Research shows that physical contact with your dog can improve your mood by leaps and bounds. Cuddling with your pooch is one of the best things about being a dog parent.
But what do you do when you have a particularly clingy pet?
Fido loves to lay on top of you and simply refuses to budge. And while he is dozing off, you’re stuck under him, thinking, “Why does my dog insist on laying on me?”
Read below to find out possible reasons why your little canine friend loves to lay on top of you and what you can do about it.
Reasons why your dog likes to lay on you
It’s Pack behavior
Your pup is a social animal. In the past, dogs lived in packs and stayed close to each other. They would lay on top of each other while sleeping for warmth, comfort, and protection. Your pooch sees you as one of his pack and maybe showing the same behavior with you.
He’s being possessive
Laying on top of you might be your dog’s way of displaying territorial behavior. If he is possessive about you or his toys, he could be trying to warn others away.
You can tell this if he insists on laying on top of you when rangers or other dogs are present around you, or when he knows that someone is about to come through the door.
He wants to feel safe
Your pooch knows that you are his parent. He might be laying on top of you as he feels comfortable and safe in your presence, especially if he is scared of something.
Dogs are often afraid of loud noises such as thunder, fireworks, construction sounds, or people shouting. Being close to you makes him feel safe.
He has separation anxiety
If your pooch lays on top of you when it’s time for you to head out or right after you come home, he might be going through separation anxiety.
Staying close to you also alerts him to when you get up and leave. Fido may be trying to make himself feel safe better by laying on top of you.
He is feeling cold
Does your pup like to climb on top of you at the time of dawn or during chilly evenings? Does he snuggle up with you during cold weather?
Fido might simply be trying to seek warmth by being close to you.
He is being affectionate
If your pooch likes to sleep on top of you, this could be his way of showing that he trusts you enough to let his guard down.
Laying on top of each other while sleeping or resting is a sign of affection in pack animals. By doing so he might be trying to make his bond with you stronger.
He might also do it to ask for your attention after he’s been by himself throughout the day.
He is comforting you
Your puppy can sense when you’re upset, tensed, or crying by the change in your mood. He is also able to note the changes in your voice or when you are unusually quiet.
Laying on top of you could be his way of comforting you with his presence.
How to stop your dog from laying on you?
Tell him ‘No’
Every puppy learns the ‘No’ command while training. Fido has learned it too.
Use this to tell him that he shouldn’t lay on you. When your pooch approaches you and is about to climb on top of you, give the ‘No’ command in a calm but stern voice so that he understands that this is unwanted behavior.
Do this every time so that he is clear that you do not want him to lay on you.
Ask him to move
The best way to stop unwanted behavior is to redirect it.
If your pup is laying on top of you or is preparing to do so, direct him to another spot that you want him to go to.
Point your finger to the couch or the ground and ask them to ‘sit’ or ‘lie’ there. If your pooch is a medium or small-sized dog, you can simply pick him up and place him at the spot.
Once he is successful in the spot, reward him with a treat to let him know that he has done a good job.
Assign a place to lay on instead
Make it easy for Fido to know exactly where you want him to go when you instruct him to get off you.
Train him to lay at a particular spot. This could be his bed, a mat, the spot by your chair, or anywhere else. Make sure that the spot is comfortable and quiet so that he feels safe and can doze off without being disturbed.
Instead of laying on you, your pooch now has his spot to relax in.
Don’t encourage the behavior
When your little puppy comes to snuggle with you, you might find it adorable and end up cuddling and praising him more. Fido takes this as encouragement and might become start clinging to you to make you happy.
It is important to stop encouraging his habits if you are not okay with him laying on top of you.
Instead of getting excited, talk to your puppy in a gentle but firm voice and redirect them to lie somewhere else.
Pay attention to what he’s trying to tell you
When your puppy comes to lay on top of you, he might be trying to tell you something. Pay attention to his face and body language so that you can understand how your pooch is feeling.
If he comes to snuggle during cold weather or is shivering, he might be cold. Cover him with a blanket.
If Fido appears to have separation anxiety, make sure you spend plenty of time with him before and after you go out. This makes him feel safer and more comfortable.
Simply enjoy the cuddles
Cuddling together is a natural way of expressing affection and trust. When your puppy comes to lay on top of you, watch out for signs of dominance, fear, or sickness.
If you catch any of these in your pooch, it is best to take him to a veterinarian or behavior expert.
If it seems like harmless behavior and Fido looks like he has simply come to relax on you, you can sit back and simply enjoy the cuddles.
Conclusion
Being affectionate with your puppy is probably one of your favorite things about being a pet parent. But when Fido gets too clingy and insists on laying on top of you, you might want this behavior to stop.
There are several reasons why he could be doing this. He may be showing pack behavior or possessiveness for you, or he might be seeking or offering comfort and warmth.
If you want to control this behavior, teach him that it is wrong to lay on you and redirect him to another spot to sleep in. If it seems like harmless behavior, you can simply sit back and enjoy snuggling with your pooch.
