What does it mean when a dog holds one paw up? What to Know

Here are a few examples of situations where a dog may offer a paw lift:

This was an observation of a dog that had not been socialized much with people. She was not comfortable approaching and was quite fearful. She would create space; her body was low and hunched over, her tail curled under, and her mouth was closed. Tension was seen in her face muscles and her eyes were quite wide. Her head was turned away and her ears were scanning and listening for sound, alternating between being back and then to the side. Along with the body language, she lifted her paw a few times while standing in this tense pose. The paw lift, along with all the other body language, paints a picture of a dog that is fearful and feeling very uncertain in this situation.

One dog is approached by another dog. The approaching dog walks into the other dog’s space, standing quite close, with a stiff square body, head held high and ears slightly forward; his whole body seems stiff when moving, and he gives a bit of direct eye contact. This approach is a bit too direct and it seems to unsettle the other dog; it is difficult to walk away as she tries to keep her eye on the dog that has approached and taken space so quickly. She does a slight head turn and a paw lift. She is showing she is uncomfortable with this interaction.

A person is asking a dog to sit. This is taking a while and the dog does not seem to be responding. The person tries to lure the dog into a sitting position, moving his hand closer to the dog’s head. The dog takes a step back and does a paw lift. The dog may feel a bit of pressure and be uncomfortable with the person’s hand moving into her space along with this unknown request to sit.

A dog is sitting and observing his guardian, who might be preparing something. As the dog watches with wide eyes and ears forward, he does a paw lift. This dog may be anticipating something and showing a bit of discourse in trying to figure something out.

There is a loud, sudden noise. The dog freezes, his eyes widen, his ears go up and are alert, and he does a paw lift. The sudden noise was unsettling; he shows his discomfort by doing a paw lift whilst he tries to figure out what the sound was.

These are just a few examples; there may be many more. Start observing to see if you can notice any paw lifts in different contexts. As discussed below, interpretations such as the above examples should not be attempted without careful observation and consideration of all aspects of the situation.

When I mention stress, this does not necessarily imply negative emotion. I mean stress in the physiological sense. So certain body language signals can mean the dog is feeling some sort of emotional discourse. This discourse could range from positive to negative emotion. Both excitement and fear could have similar effects on the body, with various hormones being released and activating the sympathetic nervous system. The dog may be feeling uncomfortable/fearful or it could also be excited about something. When analyzing stress in body language, it is worth noting the frequency and intensity of the various body language signals.

The anxious dog paw lift

It’s the paw lifts by non-hunting dogs that can be a sign of anxiety, stress, and/or fear. I translate this body language in my Dog Decoder smartphone app using illustrations by Lili Chin of Doggie Drawings. There are 60 different poses and scenarios. Each pose features three parts; The Pose, The Info and The Details about the pose and the app’s star, Diamond:

The Pose

The Info

The Details

In the above illustration, a dog is showing fear in multiple ways, including a paw lift. Dogs will often lift a paw when anxious, so it’s important to look at all of the body — including ears, tail, eyes, and paw — when reading your pup. It’s also important to speed read. Dogs talk a mile a minute with their body, changing signals in an instant. Don’t be discouraged if you miss subtle signs at first — the more you pay attention, the better you will be at understanding your dog.

In fact, I have a mantra all of my clients use whenever they are with their dogs. In training, just hanging out, playing fetch, riding in the car… they ask themselves, “What does my dog need now?” This helps them become more aware of what their pup is saying. Try it yourself!

They are curious about other smells

While dogs may raise their front legs when they pick up on the trail of prey, there are other smells which will stimulate them. A dogs olfactory sense is very acute, much more than we humans. A dog might be seen raising a paw because they smell something which piques their instincts. They might smell a piece of distant pizza or even pick up on the urine smell of a female dog in heat. If the latter is the case, you may even see them get down to the ground and lick it to find out more information. Also, predators or rival dogs might give them pause. They may lift their leg to be in a state of preparedness.

Sometimes, we might see a dog raising a paw as a means to invite us to play. This is usually a precursor to another common posture dogs adapt to initiate play. This is when they place both their front paws on the ground, lower their head down and raise their tail. If your dog adopts this position, then it is almost certain they are inviting you to play with them. It is not limited to humans, but they will do it with other dogs and other animals.

If a dog is not so sure they want to play, but they are considering it as an option they may only raise one front leg and tilt their head. This is a way for the dog to express their curiosity about you. It is even possible that their favorite toy is nearby and they are wanting you to pick it up and play with it. If you are holding it in your hand, they may lift their leg and place their paw on you to tell you they want it.

When two dogs are related or they are in the same family (whether adopted or not), they will establish an order. it is a complicated system, but they will try to establish dominance with each other. Often they will play games to establish this chain of command. When dominance is asserted, the submissive dog might lie on their back and raise a front paw. This will be a sign that the game is over, but may also try to convey they are uncomfortable or even frightened. While this is normal behavior, if the other dog does not respond accordingly, it could be a sign of aggression which they need to be educated away from.

