Dog lovers all over the world know that having a dog as a pet is a magical feeling, and we can hardly disagree.However they sometimes behave strangle, for example when a dog sits on your feet or near them. There is hardly any first time dog owner that would not wonder if having their pet lie at their feet is a good or bad sign .These beautiful furry creatures have such a high emotional intelligence that a pet dog is often able to sense any discomfort or anxiousness from a mile away! There is almost nothing that would discourage someone from having a pet dog (except for allergies of course) but there are some odd dog behaviors that have been baffling humankind for years now. To answer the questions that every dog lover has been asking for years, its actually a great thing if your dog lies at your feet in the evening to enjoy some family time. Think of this behavior as your dog’s way of saying that your home is its home and that your family is its pack! If it were us, we would definitely bask in the glory of this beautiful feeling, and be happy about having made an innocent animal trust us!If you enjoy this article, then why not learn some more fun facts with Kidadl? Take a look at why do dogs bark at night and why do dogs stare at you.Do all dogs do this?All dogs have certain ‘pack instincts’ whether or not they have ever had the chance to live in a pack.Your pet may have never had the chance to live in an actual pack of dogs, however, it will have some innate instincts that involve wanting to stick close to its leader (just as a pack of dogs will stick to their leader). When dogs grow up in the wild, they instinctively sit close to the leader. Such behavior shows the hierarchy of the group and also gives the non-alpha members a sense of protection. In your house, the alpha is you, and so your pet dog will want to stick close to you for one reason or the other.When it comes to whether or not all dogs have a tendency to lay close to their owner or parent, the answer is yes. Owners are their only source of protection and the most immediate source of warmth. So, no matter which breed of dog it is that you have, it is likely that it will lay close to your feet. Additionally, we think it is rather nice that your dog would think of you as the leader of the pack! One of the other reasons that could eventually lead to such behavior from your pet dog is that it has been feeling anxious. The best thing to do is not only to shower your love and affection on the poor dog, but also to find out the root cause of their anxiety. Letting your pet have a nice position on your lap and maybe giving it some scratches here and there could work wonders.Dogs usually get anxious when there are loud noises, any strange animals or humans or even if the house smells different. In such cases, make sure that they feel your presence and assure them with a warm hug, a treat, a bit of extra food or some extra love. There are a number of other behaviors that can act as a sign for you. If you notice that your pet has been sitting with its back to you, it is basically trying to tell you that it trusts you completely. If your friend were to lie with its back towards you, in pack-language, it would basically mean that it trusts you completely and believes that you have its back.You might also notice that your dog sits against you sometimes, or maybe even leans on you as the family watches television together. This is a sign that the dog not only thinks of itself as a part of the family, but also thinks that you are a friend that it can rely on completely. There is no way we are the only ones that think that’s precious, right? Small dogs like Shih Tzus have the tendency to want to lay at your feet. This is because the body metabolism of these dogs does not allow them to get warm easily once they’re cold. To let them snuggle up near your body or feet will ensure that the pet feels a bit more safe and that you can protect it at all costs. We would definitely suggest that you keep your lap open and welcoming towards your pets during the winter months, whether they be a tiny pup or a fully-grown dog.Which other animal does it?All animals that are known to live in packs in the wild will display some sort of behavior along the lines of sitting at your feet. If an animal sits on your feet or nearby, it basically shows that you, as an owner, are its leader.It could also mean that the animal wants to show its love and affection and also that it would defend you if any threat was nearby. It is therefore pack animals that are most likely to sit at your feet for affection and protection, and also to make sure that their owner is safe as well. However, there are only a few pack animals that are domesticated around the world. The most commonly heard phrase would be ‘pack of wolves’, but how often do we find a wolf or two that have been domesticated and kept away from their habitat in the wild?These behaviors can also be seen on some levels in cats and cattle, since they are typically also a part of a rather large herd. However, since these animals are known to have a much lower emotional intelligence when compared to dogs, the level to which such behaviors may be seen in these pets will be much less. When it comes to wild animals such as lions and deer, it would be rather odd to have either as pets and have them lay on your feet, but, if you end up achieving such bonds, it could be quite magical as well.Should you encourage it?There is no reason to think that having a dog lay on your feet is a bad thing. The fact remains that if these pets do sit on your feet, they love you and love to be around you.This behavior can be directly related to the innate instincts of these animals, whether or not they have had the opportunity to live in or near a pack. For these animals, your house is home and you are the leader that is responsible for providing safety and comfort. If a dog is willing to lay at your feet or loves to sleep wherever it can feel the warmth of a human body, it means that the owners have been doing everything right when it comes to training their pet and showing affection. Furthermore, a dog’s psyche is built in such a way that the human beings that have it as a pet, or the owners, become a source of warmth. It should be able to seek relief from its anxiety, and the best way to reassure your animal is to let it know that you would protect it, from its years as a pup until it is a fully grown dog.While it can be quite challenging for new parents to let a dog sleep in the same bed, it can also take some positive reinforcement and some love to encourage the animal to sleep in its own bed. Occasionally, there can be times when a dog will inevitably end up sleeping at your foot. This can show you that your adorable animal thinks of you as part of its territory and would defend you at all costs.Such dog behavior is particularly common in cases where you have more than just one pet. The dogs might get protective and want to sit at your foot in order to mark their territory. Such behavior is fine as long as it is not aggressive. In the unfortunate circumstances under which a dog’s behavior does become aggressive, use positive reinforcement (such as a treat or other food item) in order to assure them that their human is there to stay forever!More than anything, dogs love some affection, scratches behind the ears, and to sleep in a warm area. Let’s be honest, you as an owner are the amalgamation of all of these things. There is no reason why a loyal and friendly dog would skip on the opportunity to sit at your feet. However, if you don’t like such behavior and would prefer your canine friend to stop, a little training will go a long way!Can you train dogs to do this?It would hardly take any training to make your dog sit on your feet. All it would take is a lot of love and affection, and in a matter of days, this behavior will inevitably begin.However, if you want your dog to sit on your feet and you don’t want to wait too long, training with treats can help. All you have to do is be persistent with the command ‘sit’ and make sure that you give the little creature some extra appreciation when it does sit on your feet or near them. At the same time, we strongly recommend that you build a bond with your fur-ever friend. This will let it see you as not just someone who readily hands out treats, but as a person who would also stick around through cold winters and extremely hot summers. If you notice that on a particularly chilly winter evening, your dog would rather huddle up and sit on your feet instead of moving towards the fire, the behavior should be testament enough to how well you have been doing as a parent!On the contrary, if you do not wish to encourage such behavior and would rather that your pet didn’t sit on your feet all day, some training would come to the rescue again. Try throwing a treat a little distance from you and be persistent in making them sit there. If they do sit or lie down away from you, give them another little treat. The repetition of this exercise will let the dog know which behavior is worthy of being rewarded and which isn’t.Having said that, the most important thing to understand when you have a dog as a pet is that dogs have some innate characteristics that cannot be done away with. In the rare instances that they are taught to stray away from such habits, it can be very unfair to the animal and its years of evolution. While it may be annoying if your pet sits on your feet all day and all night, make sure to allow it to do so once in a while. After all, this is the love language that your dog is using to appreciate your presence, and is probably asking if it can join the family.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do dogs sit on your feet then why not take a look at why do dogs bark at night, or Polish Lowland Sheepdog Facts.
Dog lovers all over the world know that having a dog as a pet is a magical feeling, and we can hardly disagree.
