“I recently took in a two-year-old female stray American Pit Bull Terrier mix that was not mine. She had puppies lately, but not with me. She warmed up to me right away.
My issue is that, although I adore a dog that constantly wants to be close to you, she finds it difficult to just lie next to me when I’m lying down. Instead, she must stand on, sleep on, or step on me.
She should jump on me if I’m standing, but instead, she simply stands there with her paws on me. It’s not like she’s just hopping up and down.
No matter how many times I urge her to stop coming back push her off of me or place her paws on the ground, she simply keeps coming back.
She needs to be on top of me in some form, so I can’t sit up, stand, or lie down. How do I convince her to quit doing this?
She is shy around people and other dogs, but she seems fine with them overall. I have only heard her bark once, while I was outdoors by myself for five minutes getting groceries in.
In ten minutes, she poop’d and pissed in the home, but again, I’m trying to better oversee her and limit her freedom. I’m also having problems with her going to the toilet everywhere, but I’ve limited her access to certain areas and am trying to keep a closer check on her.”—Jared
Certain Dogs Are Huge Infants!
When Dogs Consider You to Be the Coziest Pillow in the City
Firstly, Jared, congratulations on your new dog!
We appreciate you getting in touch with us about your recently adopted dog, who genuinely wants to be close to you at all times and sleep on, step on, and stand on you.
It sounds like she has already developed a close bond with you based on your description. This is particularly true because she only behaves in this way toward you, acting shy around other dogs or humans.
Although these actions may indicate a strong attachment, we also need to take into account the possibility that your dog’s continual demand to be on top of you or have her paws on you is a symptom of unresolved difficulties.
For dogs that enjoy sleeping on people or staying close to them all the time, let’s examine some possible underlying causes in more detail and, most importantly, discuss how to set up good boundaries.
My dog insists on lying on top of me, but why?
You may be asking why you have been reduced from a human being to a living breathing pillow, and more importantly, how to reclaim your personal space without being trodden upon and used as your dog’s mattress all the time. The following list of potential causes for “Velcro dog” habits includes a few.
1. A Look Back at Reinforcement
Dog behaviors often repeat and become stronger as a result of reinforcement. Reinforcement is simply any result of the behavior that the dog finds agreeable or desired.
Given that your dog was just saved, it’s likely that the prior owner encouraged the behavior, solidifying it into a deeply entrenched habit.
For instance, it’s possible that the prior owner engaged in positive interactions with the dog, such as petting or talking to it, only when the dog showed loving behaviors.
2. Monitoring You
In the end, dogs who like to sleep near your feet lay on you, or tread on you might be attempting to “keep tabs on you.”
Put another way, since these canines are the first to notice any movement you make, it’s a canine surveillance tactic.
Dogs who stay close to you will never miss anything since they will always have a paw on the action. It’s an alarm clock in the canine fashion, so your dog won’t be able to find you.
3. An Indicator of Unease
Certain dogs, who crave constant interaction with their owners, could be timid, apprehensive, or nervous dogs. It’s important to pay close attention to the dog’s body language and determine whether a specific stimulus or circumstance is causing this increased urge for closeness.
Some dogs, for instance, may physically start crushing their bodies on their owners in a panic when they hear noises, or they may attempt to burrow behind blankets or clothing.
These canines are physically “grounding themselves” to a reliable human in an attempt to calm themselves down.
4. Bringing Back the Custom of the Puppy Pile
A dog’s habit of sleeping on top of people might have its origins in the early stages of its life when it resided in a pile with its mother and littermates.
Puppies greatly depend on “social thermoregulation” for life because they are unable to control their body temperature on their own when they are very young.
Young puppies eventually rely on their mother and siblings for warmth since they lack insulating fat, which helps prevent significant heat loss from their bodies, and the shivering reflex, which helps them create heat through muscular contractions.
Puppies were forced to rely on each other for warmth because mother dogs had to occasionally leave the maternity den, which caused them to begin sleeping in piles on top of each other as a heat-conservation strategy, according to Michael Fox in the book “‘Understanding Your Dog.”
Unless they are exposed to extreme cold, the puppies begin to sleep more closely together in a row as they mature and learn to control their body temperature on their own.
Although sleeping on top of each other is something that adult dogs normally avoid doing, they occasionally may fall back on these babylike behaviors when they’re cold or just want to be comfortable.
Dogs may resort to these primitive behaviors because it feels nice to be warm and because they may feel reassured by our presence, even though humans are not dogs.
5. Staying Alone
As gregarious animals, dogs may nevertheless naturally seek out the companionship of their owners or other dogs when they feel unsafe or exposed to their surroundings in an effort to “stick together.”
