You’ve probably been there before – your dog starts walking towards you with his front paws up in the air, looking at you as though you’re the most important person on the planet.
As soon as you reach out to pet him, he’ll turn around and push his nose into your hand, all the while wagging his tail frantically.
If this sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen this behavior before on another dog.
Or maybe you know that your dog does this when he’s feeling happy or excited.
But what do dogs actually want when they do this?
And why are some dogs more likely than others to push their owners with their feet?
The History of Dogs Pushing Their Owners
Dogs have always loved people.
They are social animals who thrive on human contact, and they naturally gravitate towards people because they can use their energy to help them find food, shelter, and safety from predators.
But dogs also love to please their owners.
When they do something that pleases their owner, it’s called “positive reinforcement.”
It’s a behavior that has been passed down through generations of dogs.
You might see this act in dogs that were raised by wolves, and it’s still very much alive today, even among domesticated dogs.
When a dog does something that pleases his owner, he gets rewarded with a treat.
This is why dogs like to push their owners with their feet.
The first time I started working with my dog, I was amazed when he did it.
I knew how to train my dog to do anything I wanted him to do.
I could teach him to sit, stay, come, walk, shake, and roll over.
But I had no clue about what he was doing when he pushed me with his feet.
As I continued to work with my dog, I learned more about why he was doing it.
In fact, I learned so much about it that I wrote an entire article about it.
It turns out that dogs are actually pushing their owners with their feet because they want to get our attention.
And if we ignore them, they don’t know what else to do!
Whether you’re training your puppy or you just adopted a new dog, here’s everything you need to know about why dogs push their owners with their feet.
What Is Positive Reinforcement?
How Can We Use Positive Reinforcement in Training Our Puppies?
How Do We Use Positive Reinforcement in Training Adult Dogs?
How Do We Use Positive Reinforcement in Training Old Dogs?
Can We Use Positive Reinforcement on a Cat?
Why Does My Dog Push Me With His Feet?
It’s hard to say exactly why dogs do this, but it’s not just because they want a belly rub.
As we’ve mentioned before, dogs are pack animals, and when they don’t know what else to do, they look to their owners for guidance.
When this happens, your dog may be asking you to pet him or give him some attention, or perhaps he’s simply trying to get your attention so that he can tell you something.
There are a few common reasons why your dog might start pushing you with his feet.
Dogs are naturally curious creatures, and they tend to want to approach every new person who comes into the house.
They also love to give hugs and kisses, which is why it’s so common for dogs to push their noses into people’s hands when they first meet them.
However, sometimes this behavior can become excessive, especially if your dog has never met you before.
It’s not uncommon for puppies to do this, but older dogs are more prone to doing it because they don’t know how to properly greet someone.
When they see a new face, they might have an instinctive urge to test the waters by nudging you.
That doesn’t mean that your dog is being aggressive, however.
It simply means that he’s testing the waters to see if he likes you, and if he does, he’ll continue to do it until you tell him otherwise.
What Should I Do If My Dog Starts Pushing Me With His Feet?
So what should you do if your dog starts pushing you with his feet?
We can’t tell you exactly what’s going on in your dog’s brain, but we can offer some advice based on our experience with dogs and their behavior.
Conclusion
This behavior can be adorable, but it’s also annoying when your dog keeps doing this every time you come home.
Your dog may be pushing you with his feet for a variety of reasons, including wanting to play, telling you he wants to pet you, or just being an overly affectionate guy.
If your dog is pushing you with his feet, try to figure out what he wants and respond accordingly.
Hi, my name is Megan Turner and I have worked in a dog’s shelter for four years now. It is truly my dream job, and I see hundreds of dogs every month being united with new owners to give them a loving forever home.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
