Reasons why your dog won’t sit on your lap
Below are a number of possible reasons why your dog has been doing it and what would make each of them more likely.
The cause could be that it finds sitting on your lap uncomfortable and that there is another spot that it prefers to sit in. This would be more likely if your dog does sit with you when you sit in a certain spot but less likely if it sits far away from you even when you are in a different spot.
It could be the case that it thinks that you do not want it to sit on your lap. This would be more likely if you previously got mad at it when it did sit near you or if you have been giving it rewards when it sits far away from you. Instead, it would help to be calm with it and to reward it when it shows signs of sitting with you.
The reason why it has been doing it could be that it feels threatened. This would be more likely if it tends to do it more when you are angry, if it shows signs of being fearful such as making itself appear smaller and if it doesn’t sit with you regardless of what room you’re in. It would help to be calm with your dog and to train it to behave a certain way with the use of positive reinforcement training.
It could be the case that it does it because it is actually being protective. This would be more likely if it tends to sit in a spot that allows it to see the front door and if it tends to be overly protective at home.
The reason why it does it might be that it wants to avoid being bothered. This would be more likely if it does not always sit far away and if it does it more when it wants to sleep. In this case, it would help to make sure that it is able to sleep easily at night since it could be the case that it is trying to get extra sleep during the day due to issues sleeping at night.
Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main cause.
If your dog did used to sit on your lap, it would help to consider what else happened when it stopped doing it. If it stopped doing it suddenly, it might be due to things such as you getting mad at it or finding another spot that it likes.
If it does sit on your lap sometimes, it would also help to consider what is different when it does sit on your lap. For example, if it does do it when it has gotten exercise, it might be the case that it does not do it when it has not gotten exercise because it is full of energy still.
Reasons Why Your Dog Won’t Sit on Your Lap
Temperature can be a huge issue for dogs, in fact, their bodies regulate temperature very well, meaning their own sense of temperature must also be acute. This means subtle changes are very noticeable to a dog and if its not what they are looking for then they will act accordingly.
Think of it this way, if your dog wants to rest then they are going to want an area where they will not have to change too much. If your dog finds your lap too hot or too cold, they will probably decide against it. The most common reason for a dog’s restless behavior is the temperature of your lap being too warm. Looking at my dog, for example, he will often search for the coolest place in the house during the summer months. This means he spends little time with us in the lounge, given the higher temperature of the room caused by our own body heat and electronic devices such as televisions.
For some extra information I have included an article by the AKC on “the best temperature for dogs in the winter”, this can give you a good idea of what temperature your dog enjoys.
If you have ever seen dogs trotting around in circles before they sit down, then you will probably be wondering why. This behavior is your dog finding the perfect spot that offers stability and comfort in one place, wolves also do this often amongst areas of foliage.
If you have a particularly large dog, then you will struggle to get them to sit on your lap. The obvious reason for this is that our laps are not big enough or even stable in any way. Our legs tend to create a bumpy surface and when we sit on comfy sofas our legs are hardly at a 90-degree angle. Smaller dogs won’t have as much trouble with this as they won’t slip off as easily, remember that if your dog senses even the slightest bit of instability then they will end up leaving you for the comfier more stable floor.
What you wear can have a bigger effect on your dogs’ comfort than you think. Clothing such as jeans can often have metal buttons or harder wearing sections like a belt loop. These areas can dig into a dog’s body causing discomfort. Remember, your dog won’t have a second thought about moving if they find you are providing an uncomfortable place to relax.
Do dogs know that you love them?
Does my dog know how much I love him? Yes, your dog knows how much you love him! … When you stare at your dog, both your oxytocin levels go up, the same as when you pet them and play with them. It makes you both feel good and reinforces your bonding.