Many dog owners have experienced their pooch plopping down beside them and resting his head on their leg or lap. This behavior is endearing, but have you ever wondered why dogs do it? There are actually several possible reasons why your dog may enjoy resting his head on you.
It’s a Display of Affection
One of the most common reasons dogs rest their heads on their owners is simply as a display of affection. Your dog loves you and feels safe, comfortable, and content when they are close to you. Placing their head on you is a sign of complete trust and bonding. It’s your dog’s way of saying “I love you!”.
Dogs are pack animals, meaning they thrive when they are able to maintain closeness and physical contact with members of their family. Being close enough to touch you with his head allows your dog to feel connected to you. Dogs also enjoy being petted and stroked, so resting the head on you puts them in prime position for receiving affection. Satisfying this need for affection and closeness is a key driver of this behavior.
They Are Looking for Attention
Many dogs will plop their head down on their owners in order to solicit attention or affection. Your dog may see resting their head on you as a proven technique to get you to pet them and lavish them with love. It puts their face right in your lap and within your sight, giving you a clear non-verbal signal that they want attention.
This technique works well, because let’s face it – it’s nearly impossible to refuse petting an adorable dog face resting so close to you. Even if you are busy, having your dog nuzzle up for affection makes it hard not to pause to scratch those ears or provide a belly rub. Your dog knows this and has learned that a head on your lap is an effective tool for extracting pets and cuddles.
To Mark Their Territory
Dogs have scent glands in their face, and resting the head on you deposits their distinctive scent onto your body and clothes. This scent marking satisfies a dog’s instincts to claim their territory and resources. Essentially your dog is saying “You belong to me!” when they rub their head on you.
Marking you as their own resource in this manner provides security. Your dog feels you belong to them when they can smell themselves on you. A human family is a dog’s pack, so scent marking is a way to confirm the pack bond.
Your Scent is Calming
Related to scent marking, many dogs find the unique scent of their owner and family members to be very comforting. The familiar smell of their person makes dogs feel relaxed and safe. Resting their head on you allows them to indulge in your home ‘pack’ scent, making them feel at ease.
To Keep Warm
Dogs are sensitive to cold due to their furry coats and lack of fat deposits over key body areas. Curling up with a warm human body nearby helps them conserve heat. If your dog rests their head on your lap or leans against your legs, it may be because they find sharing your body warmth an effective way to keep cozy. This behavior will be most pronounced during cold months or in dogs with thin coats.
On the Lookout for Threats
One theory holds that dogs will rest their heads on someone as a way to place their neck and head on the chest of a ‘dominant’ pack member. This allows the dog to rise quickly at the first sign of danger and places them in a surveillance position to watch out for threats. An alert dog can detect danger sooner when their head is up vs. lying flat on the floor. They are using you as a convenient lookout post.
Exhaustion or Illness
Sometimes a dog will slump their head onto a person simply because they are very tired or not feeling well. Just like people find it comforting to lay their head in someone’s lap when ill, dogs also seek close contact for reassurance when under the weather. Senior dogs with arthritis or other painful conditions may also lean against their person to take weight off sore joints. Don’t assume head-resting always means your dog is feeling affectionate – it can also be an indicator of pain or sickness. Pay attention to any other signs of distress.
Enjoys Your Scent
Dogs have an excellent sense of smell and become familiar with the distinctive scent of the humans in their home. Many dogs find this home pack smell to be comforting. When your dog rests their head on or near you they have easy access to indulge in your familiar scent, which brings them contentment and security. Smelling you puts your dog instantly at ease.
To Get a Better View
Some dogs will place their chins on your foot or leg to raise their field of view and see more of what is going on around them. From this vantage point on you they can sniff the area better and observe activity in the home. A dog with their head rested in your lap can keep a close eye on food prep in the kitchen, the door for new arrivals, and any other intriguing activity.
On the Hunt for Food
Certainly, some dogs rest their heads on people in hopes of scrounging up a tasty snack. By sitting close with their head on you, they have a front row seat for observing any food preparation or consumption. They are waiting to see if you drop a scrap of food they can gobble up. This is a common behavior especially right before meal times or when you are cooking or eating.
Uses You as a Headrest
Some dogs simply find leaning against a human to be a comfortable headrest, in the same way that people enjoy resting their head on a pillow. Your thigh provides the perfect cushioning for an afternoon nap. And your feet are a convenient prop for holding their head up when lying down. By using you as a headrest your dog can relax completely and fully snooze without needing to hold their head up.
Enjoys Being Close to Your Face
Direct access to your face is a perk your dog enjoys when resting his head on you. He can make direct eye contact, giving him that soulful look that dogs so excel at. Close face access lets him give you slobbery kisses galore as well. Being near your face also allows you to easily praise your dog and talk to him in calming tones. Ultimately, your dog just loves being as close as possible to one of his favorite people.
To Stay Grounded During Anxiety
For anxious or fearful dogs, pressing their head firmly against something provides a calming sensation much like swaddling an infant. This is due to gentle pressure against the cranium and face. Leaning a head against you applies this soothing pressure that dogs find very grounding when stressed or scared. It can tamp down on fearful behaviors and nerves.
When to Discourage This Behavior
While we love that our dogs want to be close to us, sometimes it may be best to limit their head resting habit. Circumstances where you should discourage this behavior include:
- When driving – your dog’s head on your lap can dangerously obstruct your view and ability to control the vehicle.
- If your dog lunges or shows possessive body language when someone approaches while their head is on you.
- When you need to accomplish a task unencumbered – gently guide your dog’s head off of you.
- At the vet during exams – your dog may become protective if touched while resting on you.
- Around new babies or young children – your dog could knock a child over.
With training and patience, you can teach your dog when it is and is not appropriate to plop their head onto you. Just be sure to provide them an alternative like a dog bed placed right beside you during restricted times.
Conclusion
There are a variety of motivations behind doggie head rests, but in most cases it is a sign of a strong bond between you and your pup. It shows your dog trusts you, finds you comforting, wants to be close, and sees you as their family and security. This wonderful behavior is something to appreciate and enjoy – just be sure to discourage it when needed so it does not become problematic. With some reasonable limits, you can continue reaping all the rewards of a dog who wants to lovingly use you as their personal headrest and pillow.