Why Does My Dog Paw at My Face?

Every dog has a distinct personality. When you become a dog owner, you'll be continuously surprised by your dog's many quirky behaviors. Some will lick you incessantly if you come near them, while others will paw at your hands and face for no apparent reason. Their behaviors may seem odd to us, but everything they do is for the sake of communication.

  1. Attention

    • Along with its tongue, a dog's paws are its link to the world. With its tongue, the dog can communicate a variety of things. One of the main reasons a dog paws at your face is simply for attention -- it just can't get enough petting. Often, when you stop petting a dog, it will immediately raise its paw and touch your face with it to get you to pet it again.

    Food

    • Like most people, you've probably taught your dog from an early age that crying and whining to get human food is a huge "no." One thing many owners forget to teach their dogs is not to use their paws to ask for food. If you're eating near your dog's eye level, it is more than likely to paw at your face to ask for food. This can be annoying, especially while eating, so try sitting above and away from your dog while you eat so it is unable to reach your face.

    Submission

    • Having a paw up in the air is a friendly sign in the dog world but it can also mean that it is a bit anxious. Dogs will often use these nonverbal cues to let humans and other dogs know that they're feeling anxiety and, as a result, want to convey that they are submissive. When your dog raises its paw to your face, especially when it has done something wrong, it may be saying "I give up. You win."

    Desire

    • Dogs paw at things they want. If you've ever watched a dog struggle to get a treat that has fallen out of reach, you can see how it continually paws at it until someone retrieves it for them or it can reach the treat itself. The same logic applies to your face. If you're just staring at your dog and it wants you, for whatever reason, it will paw at your face to claim you. This happens often when you sit near your dog but don't give it any eye contact or petting.