Why does my dog sit on my head? Here are the common reasons why.

So, my dog started doing this weird thing. Sitting on my head. Yeah, you heard that right. Not my lap, not my feet, but right on top of my noggin. At first, I just kinda pushed him off, thought it was a fluke. But then it kept happening.

I gotta be honest, it's uncomfortable. My neck's not exactly built to support a 40-pound mutt, even if he is adorable. Plus, dog butt near your face isn't exactly ideal. So, I decided I needed to figure this out, like actually watch and see what was going on.

What I Noticed

First thing I did was just observe. When did he do it? What was I doing? What did he do right before?

• Timing: It mostly happened when I was sitting down, usually on the couch or sometimes even in my office chair if I leaned back. Usually when I was focused on something else, like reading or watching TV.
• The Approach: He wouldn't just launch himself up there. He'd usually climb onto the couch back or the armrest first, kinda survey the situation. Then, a quick hop, maybe a little circle, and plop. Down he went.
• My Reaction Matters: If I laughed or gave him attention (even negative attention like yelling), he seemed more likely to try it again later. If I just calmly removed him without a fuss, sometimes he'd give up faster.
• Was it comfy? Honestly, my head doesn't seem that comfortable. Maybe it's warm? Or maybe he just likes being up high?

Trying Stuff Out

Okay, observation done. Time for some trial and error. I wasn't gonna hurt him or anything, just try to understand and maybe redirect.

First, I thought maybe he wanted attention. So, when I saw him getting that look in his eye, eyeing the top of my head, I'd immediately start petting him or talking to him. Give him attention before the head-sit attempt. That actually worked sometimes! He'd forget about my head and just enjoy the scratches.

Then I thought about scent. Dogs are big on smells, right? Maybe he just likes my smell, wants to be covered in it, or wants me covered in his? So, I made sure his favorite blanket was nearby on the couch. Sometimes, if I guided him towards it instead of my head, he'd curl up there. Seemed like he wanted to be close and maybe mix his scent with mine, but the blanket was an acceptable substitute.

Someone mentioned it could be a dominance thing. Like, "I'm higher than you, I'm the boss." I dunno about that for my dog, he's usually pretty chill. But just in case, I made sure I wasn't letting him think he could just walk all over me, literally. When he did manage to land on my head, I wouldn't let him stay. Calmly but firmly, I'd lift him off and place him beside me. No yelling, no game, just "Nope, not happening."

So, What's the Deal?

After all this watching and trying things, I don't think there's just one single reason. It's probably a mix.

He definitely wants attention sometimes. He knows landing on my head gets a reaction, even if I try to stay calm. He's smart like that.

He likes being close. Maybe my head is just the closest available spot when he climbs up the back of the couch. And yeah, it's warm, and he likes warmth.

It could be a scent thing too. Mixing our smells together, making us part of the same pack in his doggy brain.

Honestly, sometimes I think he just does it because he's a weirdo. Dogs do weird stuff. But mostly, I think it boils down to wanting closeness and attention. By giving him attention before he does it, and providing other comfy, scent-marked spots nearby, it happens a lot less now. Still happens occasionally, usually when I've been ignoring him too long while working, but it's manageable. Just gotta keep an eye out for that pre-head-sit maneuver.