Why Does My Dog Want Me To Hold His Paw?

Our furry friends have a unique way of expressing themselves. Whether it’s a wagging tail or a playful bark, dogs wear their hearts on their sleeves—or rather, their paws. One of the most endearing yet puzzling behaviors some dog owners notice is when their canine companion wants them to hold their paw. But what does this gesture mean? Why does my dog want me to hold his paw? is a question that often arises in the minds of perplexed pet parents.

In this article, we’ll delve into the world of dog communication to uncover the reasons behind this adorable act, ensuring you understand your pet’s needs and emotions even better.

Understanding Dog Communication

Dogs, unlike humans, primarily rely on their body language to convey emotions, needs, and concerns. From the wagging of their tails to the posture they adopt, every gesture and pose carries meaning. The intricacy of canine communication is profound, and by understanding these subtle cues, dog owners can deepen their bond with their furry companions.

When a dog extends its paw towards you, it’s not just a random act. It’s a conscious communication attempt, rooted in a mixture of instinct, learned behaviors, and emotions. The gesture might be akin to a human reaching out for a hand. While the underlying reason could vary—be it seeking comfort, demanding attention, or even asserting dominance—it’s undeniable that the gesture is loaded with intent. Recognizing and interpreting these cues correctly ensures a harmonious and understanding relationship between the dog and the owner.

Reasons Why Does My Dog Want Me To Hold His Paw

He Wants A Reward

Many people will teach their dogs to shake at an early age. Dogs will understand that this will give them a reward, so they’ll shake hands with you. Why does my dog want me to hold his paw? Simply put, he wants that reward. He knows that every single time you give him a command and he obeys you, you will give him a treat. Now he wants a treat, so he will give you his paw to hold without a command.

He Wants Something Else

Yes, most dogs will do this in order to get a treat, but not always. Some will do it in order to get something different. This can be a walk, a treat you are having, or just a few minutes of your time. It is a nice thing to see and usually a clever action from your pet. Keep in mind that he may want a toy or something similar and not food. Also, make sure to check when he is doing this. Maybe it is time for a walk.

Due To Training

Some dogs are trained to do this almost all the time. It is more common among adopted dogs and those who were trained to do this as puppies. He doesn’t want a treat in this case. He just wants to hold hands, or a hand and a paw in this case. In addition, this reason is rare, and there are not a lot of dogs who will use it. It is far more likely that he is doing this for some other reason not mentioned here.

He Is Alerting You

It is also possible that he wants to alert you. No, there is no burglar out there. Your dog will do this when someone changes their body language or when someone is coming to you. The most common situation is when you start yelling or someone is at the front door. Try to look at his body language. If he looks alert (erect ears and sniffing around), your friend is coming over.

You Should Pet Your Dog

Here is an interesting reason, and one that does look great: Your dog wants you to pet him, so he will give you his paw, which you should hold. The best thing to do is to start doing what he wants. To determine if this is the reason, look at the behavior.

If he lies on his back and gives you his paw, you should rub his belly. If he stops putting the paw on your hand, this is the reason. Most dogs will stop putting their paws on their owners when they start to pet them. But once you stop, he will put his paw on your hand once again.

Due To Anxiety

Yes, this is another reason why a dog will let you hold his paw. He is anxious. This usually happens when you should go somewhere and he knows that. Once again, you should pay attention when he is doing this. Are you preparing to go to work or travel somewhere? 

What Can You Do About It?

In most cases, there is no need to change or even affect this type of behavior. It is nice, and it is one of the best ways your dog can communicate with you. However, some dog owners don’t like this, or they are too busy to even consider why their dog does this. If this is the case with you, there are a few things to do.

The first thing you can do is to stop encouraging this behavior. For lack of a better word, you won’t give your pet a reward or hold his paw all the time. This is a very helpful thing, and your pet will stop doing this within a few days or weeks.

The second thing you can do is to take him for a walk at the same time every single day. This is important simply because your pet won’t need you to hold his paw. Of course, he may want you to hold his paw for other reasons, as we have mentioned above. If you started walking him at the same time every day and he still gives you his paw to hold, this isn’t the reason why he has been doing this. There is something else, and you will need to determine it.

Last but not least, you can change his focus.

Basically, when he wants you to hold his paw, you should try giving him something else. This can be some toy or give him some command. He will likely learn that this behaviour won’t help him get what he wants, so he will stop doing it. It is the same issue as with the first thing you can do, as we have mentioned earlier.

In order to determine which method is the best, look at body language. A happy dog will want you to hold his paw because he wants something or he needs something from you. The unhappy dog will do this because he is scared, anxious or he wants to alert you. 

The Final Word

Why does my dog want me to hold his paw? As you saw, there are a few reasons why he will do this. Each reason is different, so you need to look at the little things and determine the main reason. Yes, you can eliminate this behavior, but is this something you really want to do? Most dog owners like this, and they even train their dogs to do it all the time. But if you don’t like it, you can eliminate it.