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Why Does My Dog Sit On My Chest? 7 Common Reasons

Why does my dog sit on my chest? Most of the time, this is a show of dominance. Your dog wants to show who’s the alpha between the two of you. However, it is also your canine’s way of getting your attention, seeking comfort, or asserting its territory. On a less serious note, your dog probably just likes your body warmth.

Below, I discussed these possibilities and what you can do to curb the behavior once it starts to be annoying.

why does my dog sit on my chest

Why does my dog sit on my chest? 7 possible reasons

dog sit on my chest

1. Your dog is asserting its dominance.

One of the most common reasons for this behavior is dominance. The act of sitting on your chest gives the pooch the upper hand. Your dog is imposing its position as the alpha of the pack.

It also shows if your dog respects you or not because sitting on your chest clearly indicates that your dog doesn’t respect you and only sees you as a lower being.

In the wild, dogs arrange the pack through a hierarchy. The alpha is the leader that everyone else must follow. Domesticated dogs still exhibit this ranking.

A dog that sits on its owner’s chest feels entitled to be the boss. Since your dog can sit on top of you, you’re giving it the right to be the alpha. This is something you’d want to avoid. Proper training is necessary to turn the situation around.

You must take action about this behavior because it can lead to other problems along the way. It’s only a matter of time before your pet becomes demanding and whiny.

2. Your dog wants your attention.

dog wants attention

Dogs can be needy so sitting on your chest is their way of begging for your attention. This happens if you don’t spend enough time with the pooch. In that case, the doggo will try to get as close to you as possible with the hopes of winning your affection.

I don’t recommend rewarding this behavior. Instead, you should schedule a bonding time with your dog so it won’t have to beg you by sitting on your chest.

3. Your dog is anxious.

Anxiety will drive your dog to seek comfort at your side. Sometimes, your pooch will prefer sitting on your chest with the hopes that you will hug or pet them.

This happens if you’ve been away for long periods. Your absence will make the pooch anxious. If not addressed, this can develop into separation anxiety. Aside from sitting on your chest, your dog will cry and appear stressed.

Take note that separation anxiety is a serious problem. If you don’t deal with it, your dog will soon develop destructive behavior due to intense anxiety and stress.

4. Your dog is being protective.

Some dog breeds are more protective than others. My dog Sherlock will sometimes sit on my chest when there are guests or other dogs around.

It’s his way of telling others that I’m his master and that he will protect me no matter what. This is often tinged with jealousy, especially if I try to pet other dogs around.

The good thing about this behavior is that you can easily train your dog out of it. You can reduce overprotectiveness by slowly introducing your dog to other people and canines.

Socializing an overprotective dog and positive reinforcement will do wonders for your possessive canine.

5. Your dog is imposing its territory.

This behavior is somewhat connected to being overprotective. Your dog sees you as their property and will let other dogs know exactly that.

By sitting on your chest, your pooch spreads its scent to your body. This is a process of marking, which dogs use to set their territory and warn other canines. You will also notice that your dog is trying to rub its face on you to transfer as much scent as possible.

To prevent this, you should teach your dog that sitting on your chest isn’t tolerated. You can also use calming aids to reduce your pet’s marking.

6. Your dog likes your warmth.

During a cold day, your chest is a perfect place for your dog to get toasty. The heat your body generates is comforting for your pooch.

It’s best to give your dog a warm and cozy spot at home. You can place its bed near the fireplace or radiator so it can sleep quietly. You can also improvise using bottles filled with warm water.

Take note that some dogs have a lower tolerance to cold temperatures than other breeds.

7. Your dog wants to play.

Lastly, sitting on your chest is a sign of affection from your dog. The dog usually loves to cuddle with you.

Sometimes, your dog will try to initiate playtime by sitting on your chest as you rest on the couch or may sit behind you on the couch.

Many ‘pawrents’ will tolerate this behavior, especially if they haven’t seen their dog for quite a while. I really don’t see any problem with it as long as the pooch isn’t being too demanding.

But if you’re afraid that the dog may develop negative behavior, it’s best to schedule playtime at a different time. Also, you should ask your dog to go down before you give what it wants.

Why does my dog sit on my face?

Another weird habit of dogs is sitting on their owners’ faces. Most of the time, this is a learned behavior because you react positively when the dog first did it.

But as much as this habit is hilarious, sitting on your face is a sign of dominance.

Putting its butt on your face is a clear message that your dog is the boss. You should never tolerate this behavior or your pooch will reign on the household.

Take note that shouting and chasing your dog for sitting on your face isn’t the best way to address the problem. Your dog will think that sitting on your face will get your attention.

Chasing will also appear as if you’re playing with your doggo.

Instead, you should lure your dog to sit on the floor. Putting the pooch on time out will also help correct the behavior.

Why does my dog sleep on my chest?

Why does my dog sleep on my chest

Being on your chest is a secure and intimate experience for your dog. It makes them feel happy and safe, especially if your dog is anxious.

Your dog feels like it’s curled with the pack since dogs in the wild often sleep right next to each other for security.

Also, your dog probably misses you so it sleeps on your chest to compensate for the time lost. It’s a sign of affection and protectiveness since you’ve been away for a long.

Most of the time, this is harmless behavior. However, if your dog wants to sleep on your chest every time, that’s the time you should correct it.

What does it mean when a dog stands at you?

Standing on top of you while you lie down is an outright statement of dominance. Your dog is establishing itself as the alpha of your pack, which is something you wouldn’t like to happen.

This is rooted in canines’ primal instincts in the wild.

You should never tolerate this behavior. The moment your dog tries to get on top of you, say a firm ‘no’ then command it to sit on the floor.

You should sit down to let your pooch know that you still call the shots.

Moreover, training is necessary to correct this behavior for good. You should also watch out for large breeds trying to stand on top of kids as this can lead to injury.

What does it mean when a dog puts its weight on you?

Dogs are social animals and they often stay as close as possible to their packs. With this, leaning on you is a sign that your pooch considers you as a member of its pack.

It’s the doggo’s way of seeking comfort and safety on your side. Your dog will also rest its head on your shoulder as an affectionate gesture.

Putting its weight on you is your dog’s way of comforting itself.

There might be a lot of guests and noises in your house, which makes the doggo uncomfortable. Your dog will try to call for help by leaning on your side as you sit or on your leg as you stand.

You should take this as a cue that your pooch isn’t okay.

Conclusion

Why does my dog sit on my chest? This is a show of dominance as your dog tries to snatch the alpha position from you.

It’s important to correct this habit as soon as possible to curb other behavioral problems.

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