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Does your dog lean on you? Most dog parents have experienced a dog leaning on their legs at least once in their lives.
Your dog simply sits or stands next to you, casually leaning most of its weight against your calf. Or maybe they’ll attack you when you’re sitting on the couch. And more often than not, it’s the larger dogs that tend to lean.
But why are they doing it? Well, there are many theories about leaning dogs, but here are a few likely reasons why your dog is leaning on you.
Some dogs rely on safety
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If your dog is anxious or tense in certain situations, they may lean on you for both physical and emotional support.
Dogs get a boost from positive chemicals released in the brain when they are around a loved one. If your dog associates you with happiness, chances are he also associate you with safety.
On the one hand, this tendency could mean that your dog is suffering from anxietyand you may need to comfort or reassure them. On the other hand, it also means that your dog trusts you to keep and protect them.
If your dog seems anxious and leaning on you, especially on walks or in public, try moving to an area with less activity. People, other dogs, traffic and other distractions can make your dog nervous, and it’s best to avoid their stressors.
Some dogs tend towards dominance – maybe
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Some argue that the reason your dog is leaning on you or sitting on your feet is to invade your territory. They show you who’s boss by being in your space and establishing dominance.
But more and more dog professionals dispel this myth.
Unless your dog is very dominant in every aspect of his personality, chances are he won’t be leaning on you to prove his alpha status.
Some dogs naturally lean because they love you
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As you may have guessed, many dog experts believe that your dog leans on you because they love you. Dogs love cuddles and affection, and chances are they just wants a little TLC from you.
Dogs are social pack animals by nature. Of course they crave physical proximity to their pack members, and you are one of them!
Smaller dogs can achieve this closeness by being picked up or lounging in their humans’ laps, but larger dogs can’t always afford such luxuries. To have that social closeness, large dogs tend to lean on their people’s legs.
And if you reward this behavior with lots of pets and hugs — as we dog lovers often do — your dog will likely learn that leaning gives them affection. However, there is nothing wrong with that. After all, has no cuddle buddy one of the many reasons why you have a dog in your life?
After all, you know your dog best. One dog’s reason for leaning can be very different from why another dog leans against its human.
If you’re comfortable with your dog leaning on you, go ahead and let him do it. However, if you have a bigger or heavier dog, make sure you’re always ready for the mighty lean!
Is your dog slimmer? Do you like it when they lean against you? Let us know in the comments below!
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