Why Do Dogs Press Their Head On You?
Different dogs greet differently. A dog may do a hip nudge, in other words, showing his bum to his owner as a form of greeting. Another may just simply lick. When your dog presses his head on you, it could very well be his way of greeting you. Your canine companion is stopping by to say, “Hello Hooman!” or “I miss ya! Glad your home!”.
A dog’s face contains scent glands, and when he presses his adorable face on you, it leaves behind his scent, which means he’s probably marking his territory. Your pooch is effectively telling other dogs that you’re his human. Although this marking behavior does mean he loves you, it can also be signs of asserting dominance, which is another reason listed below. Though it may not seem like a big deal, if your pooch is in fact trying to be the alpha, he may develop territorial and aggressive behaviors in the long run if not corrected. So it should not be encouraged or reinforced.
On the other hand, dogs are capable of reading human emotions. If he senses you’re sad or depressed, he’ll nudge his head on you to offer support. It is his way of comforting you and telling you that he is there for you. Maybe, he did something he’s not supposed to, and is trying to ask for forgiveness. Regardless, you should definitely take up his act of kindness as it will only solidify the strong bond the two of you already share.
Perhaps Fido needs you for something so he decides to press his head on you to alert you to his request. Maybe it’s time for a walk, time to potty, or to tell you that he’s hungry. It’s just one of his clever, yet charming ways to get you to fulfill his doggie desires.
It could be as simple as having an itchy face. All he wants to do is to relieve that irritating itch he has on his face. Since you’re his special human, he’s either asking you to help him with the scratchin or using you to soothe the itch.
Pawing, jumping, licking, sitting, and pressing on you are all forms of attention-seeking strategies your furry friend uses to hopefully get you to interact with him. Dogs are highly social animals so naturally they need and want attention.
0 You are rewarding the behavior
You may not know, but you might actually be the one that is encouraging this behavior. If your pooch presses his head on you, do you ever stroke or give him a nice rub? Offer him treats? If so, your smart dog knows the reaction he’ll get out of the behavior and will continue to do so knowing all the attention he’ll get as a result.
What Does It Mean When A Dog Pushes Into You
When your dog pushes into you, this is just their way of saying that they want something from you.
Because dogs can’t talk, they have to use social cues to tell what they want. This is a simple way for them to let us know they want something. Depending on your dog, you will be able to pick up on exactly what it is after a little trial and error.
Some form of attention is the general reason for your dog’s nudge. Whether it is for getting affection or playtime, your dog is merely trying to tell you something, and this is not a problematic behavior in the least. So take advantage when you get a nudge, scratch their head or belly and show them you are there for them!
14 Signs Your Dog Doesn’t Love You (Even if You Think They Do)
It can be a weird feeling when you walk in the door after being away, and your dog starts to push his or her head into you. My dog has done this on multiple occasions, and at first, I was a little worried about the behavior. After noticing a trend, you probably start wondering; why does my dog push his head into me?
Dogs push their head into you to get your attention. Dogs push into you to communicate other needs such as food, water, or needing to go to the bathroom. Fear and anxiety are also reasons dogs may push their head into you.
Once you understand why your dog does something, you will be better able to understand their needs. Some dogs are very affectionate, and others don’t need that type of attention. Read on, and we will discuss the various things dogs do with their heads – sometimes for attention and affection, and other times it’s to comfort you.