Why does my dog lay on me? In our experience, there are two main reasons your dog may choose to lay on you.
Like people, dogs have a wide variety of temperaments and personalities. It’s not possible to give a definite answer as to why your dog likes to lay on you because we don’t know your dog. But we can give you some possible reasons why your dog likes to be close. Combined with what you know about your dog, you can probably identify which reason is the most likely answer.
Why does my dog like to lay on me?
There could be several reasons why your dog likes to lay on you:
- Affection: Dogs are social animals, so they often seek physical contact as a way to show affection. Your dog may lay on you simply because he loves you and wants to bond with you!
- Security: Dogs may seek physical contact as a source of security. Laying on you may make them feel protected and secure. Dogs are instinctively pack animals, and being close to their owner can give them a sense of safety and belonging.
- Temperature regulation: Dogs regulate their body temperature through their fur, and by laying on you, they can absorb your body heat to stay warm and comfortable.
- Protectiveness: When I was growing up, we had a Lhasa Apso named Suki who was very much my mom’s dog. Lhasas are known for being protectors, and I think Suki stayed close to my mom because she felt like she was protecting my mom. My mom was never in danger, of course, but Suki was expressing her protective nature by staying close to my mom.
- Attention-seeking: Sometimes dogs lay on their owners as a way to get attention or to ask for something they want, like food or a walk. My mom and dad have Bijan mix who likes to lay on them in the morning when they wake up because it’s time to play games!
Overall, it’s important to observe your dog’s body language and behavior to determine why they are laying on you.
If your dog seems happy and relaxed, it’s likely they’ just want to be close to you’re just being affectionate.
However, if your dog seems anxious or uncomfortable, then it’s important to identity and address any underlying issues that may be causing their behavior.