Why Does My Dog Always Touch Me?

If your dog has started touching you, particularly if it has happened all of a sudden, you might be left wondering why they are doing this; particularly as they can’t verbally communicate this reason with you. Whilst this can be nice, it can also be quite concerning. These are all the possible reasons behind this.

Why Does My Dog Always Touch Me?

There are a number of reasons why your dog is always touching you. This includes really innocent things, such as wanting to be affectionate or wanting to tell you they’re hungry, to something more serious, such as being overly protective or them being ill.

Why Does My Dog Always Touch Me?

If you are wanting to know why your dog is always touching you, the following might be able to explain the reasons behind it:

Just Being Affectionate

Dogs are very affectionate animals and they love to be around humans. Your dog touching you is one of their ways of showing you affection because they know how much love you give them, so this is them showing that same love back to you.

It’s A Comfort Routine For Them

We all love comfort and so do dogs. You can get an oxytocin boost just from cuddles, so maybe your dog just wants to feel a little happier and comforted and this is their way of doing that.

Trying To Seek Attention

Dogs can become somewhat attention-seeking creatures, so pay particular attention if they start nudging their nose against you, because this is a sign that they either want your attention, or they want to give you their attention.

 

Protecting You

As your dog will see you as their leader, they will want to protect you. This can be a good thing, however, it may get to the point where they get so protective that they start acting aggressive towards others. If this happens, you need to get a dog trainer to help sort this out.

 

Seeking Safety With You

Dogs are protectors, but they also like to feel safe. They will see you as their pack leader, and therefore, their protector. This means that they see you as being responsible for keeping them safe.

 

Separation Anxiety

Just like us, dogs can also experience separation anxiety. Signs of this includes shaking, barking, pacing, and any other signs of nervousness you might pick up on. This can also lead to touching you constantly because they’re scared of being apart from you.

 

Vision Or Hearing Changes

Particularly if you have an older dog, they might be touching you because they are experiencing either vision or hearing changes (or both). In cases like this, you should immediately take them to the vet to figure out the next steps.

 

You Encouraged And Rewarded This Behavior

It’s very easy to encourage or reward this behaviour. Who doesn’t like to cuddle up with their dog, especially when you just can’t resist those eyes. Even something as simple as stroking them a little when they cuddle up next to you signals to them that it’s okay.

Your Pup Is Just Being A Pup

Dogs are very affectionate creatures and they tend to show this by constantly wanting to touch you.

 

There is nothing you can do about this because this is just something that comes naturally to them and as long as there are no negatives associated with it, such as them being over-protective, then this is perfectly acceptable behaviour.

Pup Is Asking You To Do Something

Dogs have no way of communicating with us verbally, so they have to find other ways of communicating with us instead. This often takes the form of touch with various forms of their body, so overtime you should be able to learn what each form of touch means.

 

Pup Is Hungry

When dogs are hungry, they’re sure to let us know about it. If your dog starts to continuously paw at you as a way of getting your attention, there are a few things this could be, but one of them is that they are hungry and want to be fed.

Are You Pregnant?

Dogs are very good at sensing even the slightest of changes, including hormonal ones. When you’re pregnant, your hormones will change and your dog can pick up on this pretty much straight away.

 

Velcro Dog Syndrome

This is a name given to dogs who are literally glued to your side. This is most common in breeds such as great danes, whippets, and saint bernards. These dogs rely on our body language and directions; but may also occur if we stop when our dog stops or talk back to them if they bark.

Just Checking In On You

Dogs are very in-tune with their human’s emotions and will know when you’re feeling down. They’ll check in on you by touching you to make sure you’re okay and to let you know that they’re here for you.

 

Pup Is Not Feeling Well

Dogs are very good at alerting us when there is something wrong with them. If you notice any other signs, such as lethargy, reduced appetite, or a change in their bowel movements, this might signal you should take them to the vets to get them checked over.

Testing Their Boundaries

Dogs love to test boundaries because they like to see how much they can get away with. If your dog has done something wrong, such as chewing your sofa, they might touch you to see if your mood softens, therefore telling them they can continue to test your boundaries.

