Why do dogs sit on other dogs? Learn if you should be worried or just let your furry friends sort it out.

Alright, so I've been diving deep into dog behavior lately, and something that's always cracked me up – and also made me scratch my head – is why dogs sometimes just... sit on each other. Like, flat-out plop their butts down on another dog. So, I started digging, observing, and even (embarrassingly) trying to recreate the scenarios to see what was up. Here's the breakdown of my somewhat weird investigation:

Phase 1: The Observation Game

• First, I hit up the dog park. Armed with a notebook (yeah, I know, super nerdy), I just watched. Watched dogs interact, watched who sat on whom, and noted the body language before, during, and after. It was kinda like being a wildlife photographer, but with more slobber.
• What I noticed was, it wasn't always about aggression. Sometimes, it was two dogs who were clearly buddies. Other times, it was a younger dog sitting on an older, seemingly unamused one. Context seemed key.

Phase 2: The Internet Rabbit Hole

• Next up: the internet. I figured there had to be some scientific reason, or at least some widely accepted theories. I went down a rabbit hole of dog behavior articles, forum discussions, and even some Quora threads.
• What I found was interesting. Some folks said it was dominance, others said it was anxiety, some claimed it was just plain goofiness. The "trust" angle, like when a dog sits on your feet, also popped up. Basically, no clear consensus.

Phase 3: My Own Pack Dynamics

• Okay, so I have two dogs: Max, a chill Golden Retriever, and Bella, a hyper Jack Russell mix. They're like chalk and cheese. I decided to focus on their interactions.
• I noticed Bella, the smaller, more energetic one, would often try to sit on Max. Max, being the chill dude he is, would usually just sigh and tolerate it. Sometimes, he'd give her a look like, "Seriously, Bella?", but he rarely snapped or got aggressive.
• This made me think it wasn't always about dominance. Bella's not exactly trying to "dominate" a dog twice her size. It felt more like she was seeking attention or comfort, or maybe just being a pest.

Phase 4: The "Comfort Seeking" Test

• Here's where it got weird. I tried to recreate the scenario when Bella was showing signs of stress (like during a thunderstorm). Sure enough, she was more likely to try and sit on Max.
• I also noticed she did it more when they were both relaxing, almost like she was trying to get as close as possible.

My "Conclusion" (for now):

Look, I'm no expert, but here's what I've pieced together:

• It's probably a mix of things. Sometimes, it IS about establishing dominance, especially in new packs or when there's competition for resources.
• But often, it's about comfort, security, or just plain wanting to be close. Dogs are social creatures, and physical contact is a big part of their communication.
• And sometimes, let's be honest, it's just because one dog is being a weirdo. Like Bella.

Anyway, that's my deep dive into the world of dogs sitting on other dogs. It's still a bit of a mystery, but it's definitely been a fun – and slightly strange – journey of discovery.