Animal behavior expert Mary Burch explains why your dog sits on your feet

When a dog settles on its owner’s feet, it may simply be trying to stay close. Animal behavior specialist Mary Burch says the behavior can reflect affection, a need for physical contact or a search for security.

Burch, a certified applied animal behaviorist and director of the American Kennel Club’s Family Dog Program, told the American Kennel Club that dogs often sit at their owners’ feet because they want to remain nearby. If the animal receives petting or attention afterward, it may connect the behavior with a positive experience and repeat it.

Dogs may also approach when they sense that their owner is sad or ill. Staying physically close can be part of how they respond to that situation.

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Often, when dogs sit at our feet, it is because they want to be close to us.

Cold offers another explanation. A dog may press against a person’s body to conserve heat, a behavior linked to the closeness puppies share with their mother and littermates. Sitting against someone’s feet or curling up beside their legs can provide both warmth and reassurance, especially when temperatures fall or the animal is in an unfamiliar place.

A move, a visit to the veterinarian or the presence of other dogs can create uncertainty. In such situations, seeking out its owner can help a dog stay near someone it recognizes as safe. If the behavior appears suddenly or only around particular triggers, owners should watch what is happening nearby, since fear and stress can also lead a dog to seek physical contact.

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In those situations, physically seeking out their owner can become a way to stay close to a figure they recognize as safe.