Should You Correct This Behavior?

You don’t necessarily need to correct this behaviour. This can be quite a positive behaviour, as long as there are no negative connotations behind it. Just make sure they’re not becoming too possessive over you and as long as this doesn’t happen, then you’re alright.

How To Correct This Behavior?

If you are wanting to correct this behaviour, you can do so by carrying out the following:

Figure Out Why They Do It

The first thing you need to do is figure out why your dog is touching you. See if they’re hungry, anxious, or need the toilet. Figure out if you’re going through something, such as feeling unwell or are pregnant. Once you’ve figured it out, you can take it from there.

Create A Clam And Relaxing Environment For The Dog

If anxiety is an issue for your dog, you need to ensure their environment is calm and relaxing. Sometimes playing some soft music can help with this, or making sure they have a nice bed and some toys to play with.

Teach Them To Be Along And Enjoy It

You and your dog can’t be together 24/7 as it’s not healthy for either of you.

 

Get them to gradually learn to be alone by leaving them in a room with their toys for a few minutes at a time and then gradually make these periods longer until they can be without you for longer periods of time.

Feed Them On Time

Just like us, dogs know when they are feeling hungry and if you don’t feed them when they expect to be fed, then they’ll start acting up. Try and get into a good routine with your dog, as this is what they thrive off of, and this includes feeding times.

Get A Dog Bed And Keep It Closer To Yours

If your dog wants to be close to you, this might involve them trying to get up on your bed. As a compromise, put their bed close to yours and positively reinforce them, such as treats, and giving them to your dog every time they get in their bed, stay there, and leave you alone.

Consult A Vet

More often than not, your dog constantly touching you shouldn’t be something for you to be worried about. However, there is a chance that they are trying to tell you something is up, so if you’ve explored every other avenue, take them to the vet just to make sure.

Why Does My Dog Always Touch Me With His Paw?

This is one way for your dog to try and get your attention. This sign means that they are likely wanting something from you, such as food or wanting to go for a walk.

Why Does My Dog Always Touch Me With His Nose?

This is more than likely because your dog wants some form of attention.

 

This can either be because they want attention from you; or it’s because they can pick up that you might be feeling sad or that you need some form of love and affection from them, which is what they’re giving to you.

Why Does My Dog Always Touch Me When Sleeping?

This is more than likely due to their protective instincts kicking in. They want to make sure that nothing is happening to you, particularly whilst you’re asleep,

Why Did My Do Suddenly Starting Touching Me?

If your dog suddenly starts touching you repeatedly out of nowhere, this could be a sign that there is something wrong with them. Try and pick up on what is causing this, if anything, and take them to the vet to get them checked out.

 

Is There A Particular Time That Your Dog Touches You?

Dogs have circadian rhythms, just like us, that tell us when it’s time to do certain things. If their circadian rhythm is telling them things like it’s time to pee or to be fed, your dog will start touching you to alert you to their needs.

Is There A Particular Part Of The Body They Touch You?

A big indicator of why your dog is touching you could be the part of your body they are touching you with. For example, if they touch you with their nose, this is an indicator that they are wanting to show you a bit of love and affection.

When Should You Encourage Dog Touching?

It’s okay to encourage your dog touching you from time to time, for example, if they are trying to tell you something, or simply if you both need a bit of time with one another to cheer up or feel safe and protected.

 

When Should You Discourage Your Dog From Touching You?

You should discourage your dog from touching you if they have fleas or any other parasites until they have been treated for this. You should also discourage it if they are starting to become protective to the point of getting aggressive, or if they are becoming too attached to you.

 

Is There A Benefit To A Human By This Behavior?

There are many benefits to having your dog touching you. They can help in preventing loneliess, helping you if you have poor mental health, encourage you to get out and exercise, and can even detect cancer from early on.

 

References

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25173617/

https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2018/05/national-pet-week/

https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Animal_Services/Foster_Care_Manual/Nursing_Mother_Dogs_and_Their_Puppies.pdf