Why Does My Dog Sleep at My Feet?

Having invested a great deal of time and funds getting the best bedding for your canine companion will not make them desist from sleeping at your feet. Dogs tend to take advantage of the smallest opportunity even when their adopter is standing on his feet. This habit might seem quite amusing as well as sweet, but we need answers to the question “why does my dog sit on my feet?” or even more, ‘’why does my dog sleep at my feet?’’. There are several other reasons why dogs sit on your feet, they include; Continue reading to find out.

They See Humans as Their Partners

Except if your pooch is one of the independent canine breeds, or happens to be a loner by nature, dogs always show eagerness to be closer to their parents. With time, they will begin to perceive their parents like family, and thus develop a child-parent bond with their adopters. For over 15,000 years, we had dogs living in very close proximity with us, and on their own part, the canine population has become so acclimatized to living with humans that they tend to choose their owners as social partners.

Unless your canine friend is part of those independent breeds or is a loner by nature, most pups are eager to be nearby their owners. According to reports from experts, dogs perceive us like family. Even dog parents are fully aware of this unbreakable bond, which is comparable to the bond between a nursing infant and his mum. Therefore, it shouldn’t be so surprising that pups love to be around their parents, which always entails: sleeping close to their adopters, sharing sleeping areas, which often lands them at the feet of their owners.

For the Sake of Protection

Many pet parents think that their dogs belong to them, but they should also know that they belong to their dogs as well. What this means is that your pooch will likely lay claims to you as he assumes the role of a guard dog just to protect you. Whenever you find your furbaby sitting at your feet, it is all an ownership thing. They do not just want to be closer to you; they are making an unspoken statement that says “This is mine, don’t come close”, thus, warning off every other creature, both human and animal. This behavior of dogs is informed by three reasons – to secure their position in the parent’s life, to protect their owner as well as warn other animals that are already spoken for.

This may not apply to every member of the canine population, but many times, dogs sleep at their adopter’s feet because of the need to protect the person. The protective role of your canine companion may likely be the case if you observe that sleeping at your feet happens more when you have other people in the house. These protective guard dogs have the tendency to be stressed up the moment they perceive the advent of another animal or human towards their owner. However, when the perceived intruder decides to invade the pup’s “space bubble” and get closer to the parent, the dog may react by growling, barking, as well as lounging towards the intruder to discourage him from getting closer.

No doubt, there is this line of reasoning the canine is actually the parent’s scout, seeing themself as a member of a pack with their owner as the pack leader. So, it’s safe to say that dogs that have the tendency to assume a protective role with their parents are known to lean into their adopters. When the pup gets tired of leaning, they may well relax, and subsequently, you are likely to find them sleeping at your feet.

They are Trying to be Affectionate

Another common reason you will always find your pooch lying, sitting, or sleeping at your feet may even stem from their affection for you. The dog simply loves you and does not hesitate to show it. They just want to perceive your smell, hear the sound of your breathing, as well as feel your touch. In a situation where you have been away for long, the dog’s reason for sitting at your feet maybe because they have missed you, and is trying to tell you not to leave again. These signs of affection maybe because the pup feels the need to comfort you.

Dogs are quite smart and can easily pick up on their owner’s emotions. If you happen to be sick, crying, or emotionally disturbed, your furbaby will be right beside you, calming the situation down. This trend of behavior is viewed as normal, if your dog loves to sit at your feet to show you how much they love you, the translation is that you are in fact doing great as a pet parent. The dog tries to show gratitude for all that you have been doing for it, loves staying around you, and never wants you to leave them all alone.

They Want to Know Their Parents’ Whereabouts

This is another good reason why the majority of the canine population loves to stay at their parent’s feet – there is this strong need for reassurance which has to be satisfied. Dog are known to stick to the side of their parents for security purposes, always seeking their presence, and resisting any manner of separation. Sometimes, they seek their adopter’s presence for the purpose of exploration, as well as for reassurance in times of distress.

What you can be deduced from this is that, by the act of sleeping at the feet of their parent, the pup feels somewhat reassured by the parent’s presence. This also makes them feel like they are in their safe haven. And since the owner must lift their feet to move from that spot, the pup is reassured that they will be the first to be aware of that fact, and thus will be ready to tag along.

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