Why Does My Dog Put His Butt On Me?
So you’re lying down on the couch when your dog suddenly sits on your face. You can’t help but wonder, why does my dog put his butt on me? I’ve experienced this many times with my Golden Retriever, Sherlock.
Sometimes, he will put his bum on my face or just present it to me. There are a lot of explanations behind this, some of which are rooted in a canine’s instincts in the wild. Understanding canine body language is crucial in decoding why dogs put their butt on humans.
Dogs communicate primarily through body language, and their actions can provide valuable insights into their intentions and emotions. Another similar and related behavior is when dogs sit on your chest.
Reasons why your dog puts its butt on you
The following are the possible reasons why your doggo is sporting its rear on you.
Your dog is saying ‘hello’
Showing you its bum might be the dog’s way of saying a friendly ‘hello’. If your dog is showing you its bum but avoids eye contact, that means the dog wants to communicate but is shy or aloof. This is also called the ‘hip nudge’, which is a friendly gesture denoting passivity.
Asking for pets or a good scratch
If your resident doggo suddenly nudges you with its butt, the pooch might be requesting a good scratch. It doesn’t hurt to give in from time to time. However, you should check your dog’s coat if the butt scratching is excessive. Your pet might be suffering from fleas, ticks, or an underlying health issue.
If your pooch doesn’t have any issues, note that dogs love being scratched near the rump. The reason for this is that the tail area is a hard spot for canines to reach. Your dog needs a little help to relieve that small itchy area near their bum.
Expressing trust and affection
Showing you its butt means that your dog trusts you. A canine will not expose its most vulnerable side if it’s not confident that you’ll not hurt them.
Also, dogs have scent glands in their anal area that release pheromones, which can convey messages of comfort and security. By placing their butt on a human, dogs are sharing their scent and signaling their bond and trust.
While it may seem strange to humans, it is an endearing gesture that showcases the deep emotional connection between dogs and their human companions.
Establishing dominance and territory
Dogs are naturally hierarchical animals, and establishing dominance and territory is an essential part of their social structure. When a dog puts their butt on a human, it can be a way of asserting their dominance or claiming ownership. By leaving their scent on humans and physically placing their rear end on them, dogs are displaying their authority and control.
However, it’s important to note that not all dogs exhibit this behavior for dominance-related reasons. Some dogs may simply do it out of habit or as a way to seek attention and affection. Each dog is unique, and their motivations for putting their butt on humans may vary.
How to stop your dog from putting its butt on you
If your dog’s habit of putting its butt on you is being invasive, you can train them out of it. Here are some tips to help you tackle the problem:
- Brush up with obedience training. If your dog is trying to rub or put its butt on you, command it to sit on the floor. When the dog sits, reward it with a tasty treat.
- Ignore the dog. Sometimes, ignoring the dog will teach them that using their butts won’t get them what they want. Over time, your pooch may stop putting its bum on you.
- Consult the vet. If your dog is rubbing its butt on you profusely, you should get it checked by the vet. This is a tell-tale sign of a worm infestation. Dogs with worms will also drag their butts on the floor to scratch the itch.
- Don’t reward the behavior. Sometimes, we reward our dogs’ negative behavior. Even if you don’t pet or give your dog treats, reacting is enough of a reward for a canine.
Why do dogs sleep with their bum facing you?
In the wild, dogs sleep with their packs. They often place their backs to each other so they are not vulnerable to predators. In the domesticated setting, your dog will also exhibit this behavior. Placing its bum in your direction is your pooch’s way of ensuring that they are not exposed to harm. It also means that your pet trusts you to defend them.
Why do dogs like their bums smacked?
It’s not really smacking that your dog loves about it. Scratching and patting their bums feel good because it somehow relieves any itch they are feeling on their rear. Also, some dogs associate bum smacks with playtime so they tend to get excited whenever you do it.
There are pet owners who noticed that smacking their dog’s rear fuels the pooch’s energy. This also happens when a canine is smacked at the rib cage. Most of the time, the pat or smack is a physical affirmation that the dog perceives as something positive.
Why does my dog put its bum on my face?
This is a pretty common behavior, which happens when the pet owner is lying down. When Sherlock was still a puppy, he used to do this whenever we’re on the bed. The vet said it’s possible that my dog is leaving his scent on me. It’s a dog’s way of saying ‘I love you’ or ‘You’re mine now’.
However, you shouldn’t to tolerate this behavior at a young age, especially if your dog is set to become a large canine.
Conclusion
Why does my dog put his butt on me? It’s often a dog’s way of marking you with their scent or saying hello. However, some dogs will do it because you reward the behavior. Whatever the cause is, it’s important to control the habit so it won’t branch out to other problems.
Related Behaviors and Articles
Here are other posts covering related behaviors you may be interested in learning about:
