours away from home or are too busy to devote special time to your furry, you may feel on top of yourself or on your feet to get your attention, either because he is hungry, wants walk, want to get something or just to remind yourself that it is time to share a good time together.

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

If you notice that your dog 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 consult first with a veterinarian specialized in ethology. On the other hand, if your dog conducts 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 treating these behavioral problems.

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!