What's with the paw?

[DogPaddle]

Zaphod loves to have his chest and neck scrathed.
When I do this he will raise his paw and rest it across my forearm. This can be annoying. If I remove his paw, he'll put it right back, over and over again. This seems like a curious, stubborn behaviour - any insight as to why he is obsessed with it.

[drjeffrock]

Dexter does that too. I kind of think it's a "love touch." Just trying to have physical contact. Dexter also wil creep up on the couch next to me and lay a paw on my thigh. Some hardcore people think its a sign of dominance, I disagree though. It really depends on the circumstance. Sometimes physical touch is a dominant behavior, such as if you are sitting down and your dog comes over to you and sits on your foot.

[Lucky Chaos]

Chaos does it too, especally when she's giving me kisses. Its like she's trying to hold me down so she can tell me she loves me. :lol:

[DogPaddle]

sometimes he just lifts his paw and leaves it in mid air

Kavik does this while angling his head down and looking up to say please - pure ploy but it is cute.

comes over to you and sits on your foot

Interesting, I thought that was a velcro dog sorta thing. Kavik used to do this as a puppy a lot. I can't see Zaphod as trying to express dominance over me. Towards people he is so amiable - he likes to take peoples seats when they get up but often gets out of them without being told when they come back. Must be a "love touch" thing.

"returning the favor" but it makes it very difficult to continue petting her

Exactly.

[leahluvsherpups]

Bozy does it gently but Buddy on the other hand just smacks me and it hurts. He gets no petting until he's gentle about it.

[JackieMaya]

All three of my dogs do that. I think it's just "returning the favor" like someone else said. They're all very affectionate touchy-feely pups.

[StarFox]

Zeb puts his paw on my arm when scratching him. I don't know why he does it but I don't mind to much unless his dew claw is digging into my skin. :roll:

drjeffrock napisał(a):

Sometimes physical touch is a dominant behavior, such as if you are sitting down and your dog comes over to you and sits on your foot.

Yeah well what if your dog has a big ol' booty and his fat arse is taking up all the space and he sits on your foot? :lol:

[Clueless]

One of the dogs I had in the past would do that to guide my hand to where he wanted to be scratched. Try scratching a little lower when they do that and see what happens!

[xavierandrea]

Mines do the paw. I don't mind the girls but Asim. He is so strong that he tips me over. :o I put it down he puts it back, down, back, ect. I swear he thinks its a game. Sometimes I have to walk away. :roll:

[courtnek]

this is a loving gesture in a wolf. they snuggle together for warmth and put paws on each other as if joining hands. my dogs do it too. this is not a dominance behavior, but a request for affection. other dogs arent hurt by it as we are. its used especially in the pack when the dominant alpha "mingles" with the lesser ranks. they will put paws on him/her to let him/her know that they are aware of his/her status and appreciate the affection he/she is showing them.


not a bad thing by any means.

8)

[Malamum]

Mine do the paw thing when they are getting their tummy's rubbed. I've actually never thought of it as returning the favour, to me it seems to feel like they are trying to keep my arm in place so the belly rubs don't stop. :wink:

[xavierandrea]

Court :o So I am the Queen B*tch..??? :wink: Now to work on RO....

[courtnek]

of course you are!! so am I, and any female who alpha's the pack. this is not a bad thing, the dogs are actually thanking you, in their way, for being the top dog and still paying attention to them

8)