Why Does My Dog Sit on Me?

Some dogs love to sit on us. This behavior isn’t only seen in small dogs like Chihuahuas and Pugs who can easily fit on our laps — even large dogs like Great Danes and Rottweilers are known to sit on their pet parents.

OK, but why does my dog like to sit on me? Do they simply view me as a comfy chair rather than a human? 

Comfort may be one reason why dogs sit on you, but there are several other reasons as well. We asked the experts to weigh in.

Why Does My Dog Sit on Me?

Physical or Emotional Comfort

Dr. Katherine Houpt, a professor emeritus of behavioral medicine at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, says dogs may sit on us simply because they “like to have something against their back.” Or, they might sit on us for warmth, she says. 

“They’re much more likely to sit on you when it’s cold than when it’s hot,” Dr. Houpt says.

But it’s not just about physical comfort. Dogs may also sit on us when they want emotional comfort.

“You make good security for them,” Dr. Houpt says. “Part of it is puppy behavior, because puppies sleep in a group, and then as they get older, they sleep separately. But I think dogs tend to think of us somewhat as mothers.”

They’re Scared

Dogs may be more interested in sitting on us when they’re scared. For instance, they might want to sit on you during a visit to the veterinary clinic. Or, simply because they like being near us. 
“It may be because … they feel safe and comfortable being close to you,” says Dr. Amy Pike, an animal behaviorist at Animal Behavior Wellness Center in Virginia.

Attention Seeking

“It could be attention seeking because when they sit on you, you are likely speaking to them, petting them,” Dr. Pike says.

Resource Guarding of Possessive Aggression

It’s also possible that your dog is sitting on your lap because they are feeling possessive and they want to guard one of their most prized resources — you.

“If a dog is sitting on you and growling at people or other animals who approach you, that dog is actually demonstrating what we call resource guarding or possessive aggression,” Dr. Pike says. “This type of aggression occurs whenever a dog is in proximity to something it sees as extremely valuable, including but not limited to food, toys, resting locations, and particular people.”

Dr. Houpt says dogs may also become more aggressive toward other dogs while sitting on you because they “may hope that you will back them up in any conflicts.”

“Don’t let the dog sit on you if he has aggressed from that position,” Dr. Houpt advises.

Why Does My Dog Sit on My Feet, Chest, or Head?

Besides your lap, dogs may also sit on your feet, which Dr. Houpt says could have something to do with scent. 

“I think feet smell very interesting to dogs,” Dr. Houpt says. “And so, they’ll often sniff your shoes … so that could be part of it. I think it’s very idiosyncratic — some dogs do and some dogs don’t.”

Some pet parents have even reported that their dogs will sit on their chests — or even more ridiculously, their heads. 

Dr. Pike says there is likely no specific reason for these behaviors besides “individual preference.”

“It may simply be more comfortable for them to sit on other body parts, or an easier way to access closeness to the human depending on how the human is standing, sitting, or lying down,” Dr. Pike says. “It may be that the human has purposefully or inadvertently rewarded the behavior of sitting on their feet, head, or chest by providing the dog with attention when it does so.”

All breeds and all ages of dogs may display lap-sitting behavior. “Every dog is an individual, so having a specific breed is not a guarantee that you are going to get a specific temperament profile,” Dr. Pike says. 

However, lap-sitting could indicate a health problem, especially if you notice a sudden behavioral change. 

Should I Worry If My Dog Sits on Me?

In most cases, you don’t need to be worried about your dog sitting on you. If anything, you should enjoy that your dog wants to be close to you. 

However, there are some instances in which you should be a little concerned. One is if your dog suddenly begins sitting on your lap, if they haven’t done so before. It’s also worrisome if your dog regularly sits on your lap and has suddenly stopped. According to Dr. Pike, behavioral changes can indicate an underlying health issue.

“Behavior changes are often the first sign people will notice in their pets with a medical disorder,” Dr. Pike says. “For example, if you are sitting up on the bed and your dog used to sleep next to you and suddenly stops jumping up with you, it may be due to an underlying painful condition such as arthritis. 

“A dog who was never really attention-seeking who suddenly becomes very affectionate may be seeking their preferred individuals for comfort because they are not feeling well,” Dr. Pike continues.

“Also, as dogs age, they can develop cognitive dysfunction, similar to Alzheimer’s disease in people,” Dr. Pike adds. “One of the many changes observed in patients with cognitive dysfunction is alterations in social interactions.”

Pet parents should also look out for resource-guarding behaviors in their dogs, which Dr. Pike says could lead to “safety concerns for other people or animals in the home.”

“Resource guarding is actually a very normal behavior, as evolutionarily, if you want to survive, you want to protect the things that are important to you that you need for survival,” Dr. Pike says. “What can be abnormal with regard to resource guarding aggression is the intensity of the dog’s response and if there is a danger to the other household members because of that intensity.”

Last but not least, a lap-loving dog may actually be struggling with fear and anxiety, which are problems pet parents should address with a veterinarian or dog behaviorist.

“Anxiety can lead to hyper attachment to a particular individual because that person is who helps the dog feel comfortable, safe, and confident,” says Dr. Pike. “I would also be concerned about separation-related behavior and if the dog is actually able to be relaxed when that particular individual is out of the home. A video of when the dog is left home alone will determine that.”

My Dog Always Sits on Me: How to Stop It

If you want your dog to stop sitting on you, Dr. Houpt says you should teach them to sit in another place, such as a comfortable bed or mat. 

“Walk him over there, and as soon as his paws touch the mat, you give him a treat,” Dr. Houpt says. “You do that about 10 times, and then you should be able to follow him. You point, say ‘mat,’ and when he puts his paws on the mat, you give him a treat. Pretty soon, you should just be able to point and a dog will go there. And he gets a treat for going there, and he gets something extra special if he lies down and is relaxed. And almost every behavioral textbook will give you some version of teaching the dog to go to a mat.”

When trying to redirect your pet’s behavior, Dr. Pike says it’s important to “be consistent.”

“Dogs do not generalize easily and it can be really confusing and conflicting to have some situations where it is OK to sit on an individual and other situations that are not OK,” Dr. Pike says.

“If you do not want your dog to be on you,” she adds, “you can start by tossing treats off of you and positively rewarding calm and relaxed behaviors with treats when the dog is in preferred resting locations that are not your lap.”