My Puppy Sits On My Older Dogs Head - Is It Normal?

Okay, so yesterday was kinda weird, right? I mean, puppies are weird in general, but this was next-level. I came home, and there was my 6-month-old golden retriever, Max, just chilling...sitting right on top of my 10-year-old lab, Duke’s, head.

I was like, "What in the actual heck is going on here?" First thing, I checked Duke. He's usually a chill dude, but having a puppy butt on your face can’t be fun. He seemed fine, just kinda resigned, you know? Like, "This is my life now."

So, I started thinking, “Why, Max, WHY?” Here’s what I did:

• Observation Station: I spent a good chunk of the evening just watching them. I grabbed a beer, sat on the couch, and played dog detective. Turns out, it wasn't a one-off thing. Max kept doing it! Not all the time, but enough to make me scratch my head.
• Context Clues: I tried to figure out when it was happening. Mostly when Duke was lying down, resting. Max would come over, sometimes try to play, and if Duke didn't engage, BAM! Head-sitting time.
• The Great Google Search: Yep, I went there. "Why does my puppy sit on my older dog's head?" The internet is a magical place. I saw everything from dominance theories to "your puppy is just a weirdo." Honestly, the weirdo explanation seemed pretty plausible.
• The Comfort Test: My buddy suggested Max might see Duke as a big, furry pillow. So, I tried providing Max with his own super-plush dog bed. Did it stop the head-sitting? Nope. Worth a shot though, right?
• Distraction Tactics: Whenever I saw Max heading towards Duke with that "I'm about to park my rear end on your face" look, I'd redirect him. A quick "Max, toy!" and a toss of his favorite squeaky ball usually worked. At least temporarily.
• The "Leave It" Lesson: I started working on "leave it" commands. This is still a work in progress. Puppies have the attention span of a goldfish. But hey, slow progress is still progress.

So, what's the verdict?

Honestly, I'm still not 100% sure why Max is doing it. Could be a dominance thing, could be a comfort thing, could just be plain puppy silliness. What I am doing is trying to discourage the behavior through redirection and training. It's not about punishing Max; it's about teaching him that Duke’s head is not a personal seat.

Duke seems to be tolerating it (for now), but I don't want him getting annoyed. Plus, it’s just kinda rude, you know? I'll keep you all updated on the head-sitting saga. Wish me luck!