Home Training & Behavior # Here's Why Your Dog Sits on You The Woof & Beyond Team Updated January 13, 2021 1 min read ![](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/static/e1b2fcbec76d681f3c34fedc75adaa45/5e493/image.jpg) You may be wondering why your dog always chooses to sit right on top of you when he has all this space and other comfortable spots around. **Your dog most likely sits on you because he trusts you and is claiming you as his own.** By sitting on you, your dog rubs his scent on you (which is prevalent on his back end). You may not smell it at all, but other dogs and pets probably will. This acts as a marker of ownership. Here are some other possible reasons: - **Assurance seeking:** By sitting on you, your dog can hear your heartbeat and breathing. This may provide him with some comfort and ease his stress. - **Protection**: If you are not feeling well, or your dog feels like you are not at your best, and you need protection, he’ll sit on you to try and protect you. - **Pack behavior**: It’s very common for dogs in nature to sleep right on top of one another. Your dog has probably accepted you as one of the pack. - **Breed behavior**: Some dog breeds are known to be affectionate and more likely to sit on you. These may include most lapdog breeds like Pugs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and other breeds like Great Danes and Mastiffs. - **Playfulness**: If your dog is not calm while sitting on you, rolling around in your lap, and making playful noises, he may just be trying to play with you. ## When Your Dog Shows Aggressive Behavior While not likely, there’s a chance that your dog is trying to assert dominance if, while sitting on you, he’s barking or growling at other pets or humans. It may also be the case if he becomes irritated and aggressive when moving him away from you. While it’s okay if it happens once in a while - if it’s a common occurrence, contacting a professional dog trainer or vet may be a good idea. It may be essential to get to the root cause of why he’s behaving this way. _Please note that dogs can’t speak, and we can’t read their minds (yet). So, we can only make educated guesses about the reasons and intentions behind some of their behaviors._ Dog Behaviors Previous How Many Toes Does a Dog Have? Next Can Coyotes Breed With Dogs? People also ask Dog Always Sits Behind You? Here's Why Fan Phobia: Understanding and Helping Your Dog Overcome Their Anxiety Understanding Your Dog's Crying and Hiding Under the Bed: A Guide for Concerned Owners Your Dog Stopped Doing Tricks? The Essential Tips for Getting Your Pup Back on Track Chase Me if You Can: Understanding Your Dog's Love for Being Chased Couch-Potatoes: Why Your Dog Does Nothing All Day & What to Do About It ## Other questions about training & behavior The ones people read straight after this. Training & Behavior ### [Dog Always Sits Behind You? Here's Why](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/why-does-my-dog-sit-behind-me/) You pick up a nice cup of coffee from the counter, plop down in your favorite spot on the couch… August 26, 2021 4 min read Training & Behavior ### [Fan Phobia: Understanding and Helping Your Dog Overcome Their Anxiety](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/why-do-dogs-hate-fans/) It’s a lazy weekend around your home. The weather is finally starting to warm up, and this seems… February 12, 2023 4 min read Training & Behavior ### [Understanding Your Dog's Crying and Hiding Under the Bed: A Guide for Concerned Owners](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/why-does-my-dog-go-under-the-bed-and-cry/) It’s that time again; time to take your dog for a walk! But as you stand in the doorway, leash in… February 12, 2023 5 min read Training & Behavior ### [Your Dog Stopped Doing Tricks? The Essential Tips for Getting Your Pup Back on Track](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/why-did-my-dog-stop-doing-tricks/) “Sit...stand...walk...roll over...great job, buddy!” The sounds of praise, laughter and clapping are… February 12, 2023 6 min read Training & Behavior ### [Chase Me if You Can: Understanding Your Dog's Love for Being Chased](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/why-does-my-dog-love-being-chased/) We play with our dogs in so many different ways, from tugging on a toy to a beloved game of fetch… January 23, 2023 4 min read Training & Behavior ### [Couch-Potatoes: Why Your Dog Does Nothing All Day & What to Do About It](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/why-does-my-dog-do-nothing/) Our four-legged best friends are often represented as adventurous and apt for getting out into the… January 23, 2023 6 min read