“Unity makes strength” might be the motto for these dogs since when they sleep with other dogs, they feel more secure and comforted.
6. Social Bonding
Ever heard of someone referring to their pets as their children? Studies have indicated that this parallel has some validity. According to a new study, when a dog bonds with its parents, it experiences the same “secure base effect” as children.
If your dog sleeps on top of you, it probably means that it feels a strong attraction to you and thinks of you as a fantastic pet parent who can give it food, shelter, and care.
7. Giving Emotional Assistance
When they detect distress in their owners, some very sensitive dogs will likewise jump to lay down on them.
In order to help their owners cope with anxiety or panic attacks, emotional support dogs can be trained to put pressure on their owners’ chests or other body parts.
Additionally, certain seizure response dogs can be trained to lay close to a person experiencing a seizure in order to reassure or shield them.
8. Distress Related to Separation
Dogs can occasionally exhibit excessively clinging tendencies as a result of developing a maladaptive relationship with their owners and caregivers.
These “Velcro dogs” are genuinely in pain because, even for brief periods of time, their owners’ absence can cause them to experience severe anxiety that is very similar to a panic attack in a person.
According to a new study, the number of dogs experiencing separation anxiety has skyrocketed since the COVID-19 outbreak, and an increasing number of them are adopting attention-seeking behaviors from their owners, such as putting their bodies up against them or following them around.
9. An Intent to Guard/Protect
Some dogs take the act of lying on top of people a bit too far, considering their owners to be priceless items that need to be protected and cared for, much like treasured bones.
Occasionally, this behavior can worsen and develop into a case of possessiveness, in which the dog will growl, lunge, and snarl at anyone who approaches their cherished owners too closely.
These dogs can thus show that they have priority access to their owners by lying on them, making sure that no other dog or person gets too close for comfort.
10. A Mode of Interaction
Dogs use a range of behaviors to express different kinds of unmet needs to their owners. These dogs may be attempting to convey something by pawing, nudging, or resting their body or head on someone’s lap, chest, or shoulder. Possible messages include the fact that their water bowl is empty, that they’re hungry, or that they want to go for a walk or potty outside.
11. Getting Used to a Disease or Sensory Loss
When a dog is sick or has sensory loss (such as losing their hearing or vision), they may become extremely attached to their humans. This makes the dog feel vulnerable and causes them to become very dependent on their owners.
Stop scrolling—time for a cuddle!
Were You Aware?
It has been demonstrated that simply engaging with and touching dogs can cause good physiological reactions in people, such as the production of endorphins, oxytocin, and phenylethylamine as well as a drop in cortisol levels.
Meers and associates, 2024
Is it a Sign of Dominance to Lay on Top of Someone?
Dogs who lean, put their paws on people, or lie on humans are not attempting to establish dominance, despite what you may have heard.
Although there is a fluid hierarchy among canines, humans are not included in this since we are a completely different species.
Because a dog is displaying its vulnerable underbelly when it lays on top, it is often a show of closeness and profound trust rather than a sign that it is being alpha.
Dogs can be pushy in their quest and can occasionally lay on their owners to demand attention, but these behaviors have nothing to do with the antiquated idea of dominance.
Naturally, for your own safety, please seek the advice of a dog behavior specialist if you witness any worrying indications of hostility, such as persistently barking, snarling, or flashing of the teeth.
Dominance is not the only reason your dog may rely on you; there are other reasons as well. One instance of an affiliative behavior is leaning. A dog that crushes her head, torso, or butt against you is probably attempting to show you how much she loves you, attract your attention, or urge you to put down your phone so you can play.
Veterinary Behavior Services, Reisner, LLC
How Do I Get Rid of My Dog Lying Over Me?
The reasons behind a dog’s behavior can influence the several methods used to dissuade them from resting on top. Here are a few broad recommendations.
Avoid Rehearsal
A dog’s behavior develops over time and becomes habit-forming the more opportunities it has to engage in that action. You recently adopted this dog, so now is a good time to set some healthy boundaries and establish some distance if needed.
It is imperative to address this behavior as soon as possible before it solidifies and takes on a history of rehearsal.
Therefore, the only way to break this pattern of behavior is to use environmental management to create the conditions necessary to stop it from happening in the first place.
Control Your Area
To begin with, you might need to take some actions that make practicing the behavior of lying on top of you challenging or nearly impossible. There are several ways to achieve this; here are a few suggestions. With dogs who are determined, you might occasionally need to be very inventive.
- When you are with your dog, avoid adopting certain positions that could encourage them to roll over on top of you. For instance, if your dog lays on top of you when you’re lying down to watch TV, you should refrain from lying down on the couch when your dog is around.
