Ever wondered why dogs sit on other dogs? Find out!

Alright folks, gather 'round! Today, I'm spilling the beans on something I've been observing and, let's be honest, kinda obsessing over with my own pups: why dogs sit on other dogs. It's weird, right? So, I dove in headfirst to figure this out.

First off, I started with the obvious – watching my own dogs like a hawk. I've got a couple of lovable goofballs, a golden retriever and a smaller terrier mix. I noticed the retriever, usually the chillest dude ever, would sometimes just plop his butt right on top of the terrier. The terrier, bless his heart, usually just sighed and dealt with it. That was my starting point.

Then, I hit the books, well, the internet. I started searching for anything and everything related to dog behavior, dominance, and even canine communication. I looked at a bunch of different articles and forum posts – some were helpful, some were… not so much. You know how the internet is.

Here's what I pieced together: Turns out, there isn't one single "aha!" answer. It's usually a mix of things. One big factor seems to be asserting dominance. Now, I'm not talking full-on alpha dog aggression here. It's more like a "Hey, I'm bigger and I'm here" kinda vibe. My retriever's definitely bigger, so that tracks.

Another thing I learned is that it can be a play thing. Dogs are weird, and sometimes they just like to mess with each other. It's like a canine version of "I'm not touching you!" My terrier, being the playful little guy he is, will sometimes try to instigate it, then get all huffy when the retriever actually sits on him. Go figure.

But then came the curveball. I noticed that sometimes, the retriever would only sit on the terrier when the terrier was getting attention from me. That got me thinking about resource guarding. It wasn't just about being dominant, it was about being like "Hey, that's my human!"

So, after weeks of observation and research (and probably annoying my dogs with all my staring), here’s my takeaway: it's complicated. It's a mix of dominance, play, and sometimes even resource guarding. The key is to pay attention to the context. When is it happening? What's the body language of both dogs? Are they relaxed, tense, playful, or aggressive?

Here's a quick breakdown of what I look for now:

• Relaxed posture: If both dogs seem chill, it's probably just play or affection.
• Tense posture, growling, or snapping: This is a sign of aggression, and you need to intervene.
• Occurs when one dog is getting attention: Could be resource guarding.

The most important thing is to know your dogs and their personalities. If you see anything that seems off or makes you uncomfortable, don't hesitate to step in and redirect their behavior. After all, we're their pack leaders, and it's our job to keep the peace!

Final thoughts? Dog behavior is fascinating and often hilarious. I'm still learning new things every day. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go give my dogs some love… and maybe keep a closer eye on who's sitting on who.