Reasons Your Dog Might Bury Their Head in You
They Want to Express Their Love
Some dogs show their love with a wagging tail or jumping, and others show affection by burying their head in the person. The burrowing makes it easier for your pup to smell you, and since their smell is their strongest scent, it helps them bond with you. Since your dog can’t pet you back to show affection, they may simply lay their head on you.
As we mentioned, dogs are great at picking up and remembering different scents. If a dog has a strong bond with a human, their scent will make the pup feel more at ease. Sometimes, your dog will bury their head in you to be close to your comforting scent.
At the same time, your dog may want to be close to you to feel safer. They feel protected when they’re close to you, and they know that they are close enough to keep you safe as well. If you adopt a dog, they may likely exhibit this behavior, especially within the first bit of time they’re in their new home.
Dogs are phenomenal companions because they’re highly sensitive to human emotions. Your pup can likely tell when you’re feeling sad, anxious, or frustrated. If they sense that you’re not entirely happy, they may bury their head in you as a way to offer comfort and support. Think of it like your dog is trying to hug you to make you feel better.
Sometimes, your dog will only bury their head in you when they’re afraid, and they want to feel safe. For example, this is common for dogs who grow fearful during thunderstorms or fireworks shows.
In some cases, the burrowing may occur when your dog is triggered by a noise or action that reminds them of a time they were abused. If your dog was adopted, it’s best to give them the comfort they seek and work to eliminate any triggers if possible. Although it’s terrible to think about what may have happened to your dog in the past, them burying their head in you demonstrates that they see you as a safe place.
Some dogs like to bury their head in you when they think you’re about to leave them. It’s common for dogs to develop separation anxiety when they’re separated from their owners. If the burrowing mostly happens when you’re about to walk out the door, you may want to talk to your vet or local trainer about what you can do to ease your pup’s anxiety.
They Want to Mark Their Territory
Do you know how dogs always seem to know when you’ve interacted with another dog? This goes back to their heightened sense of smell. In some cases, your dog may try to mark their territory by making you smell like them again. Don’t worry—this doesn’t mean that they’ll try to pee on you; they’ll mark you with their nose.
Is It More Common for Big or Small Dogs?
As most people tend to believe that big dogs are more physically affectionate than small dogs, it is more likely that your big dog will want to bury their head in you. But that doesn’t mean that your small pup will only do it if something’s wrong. It has more to do with your dog’s personality than anything else.
Does a Certain Breed Do It More Than Others?
Yes. Certain breeds are more likely to show their affection by burying their head in their humans, while others prefer to express their love in other ways. Breeds that are more likely to burrow into their owners include Great Danes, Dobermans, and King Charles Spaniels. On the other hand, Alaskan Malamutes, Shiba Inus, and Chow Chows are less likely to show love through physical contact. Some researchers also suspect that shorter-haired dogs are more likely to want to cuddle up to their owners for comfort.
Why Does My Dog Bury His Head in Me?
A dog’s language is different from humans. While it may seem really cute when your dog buries its head in you while you cuddle it, there may be some other reasons. You might wonder why does my dog bury head on the couch? Or why do dog bury their face in general?
The common reasons for your dog to bury his head in you are to either show their love for their masters or sometimes when they’re anxious, they bury their head. Your pet dog can do so get some much-needed attention from you or even feel secure in your loved hands. So, there are various meanings when you think why does my dog bury his head in me.
But as a dog parent you need to understand their feelings deeply and then only you will be able to find the right solution. Understanding their way of communication is a huge part of keeping your dog happy and healthy.
No more wondering because now you will get to know what does it mean when a dog buries his head into you.
Making You Aware of Danger
There are some puppies who bite when excited and this excitement can be from potential danger or if they smell something suspicious. When your dog sees that you’re not reacting to their barking, your dog will rub his head on you or bury his head into you.
This is their way of alerting you. So whenever they hear an unexpected sound or smell something fishy, or see someone unknown coming towards you, you can expect to see this behavior.
These are some of the most general reasons if you don’t know why does your dog bury his head in you.
14 Signs Your Dog Doesn’t Love You (Even if You Think They Do)
Whether you’ve owned one dog or ten, then you know that, like people, dogs have as many personalities as there are breeds, shapes, and sizes of dog. They can be clowns, they can be serious, or deeply devoted protectors.
One of the ways dog personalities manifest is through certain behaviors. To humans, some of those, like burying their furry head in your armpit, can seem bizarre.
We’ve had the pleasure of living with several dogs over the years, and more than once have found ourselves asking, what does it mean when the dog buries their head into me?
So, we started researching the problem. And it turns out that if your dog buries their head in you, the reasons for it can be as different as one dog is from another.
When it comes to answering the question “why does my dog bury their head in me,” this is an unlikely answer. Dogs have powerful noses, and they love a good smell. They especially love your smell. That’s because, as pack leader, you represent safety and protection.
A dog that buries its head in you is trying to immerse themselves as completely as possible in your smell. And it happens, one of the best places to pick up your smell is in the crook of your arm.
This is ideal for dogs because smell is how they announce themselves to the world. It contributes to their herd identity. By burying their head in your arm, they’re integrating your smell with theirs, effectively telling outsiders that they are your dog and no one else’s.