Quick Answer
Dogs cover their faces with their paws for a few potential reasons:
- Submission and appeasement
- Discomfort
- Stress
- Excitement
- Playfulness
The most common reasons dogs cover their faces are to show submission, appeasement, or discomfort. Face covering is often seen when dogs are being scolded or petted excessively. It can be a sign of submission, anxiety, or overstimulation. Less common reasons like excitement, playfulness, or mimicking human behaviors may also cause face covering.
Why Do Dogs Cover Their Faces With Their Paws?
There are several possible explanations for why dogs cover their faces with their paws. Some of the most common theories include:
Submission and Appeasement
One of the most common reasons dogs cover their faces is to show submission or appeasement. Dogs will often cover their faces when being scolded or reprimanded. Face covering is a pacifying behavior, similar to cowering, lip licking, and tail tucking.
The dog is communicating “I’m sorry” or “please don’t be mad.” Covering the face helps avoid direct eye contact and blocks the dog’s vision, which can feel threatening. It demonstrates the dog is not a threat and wants to avoid conflict. This submission gesture may calm down an angry or dominant owner.
Discomfort
Dogs also frequently cover their faces when feeling overwhelmed or uncomfortable with physical touch or eye contact. Face covering may signal the dog is feeling stressed by certain types of petting, grooming, handling, or affection.
For example, some dogs cover their faces when having their bellies rubbed or when being hugged too tightly. Others may cover up when their paws or faces are being touched if they have anxiety or dislike having these areas handled. It can indicate the dog wants petting or handling to stop or take place more gently.
Overstimulation
Pawing at the face can also be a calming signal to deal with overstimulation. When dogs get extremely excited, anxious, frustrated, or aroused, they may cover their faces as a self-soothing behavior. Blocking out visual input and tactile sensation can help lower arousal.
For instance, dogs may cover their faces during intense greetings, physical play, or when overwhelmed in a new environment. It can help them moderate their emotions and regain focus and composure. This is linked to the calming effects of tactile stimulation.
Mimicking Human Behavior
Some dogs cover their faces after observing the behavior in humans or other dogs. Dogs are excellent at picking up on human body language and gestures. If they see their owners covering their face when embarrassed, dogs may cover their own faces showing appeasement.
Mimicking the playful covering of human or canine playmates is another potential reason. Dogs naturally copy behaviors they observe in social contexts.
Excitement or Playfulness
Less commonly, face covering is simply an expression of excitement, playfulness, and joy. Some dogs paw at their faces with a play bow, invite to play, or big doggy grin. It may signal the dog’s eagerness to play and interact with their owner in a lighthearted moment. Face covering is more likely playful when the dog also shows other signs of happy engagement like a wagging tail.
Investigation
Dogs also sometimes cover their faces with their paws to investigate something interesting. The pawing movement may waft scents on the paw pads closer to the nose for inspection. Dogs have a phenomenal sense of smell and enjoy novel scents.
Eye Protection
In some cases, dogs may cover their eyes partly as a protective measure. If they are anxious about an approaching stimulus, blocking vision can help avoid perceived threats or interaction. Covering the eyes also protects them in moments like playing roughly, getting a face full of dirt, or being toweled after a bath.
Allergies
Dogs with skin allergies or other medical conditions affecting the face will sometimes try to itch, rub, or scratch at their eyes and muzzles with their paws. This may resemble face covering behavior. Consulting a vet can help determine if an allergy, infection, or condition is causing facial irritation.
Breed Tendencies
Some breeds are more prone to pawing at their faces than others. For example, short-faced (brachycephalic) breeds like pugs, French bulldogs, and boxers may do it to relieve eye irritation or improve breathing. Active, working, or herding breeds like German shepherds and border collies may cover in play or overexcitement. Shy, anxious, or submissive breeds are most likely to cover their faces for appeasement and calming.
When to Be Concerned About Face Covering
Most of the time, face covering behavior in dogs is completely normal and no cause for alarm. However, increased frequency, intensity, or situations where face pawing occurs can sometimes indicate issues like:
– Anxiety, fear, or lack of confidence
– Stress, frustration, or struggling to cope
– Overarousal and hyperactivity
– Dislike of handling, grooming, or physical touch
– Eye, skin, nose, or allergy problems
– Compulsive disorder or neurological issue
If face pawing seems frequent, intense, distressing, or problematic, discuss it with your veterinarian. They can check for underlying physical or mental health conditions requiring treatment. You may need to adjust handling methods, grooming practices, play style, or petting approach to make your dog more comfortable.
How to Reduce Excessive or Problematic Face Covering
If your dog’s face covering behavior seems excessive or disruptive, here are some tips:
Analyze Triggers
Observe closely to pinpoint specific triggers that cause your dog to cover their face. Make notes on elements like timing, people involved, location, sounds, and actions preceding the behavior. This can help identify sources of stress, discomfort, or overexcitement.
Avoid Triggers
Reduce or eliminate triggers provoking the face pawing response if possible. For example, limit petting to the chest or back instead of the face. Go slower with handling methods or use treats as a distraction. Prevent excessive play that leads to overarousal.
Positive Reinforcement Training
Use treats, praise, play, and anything your dog enjoys to reward calm, relaxed behavior. When your dog stops face covering on their own, immediately give a reward. This reinforces the desired behavior of keeping their paws down and head up.
Increase Exercise, Enrichment, and Training
Ensure your dog gets adequate physical and mental exercise. Bored, under-stimulated dogs are more prone to developing repetitive, coping behaviors like face pawing. Fun training activities like tricks, nose work, and agility can help tire them out.
Try Calming Aids
For anxious dogs, natural calming supplements, pheromone collars, or prescribed medication may reduce face pawing urges. Talk to your vet about appropriate calming products.
Consult Professional Trainers or Behaviorists
For ongoing issues, certified trainers or veterinary behaviorists can assess your dog’s triggers and offer customized treatment plans to reduce problematic face pawing long-term. This may include desensitization and counterconditioning.
The Takeaway on Dogs Covering Their Faces
Most often, dogs cover their faces to show appeasement and submission, self-soothe discomfort or stress, or manage excitement and arousal. While usually harmless, excessive face pawing may indicate an underlying problem. Pay attention to contexts triggering the reaction and try management methods like removing stimuli, positive reinforcement, exercise, and calming aids. For severe cases, professional behavior help may be needed. With patience and care, dogs can learn to keep their paws off their face.