Like all pets, dogs sometimes exhibit strange behaviors that remain a mystery to us poor humans. One example is when your dog - or someone else's - puts its paws on you. This is a very common gesture among canines, but is it a request for attention? Is it aggression? Let's find out right now!
1. He needs to communicate
That's what's totally safe with this gesture. Whether it's for food, petting, play, etc. For the dog, putting his paw on his owner is a way to get his attention. And this can be done for many different things. In all cases, it is a request for affection and a need for warm contact.
2. He wants to play
In this case, we could even talk about solicitation! Because by making this gesture, your dog knows very well what he is asking for and what he will receive: attention. He knows that if you don't ignore his gesture, it's likely to end in petting or play. With time, he has learned to use this gesture to get some affection! Let's not forget that, as with humans, the body secretes oxytocin - the attachment hormone - during physical contact.
3. He wants to show he's stressed
As we've seen, a gesture can have many meanings. If you know your pet well, you know his habits. If, for example, he comes to put his paw on you and he has his ears back, a strong salivation or other signs of stress or not like him, it is because he tries to draw your attention to something that bothers him.
4. He's just curious
If you come back from the market or some other place with specific smells on your clothes, chances are your dog is going to want to make up his own mind about these stimuli! This can also happen when you're wearing something he's not familiar with or used to seeing.
5. He wants to eat
It's a well-known fact that our furry friends will do anything to get a treat. In fact, they are often taught to give their paws to receive a treat. This explains why some of them test themselves by asking for a little food. But be careful not to give in to these requests systematically, otherwise you may end up with a real belly on legs!