Why Do Dogs Put Their Paws up When They Want Something?

Your pooch is a pro at getting everything he wants out of you. As soon as you walk into the kitchen or go near the door, there he is, holding his paw up high. You know he wants something -- you can tell by his body language. This little quirk may be something you embedded in him, although it could be just his way of standing.

  1. You Trained Him

    • Believe it or not, you probably trained your furry chum to beg with his paw up. If he gets rewarded each time he does it, he̵7;ll be more likely to do it again. So look back at all the scenarios that make Bentley come up in front of you, gracefully placing one paw up or putting both paws up on you. Odds are, you probably get all excited, tell him how cute he is, pat him on the head and maybe even give him a treat. He̵7;s learned that by sitting with his paw up or by touching you, he̵7;ll get attention or cookies -- exactly what every dog lives for.

    Being Playful

    • Your mischievous companion could be inviting you for a play session when he puts his paws up. Just watch the rest of his body language. If he̵7;s asking you to play, he may seem on edge and have a case of the happy shakes -- since he̵7;s so excited. He could even twist around, jump up or weave in and out of your legs. Those are his little cues to let you know that it̵7;s time to stop everything you̵7;re doing and focus on him.

    It̵7;s Comfortable

    • When you̵7;re standing, you most likely shift your weight from foot to foot. Standing with equal pressure on both legs isn̵7;t very comfortable, after all. Same goes for your fur ball. Generally dogs do keep all four feet on the ground when they̵7;re relaxed. But Bentley isn̵7;t always comfortable standing evenly on all fours. So he may balance on three and lift a front one up, then put that one down and raise the other one up; whatever he needs to do to stay comfy while he gives you those puppy-dog eyes. He̵7;s just trying to be comfortable, although you may see it as him wanting something.

    Showing Dominance

    • In some cases, when your canine consistently leans on you or puts his paws up and touches you, he could be trying to gain control as the dominant pack leader. Dogs in packs know each others boundaries and respect those lines. When Bentley prances on over and starts nudging you with his paw, he̵7;s testing you. It̵7;s his way of gaining control because he knows he can get whatever he wants out of you. Don̵7;t give in until he backs away. Then you can pet him all you want and maybe give him a treat, too.