Another situation where we may see a dog lift their front leg is when they are being punished. it is important to note that this is not a position of submission as happens with another dog. Dominance in this way is only intraspecies specific, meaning it only happens within the same species.

When a human is punishing them, they may be raising a paw because they are frightened. They may cower in a corner and shake. Similarly, they may roll over on their back, put their tail between their legs or even remain immobile. These are clear signs the dog is afraid and we should step back. However, we should not get to the point where this happens in the first place. Instead, we should use positive reinforcement to improve our dogs behavior.

When a dog paws at you, it is because they want your attention. They may raise their leg and place a paw on your knee. This will be accompanied by looking directly at you to try to get you to interact with them. This gesture is commonly associated with a desire to be petted and receive some love. They may even rub their muzzle and nose into you for the same reason or give small bites to your hand. These will not be aggressive. The intensity with which they paw at you will signify how intense they want some attention.

It is very common that you will be petting a dog and as soon as you lift your hand away, they place their front leg on you to get you to keep going. They generally learn to do this behavior over time as your relationship develops. We reinforce it by providing more caresses.

If you have taught your dog to lift their front leg, then they will likely carry out this action on a regular basis. They may do it on command if you have properly trained them. However, since the method of training should involve giving them a treat to encourage the behavior, many dogs will do it even when they are not asked. This is because they simply want a treat or some love. It is important in training your dog to only reward when appropriate.

If your dog has an injury o their front leg such as a thorn in their paw, muscle or ligament damage or a broken bone, they will lift their leg to protect it. This keeps them from setting it on the ground which can be very painful. They may have other symptoms such as whining or bleeding. If this is the case, get them off their feet and take them to the vet immediately.

If you want to read similar articles to What Does It Mean When a Dog Lifts a Front Paw?, we recommend you visit our Basic education category. References

Pointer Inglés – Ficha de raza – Purina Latam, Disponible en: https://www.purina-latam.com/razas/pointer_ingles.html

Why Do Dogs Lift Their FRONT PAW?

You’re out for a walk with your dog or perhaps just playing in the yard. Suddenly, the dog stops cold. Freezing in place, their nose straightens, their tail lifts out, and they stare intently in one direction. Almost robotically, one front foot lifts slightly off the ground and bends up in a point.

In fact, pointing is a longtime instinct. Hunting dogs purposely-bred for generations used the tactic to help owners hunt game and put food on the table.

Although you may not need your dog to find meals, he might strike a pose with a paw folded and suspended in air if he senses something moving.

“If he’s a Pointer, he’s picking up a scent and raising one foot to point in the direction he smells prey,” says Diane Townsend, president of the American Pointer Club. “There’s nothing more natural in this breed than to point.”

When dogs position themselves like this, they’re alerting the owner that a bird or small game is close. By sniffing the air, the dog detects the animal’s scent drifting on wind currents.

Other AKC pointing breeds specifically bred and trained for hunting for generations in Europe or Great Britain will hold the same point position. These include, among others:

Pointing breeds aren’t the only dogs who stop in their tracks and lift a paw when they see a bird, squirrel, or rabbit. Other breeds or mixed-breeds who are driven by a need to spot moving objects often show a variation on the traditional point.

Some dogs freeze in place without lifting his paw, nose, or tail. Others might lock their eyes on a small animal before chasing, capturing, or breaking the prey’s neck to kill it.

Where does this courageous and high-spirited trait come from? A possible reason is that some ancestor in the dog’s heritage was a pointing breed.

“Dogs are known for stopping, pouncing, and eating their prey, but what’s different about a specific hunting breed is its ability to work as a partner with their owner,” says Sharon Fitzpatrick, president of the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America. “Pointing breeds can search for upland game birds or small prey away from their handler, yet follow instructions when the handler arrives.”

Usually independent thinkers able to find the solution to a problem, pointing breeds work in all types of terrain and weather. According to Townshend, they can be capable of pointing at just 2 months old without ever having to be taught.

“She began pointing when she was nearly a year old,” Brelie-Garel says. “Today she’ll stare at lizards, bunnies, and birds. Piper isn’t picky.”

“When she’s inside the house, Poppy stands at the sliding glass door and looks in the yard,” says the St. Paul, Minnesota, resident. “If she sees a squirrel, she tears through the doggy door and runs full-speed after it.”

For owners who want to pursue an AKC Master Hunter or Field Trial title with their dogs, some training is required. Many dogs can earn a Junior Hunter title without much training, but advanced skills for hunt tests usually need some sharpening.

Every dog has its own pointing position characteristics. However, handlers must learn how to read a dog’s body language to understand what the dog is communicating.

“If the tail is moving, this might mean the bird is moving,” says Fitzpatrick. “Or, the exact position of the head, whether up or slightly down, can indicate how far the bird might be. Pointing breeds also know the difference between a songbird or a game bird, which helps if the hunter is looking for food.”

Need some help training your dog? While you may not be able to attend in-person training classes during COVID-19, we are here to help you virtually through AKC GoodDog! Helpline. This live telephone service connects you with a professional trainer who will offer unlimited, individualized advice on everything from behavioral issues to CGC prep to getting started in dog sports. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php Get Your Free AKC eBook