Why does my dog lay his head on me?

Why does my dog lay his head on me?

There is a unique bond that is shared between humans and dogs that doesn’t require direct communication yet facilitates a deep and satisfying communication between the two. Humans are vocal while dogs communicate more through body language and facial expressions. Your dog’s body expressions can communicate a lot of things; some may take you time to understand. One common expression that most dogs exhibit is laying their head on their owner. It leaves people thinking, why does my dog lay his head on me?

The main reason why your dog lays his head on you:

Dogs are instinctively pack animals. Pack animals stay together as a family. In addition to growing up together, they hunt and sleep together. So, if your dog is lonely and you are the closest company it has, it will want to stay close to you. You are his family. Ideally, it’s only acting based on the genetic code. Basic Instinct.

Other reasons why your dog lays his head on you:

1. The dog is stressed up

Your dog may lay his head on you because he/she is stressed. This is common in dogs that have been separated from their mothers. A stressed dog will look anxious and agitated, and will only get this intimate with the owner—the next closest figure to its mother. However, they will eventually adapt to their new environment and family as time goes by. Until then, you’ll need to give them all the love and attention. Let the pooch lay its head on you as much as you can tolerate and you’ll be helping a great deal.

2. He or she simply wants some affection

Dogs are adorable pets and they also need affection. Different dogs may need different amounts of affection, depending on the breed, history and nature. Pet dogs crave for affection more often. This could be a reason why he’s laying his head on top of you.

3. Attention

It’s amazing how far your dog can go to catch your attention, especially if he feels safe with you and loves to play with you. Dogs are social animals. Therefore, if he/she doesn’t see you often they might develop separation anxiety over time. Dogs with this kind of anxiety become somehow agitated, making them jump all over you for attention. On the other hand, an elderly dog will simply lay his/her head on you.

4. It could be the food

Dogs have very sensitive noses; they can smell food from miles away. Since dogs don’t have manners—or care little for what we consider good manners, they’ll see you eating, come close and lay their heads on you. This passes for a polite way of telling you that they can see you are having something sumptuous and they would love a share of the same. The good news is that dogs are trainable and you can actually train your dog on how and when they should expect to be served a meal. In other words, ensure that your dog is always well fed.

5. The dog is feeling cold and would appreciate some warmth

A dog may cuddle up to you during cold weather. Dogs have a natural coat, but during winter or over cold weather, the cold bites and they’ll often do what comes naturally; search for some warmth. That’s why people ask ‘Why does my dog sleep on my feet?‘ or ‘Why dogs like to sleep under the cover?’ 

Solution–if you don’t like the habit

A great solution to this would be one of these warm best dog beds. The dog beds are made of high-quality orthopedic memory foam and designed in a manner that keeps your dog warm and cushioned all through the cold nights. 

Conclusion

Always be keen on your dog’s body language. It is the best way to find out whether there is any issue with your dog. If you feel that your dog’s behavior of laying his head on you is somehow abnormal, consider contacting the vet. To sum up, the most common solution is to offer more love and care to your pooch—it works almost every time.

Get Your Dog A Nice Place To Lay His Head On

Resources

Ways dogs show love