Are They Guarding The Pack?
It’s a dog fact that just as our pups look to us for protection, they will often feel inclined to protect you. You are a very important member of their pack, and they will try their best to offer you their protection whenever they can. Our beloved companions are so devoted to us, that by sitting at our feet, they are putting themselves between you and any danger.
Most of the time, there is no real danger present, but that won’t stop our doggos from giving us their all. While it’s endearing that our dogs are willing to risk it all for us, it can become a problem if it’s associated with any aggression.
If your dog is “guarding their pack” to the extreme, then you may need to look into a trainer to help work with your dog to prevent them from getting into any unnecessary trouble. Our dogs can love us to the point of getting themselves into some risky situations!
So why do dogs do it?
Obviously, the domestic doggo has come a long way from their wolf ancestors. Today’s dogs don’t have to worry about protecting the leader of the pack from freezing temperatures. So, why do they continue to place those cute little snouts on your lap?
Through their long process of domestication and evolution alongside humans, our furry friends have held onto some of those survival tactics. In fact, as we laid out in our article on Man’s Best Friend: The History of Humans and Dogs, humans did a pretty good job of keeping the wolf traits that we wanted and breeding out the ones we didn’t.
You can see why the wolves who did the feet-warming for the Alpha wolf were welcomed into human households more readily than the Alpha wolves themselves. And the trait carries on today.
To answer the question, “Why does my dog rest their head on me?” we’ve got to get wild
Imagine you could be a fly on the wall in a wolf den. It’s cold outside. The pack spent a long day protecting the territory and looking for food. Now, they’re back and ready to curl up for the night. You would think that these doggie ancestors would create a big cuddle nets with tails and legs and snouts all tangled up and cozy. But there’s actually a hierarchy.
The wolves with higher ranking in the pack hierarchy get the best cuddle spots. The other wolves around them make sure that they are warm and comfortable. Experts believe that this might be a way to ensure that the wolves most crucial to pack survival are well protected from freezing temperatures. Those top dogs survive, and the whole pack thrives.
But it’s not just about survival. Wolves will cuddle up as a way to show affection and strengthen the bonds between them. You’ll often see wolves place their head gently on the neck of another wolf. This has nothing to do with dominance. Instead, it’s an affectionate way to say, “You’re safe and we’re in this together.”
It’ll make your heart melt, really. And it helps us to better understand our domestic dogs.
Why does my dog sleep at my feet? 6 Reasons Why Dogs Sleep at your Feet Explained
If you have one of those adorable puppers that lays their snout on your arm, knee, or feet, you’ve probably asked yourself, “Why does my dog rest their head on me?” Is it out of a selfish desire for ear scratches? Would they like you to feed them their favourite dog food? Is this their way of telling you they don’t actually like that expensive doggie bed you bought them?
Luckily, the more probable answer is much more wholesome. They just love you! Your doggo likely isn’t going around resting their head on the feet of their Pet Sitter, and they definitely wouldn’t do it to a stranger.
So, in this article, we’re going to translate this doggie behaviour into English so that you can finally have answers to the question, “Why does my dog rest their head on me?” By the end, you’ll probably cherish this quirky little habit.