Why does my dog lean on things?

If your dog has been leaning on things a lot, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do to get it to stop.

So, why does my dog lean on things? Possible reasons why your dog leans on things are that it simply likes the feeling, it feels safer by having its back against something, injury or that it is less strong due to old age.

Since there are a number of possible causes, it would help to consider what would make each of them more likely. Once you have a good idea of the main cause, it should become a lot easier to get your dog to stop doing it.

Why your dog leans on things

Below are a number of possible reasons why your dog has been doing it and what would make each of them more likely.

It makes it feel safer

The reason why your dog has been doing it might be that it makes your dog feel safer. By leaning against something such as a wall, it will make your dog feel like its back is protected and that nothing can sneak up on it. This would be less likely if it also leans on things such as a table leg that does not really protect its back.

Injury

Another possible cause is that it has gotten an injury and it has been leaning on things to support itself. This would be more likely if your dog has started doing it suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of injury such as limping. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.

It likes the feeling

The cause might also be that it simply likes the feeling. This would be more likely if it also rubs itself against the thing it is leaning on, the thing it leans on is cool such as a wall and if it tends to lean on a specific object.

Age

Another possible cause is that it has been leaning on things due to being weaker as a result of old age. This would be more likely if your dog has gradually started leaning on things more and more as it has gotten older.

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.

If your dog has always leaned on things

If your dog did not always lean on things, it would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as getting an injury or a rash.

What is different when it does it

It would also help to consider if there is anything special about the timing that your dog tends to lean against things. For example, if it only seems to lean against you, when you are outside, it might be doing it because it is being protective or because it makes your dog feel safer.

How often it does it

It would also help to consider how often it has been leaning on things. If it has been leaning on things constantly and it has been hesitant to move around, it would be more likely to be due to an injury. Whereas, if it only does it occasionally, it would be more likely to be due to finding it comfortable.

How it has been behaving at other times

It would also help to consider how it has been behaving at other times as well. If it has also started behaving unusually in other ways such as by limping or not wanting to go on walks, it would also be more likely to be due to an injury.

What to do about your dog leaning on things

Below are some options you have if you want to get your dog to stop doing it.

Avoid encouraging it

It might be the case that you have encouraged it to lean on certain objects by giving your dog things it wants when it leans on them. Instead, it would help to reward it when it does not lean on things and to try to redirect its focus when it is about to do it.

Ensure that it is not due to an injury

If your dog seems like it could be doing it due to an injury, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so, you should be able to rule out injury as a possible cause and to get expert advice tailored towards your particular dog.

Let it do it

Another option would be to simply allow your dog to continue doing it since it is unlikely to be doing any harm by leaning on things.