Why Dogs Put Their Head On Your Feet

Introduction

Picture this scene; you're enjoying a relaxing evening by the fire with Fido's head warmly nestled on your feet. You think to yourself, "Ah! This is the life." Your thoughts turn toward this interesting dog behavior. Given your choice, your feet certainly wouldn't be in the top 10 of the more comfortable body parts for Fido to rest his head on. What is the appeal? It is not uncommon for our dogs to display behaviors that we find perplexing. Dog logic is often quite different from our own, yet if we examine the actions of our furry companions carefully, there is nearly always a rational explanation behind them. Why do dogs like to lay their heads on our feet? Is there a correlation to the behaviors exhibited by dogs in the wild, or is it merely a means to bond with us and show affection? Whether Fido is simply looking for a practical place to lay his head or this action carries more significance, it is certainly something that most dog owners have seen in their dogs.

The Root of the Behavior

It has been said that dogs are man's best friend, and all evidence seems to point to this as truth. Dogs are intensely loyal and are also very social animals. Because of this, they crave meaningful connections to the people that they love. Part of this connection is experienced through touch. It is a vital aspect of the motivation behind our dogs' seeming need to not only be near to us as often as possible but also to be touching us. In the wild, dogs were organized into hierarchies. Each dog had his own place within the "pack," and he knew precisely where he fit and what role he was to play. This sense of identity provided great comfort and purpose for the wild dog. At the same time, each dog within the pack was well aware of which dog was the "top dog." This dog, known as the pack leader, was not chosen but was rather born into the position by the qualities bred into him. He was respected, and his followers willingly chose to seek his presence and to follow him. He was responsible for the oversight, protection, and care of the pack as a whole. Those under his leadership bestowed upon him loyalty and love.

Though our dogs have been long domesticated, we still see this ancient and deeply ingrained instinct in them today. Dogs intuitively understand that the one who holds the resources is the one who also wields the power. In your home, that person is you. Your dog understands this. Though equipped with sharp teeth, powerful jaws, and physical strength, which channeled inappropriately could cause great harm, your dog has voluntarily submitted to your leadership. You have earned his loyalty and his undying love. He displays his commitment and devotion to you through following you around, seeking to be near you, protecting you if necessary, and through laying his paws, head, or body on you whenever possible. Touch is a valuable communication tool. Your dog expresses his love for you in this manner. This is something that is easy for us to understand. What is more puzzling is how your dog selects the place where he will rest his head. Why your feet? Is this resting spot common to all dogs?

Encouraging the Behavior

There is no solid research to support why your dog selects one part of your body as his favored resting place over another. However, there are several logical conclusions we can draw with regard to this. Since most heat is released from the head, it is possible that your dog might select an area of your body that is cold as the place for him to rest his head on. Why? Dogs take their role as your companion and protector very seriously. It is possible that your dog is simply trying to conserve heat and transfer some of his to you to warm you up. The instinct to survive is well-preserved in our modern canines. It may be that your dog is simply fulfilling an instinct to protect his pack leader. Keeping warm would play a vital role in this strategy. Extremities such as human feet and hands (paws in the canine) that succumb to cold or frostbite could lead to grave illness and even the death of the pack leader. This would put the entire pack at risk, and no dog wants to have that happen. Equally plausible is the opposite theory. Dogs are essentially furry little opportunists. They may select the area of your body that is giving off the most heat in order to keep themselves comfortable and warm. This again could be traced back to the instinct to survive.

There is also the possibility that this is a random choice based more on convenience than any other logical reason. Your feet might be the most easily accessible area of your body for your dog to rest his head on at that particular moment. Of course, it is also possible that your feet are actually comfortable. Just because humans enjoy propping themselves up on plush surfaces does not necessarily mean that your dog feels the same way. Perhaps Fido enjoys the feeling of your velvety spa socks against his neck. Or the warmth emanating from your bare skin combined with the scent that is uniquely you provides him with a feeling of contentment and connection. Fido has his reasons, but he's rather tight-lipped on the matter!

Other Solutions and Considerations

Of course, this action could be attributed to other theories. It may be that your dog is trying to impart his scent to you. You are his pack leader, and he wants to let other would-be canine interlopers know that you are not accepting applications for new pack members. Your feet also provide an ideal vantage point from which Fido can detect potential predators and offer the best protection for you. Fido takes his role as your faithful friend seriously, and he will position himself as needed to ensure that no harm befalls you. If your feet are the first point of contact to you, it may be that Fido takes up residence there to make certain that no one can slip past him and get to you. Still another alternative is the thought that touching you in this fashion both provides and gives comfort. It is a means of letting you know that he is there and that he cares about you. Touching you communicates your value to him, but it also provides a sense of peace and relaxation for both you and your dog.

Finally, it could be that Fido just wants your attention and putting his head on your feet is the best way to get it. If doing this in the past has elicited the desire response from you, chances are Fido is going to keep offering this behavior because he has learned that it yields the right results. If you would prefer that Fido find an alternative location to rest his head, you can teach this by redirecting to a different area of your body then rewarding him with praise and food or toy rewards. Dogs respond exceptionally well to positive reinforcement and catch on quickly when they do things that bring us pleasure. Since by nature our dogs do want to please us, behaviors that are rewarded and that also bring us obvious joy are things our dogs are going to offer to us again and again in the hopes of a similar reaction.

Conclusion

Love your bonding time with Fido resting comfortably nearby? Whether your dog likes to snuggle by your side, on your lap, or on your feet, there is no doubt that our dogs love to connect with us in this way. While we may never understand the reasons why Fido chooses to lay his head on one spot or another, we can rest assured that his primary motivation is to be near to the person he cherishes most in life.

Written by a Parson Russel Terrier lover Jason Homan

Published: 03/22/2018, edited: 01/30/2020