- Stow heavy objects all around you. Your dog will find it difficult to jump up and comfortably stretch out next to you on the couch if you place some upside-down chairs, laundry baskets, or large books there.
- Make use of a laptop. One of my favorite options is this one, which is incredibly beneficial whether you need to use your computer for work, want to watch a movie, or just want to check your emails. Having a laptop on your lap takes up space and leaves little to no room for your dog to curl up on top of you. In the event that your dog eats wires, kindly take precautions to keep them safe.
- Make a wall. In order to prevent your dog from jumping on top of you, put a barrier around your couch or chair. When you’re on the couch or chair, the barrier could be made of big boxes or even an extendable indoor pet gate.
- Apply a tether indoors. Your dog can stay close to you but not so close that she can jump up and lay down on top of you if you use an indoor tether that is securely fastened to a harness.
- Keep your dog enclosed by a baby gate, an exercise pen, or a crate. This approach is only practical if your dog is trained to go into the crate or exercise pen when called upon and gets pleasure from spending time there. Naturally, this is just a stopgap measure to be employed in spur of the moment situations, as when you have an assignment to finish. When confined, giving your dog a stuffed frozen Kong will help keep them occupied.
Make It Simple to Make Wise Decisions
As you set limits and boundaries, it’s critical to support your dog in making wise decisions. Put a cozy dog bed or mat next to you, and whenever your dog lies down there, give her a pat and a treat.
Offering your dog a safe, durable chew toy or a plush Kong on her mat or dog bed will make things much easier for her, especially if she gets to enjoy it while you watch TV on the couch.
Replace Your Response with “Go to Your Mat” Cue Training
It’s appropriate to cue the behavior once your dog has established some positive associations with using the doggy bed or mat. Here’s a training guide on teaching your dog to go to his mat.
If your dog walks to her mat and settles down quietly, you can establish a routine in which you will touch her or offer her a toy. Before long, a positive pattern emerges, and using the mat can gradually take the place of your domineering conduct.
Employ Reverse Timeouts
If you try to control your space and your dog still climbs on you, what should you do? After all, it is likely that one day you will forget to put bulky goods on the couch. In these situations, it is crucial to minimize the damage, as even a small recurrence of a behavior can quickly spread like wildfire and reestablish a habit.
In these situations, it’s critical to deliver your dog a swift consequence for their climbing behavior so that they don’t get an opportunity to make contact with the reinforcer of their choice—you. In this situation, reverse timeouts can come in handy.
The reverse of a regular timeout is a reverse timeout, in which your dog is put in a quiet place, like an exercise pen or crate, only when they display an unpleasant behavior.
Conventional timeouts come with various hazards, such as the dog playing hard to catch (also known as the “keep away game”) or becoming afraid of the collar touching him when he is placed in the timeout area, or the timeout area becoming to feel like a place where he is left alone.
A reverse timeout, on the other hand, can be less risky because the person will be the one to leave if the dog engages in unwanted behavior, as opposed to placing the dog in a timeout.
When a dog tries to curl up on a human, it’s helpful to act quickly on one of the following:
- If you’re lying down on the couch, get up right away.
- If the dog keeps on, get up swiftly and get out of the room.
Deal with the Fear
If your dog exhibits symptoms of anxiety, it’s critical to treat the anxiety using the best behavior modification strategy, sometimes in conjunction with the use of calming tools.
For instance, you might use counterconditioning and desensitization if your dog is afraid of a certain noise, like the dishwasher. These are included in the “Hear That” approach.
Give training, exercise, and mental stimulation
Dogs benefit from exercise, mental stimulation, and training since these things keep them happy and healthy. Certain training methods can also assist dogs who are insecure to feel more confident. When implemented properly, activities such as walks, play, mental games, and training can help increase a dog’s confidence.
References
- Horn, Lisa & Huber, Ludwig & Range, Friederike. (2013). The Importance of the Secure Base Effect for Domestic Dogs – Evidence from a Manipulative Problem-Solving Task. PloS one
- Cimarelli G, Schindlbauer J, Pegger T, Wesian V, Virányi Z. Secure base effect in former shelter dogs and other family dogs: Strangers do not provide security in a problem-solving task. PLoS One. 2021
- Meers, Lieve & Walsh, Elizabeth & Duarte-Gan, Carolina & Contalbrigo, Laura & Samuels, William & Boonen, Dorien & Christiaens, Charlotte & Claus, Anita & Daems, Liesbeth & Van Mieghem, Lore & Stevens, Vicky & Pierard, Marc & Laufer, Stephan & Berckmans, Daniel & Normando, Simona. (2024). Affective meaning of touch a perspective on human-dog (mis)communication.
