Canine language is full of quirks, and not always fully understood by humans. Few people know why dogs spin around before pooping or why they sniff other dogs' tails, for example. But one canine behavior that always gets a lot of attention from guardians is when the animal raises its paw for no apparent reason. Have you ever wondered why that is?happens and what does the dog mean by this behavior? Then the time has come to unravel the mystery.

In dog language, the dog with its front paw raised is an invitation to play

You may have already noticed that canine body language changes according to the situation, right? During walks, the dog raises its paw to concentrate and identify a specific smell more accurately, but when the animal is at home, relaxed and relaxed, the raised dog paw is a way to call you to play. When this happens, the invitation usually comesaccompanied by a change in posture soon afterwards: the dog extends its front paws and lowers its head, with its tail wagging from side to side. Animated barking is also usually present.

Even with environmental enrichment and various toys available to the puppy, he may miss the daily contact with the guardian. So it is very important to set aside a little time of your day to play with the dog and strengthen the bond between you.

Canine language: when a dog raises its paw on walks, it is sniffing for prey

In some cases, the dog paw signals a request for affection

Dogs are naturally more attached to their owners and like to be pampered all the time, especially with cuddles. Therefore, sometimes the dog raises its paw as a way to get the attention of the guardian and ask for a little affection. At these times, canine body language uses the most diverse tricks to get what it wants, ranging from the famous pouty look to lickingThe most well-known behavior is when the dog's front paw lifts up and goes to the guardian, usually touching their hand or knee. It is also common for the puppy to repeat this gesture to keep getting affection without stopping.

The raised dog paw is also part of the natural hunting instinct

Dogs have been domesticated for centuries, but some natural instincts endure to this day, such as the dog's paw that suddenly rises during walks. The behaviour is part of the species' hunting instinct: when the dog is sniffing or smells prey, it automatically raises its front paw out of pure reflex. This indicates concentration and focus and helps thedoggy to locate its target more easily.

On certain occasions, other odors can also serve as a stimulus for the manifestation of this canine body language, such as the smell of a delicious food or even to track a female in heat.