I’m no threat, pal.” 4. Sort of like they’re saying, “Hey we’re cool. When your dog is let loose after a bath you might observe him rolling around on the ground. “Pay attention to me!” What does it mean when a dog rubs his head against your head? Sweet! Context is key when dog rubs head against person. ... accommodate her sleeping needs and tells you when she will eat, how she would like it … Why Does My Dog Rub His Face On The Carpet? A friend of mine asked while we were walking in the dog park. . There are several different reasons why your dog may be rubbing his face. She also does it after she comes in from the rain, and it’s just a way for her to help dry off. Sometimes she will rub nose, sniff food in bowl, then rub nose again. I laughed and said that my dogs do the same, but I’ve never given it much thought. It can become a harmless habit. That means that most dogs will feel the urge to poop within 30 minutes after eating. Your dog might simply enjoy the texture of the carpet or furniture in question, just as dogs very much enjoy the feeling of grass under their feet. He may also rub his face against the carpet or on a piece of furniture over and over again. It's just a compulsive quirk that he does, much like you might tap your foot or fingers. Lab/hound mix, 3 years old. He may have a mucky face that he just wants to clean, or he may simply just like the feeling of rubbing his face on the carpet so will go for a good head rub … Sometimes a dog who rubs his face on the ground has nothing wrong with him, though. We spoke with Dr. Kim Smyth, staff veterinarian and pet health writer at Petplan Pet Insurance to get some more in-depth answers to our questions. My dog will rub her nose on the floor a few times before eating out of her bowl. . Many dogs like to rub on furniture after a bath, as well, when they are still wet. There could be a number of reasons why your dog is rubbing his face on the carpet. However, her question intrigued me, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Recently, there was an article sweeping the internet about “head pressing.” Although rare, it is something to watch for, especially if your dog suffers from one of the conditions that can cause head pressing. It's certainly a good reason to stick a canine nose as close to the scent source as possible and inhale all that wonderful aroma. If you can, try to walk your dog outside on a leash after … One thing to keep in mind is that dogs, just like people, have a “gastrocolic reflex”, which simply means that their GI system is stimulated by eating. ... and then eat the scrap. Now and then a dog will encounter a rewarding tidbit with a pungent smell; it's like a person finding a twenty-dollar bill on the ground. Check out what I learned in my research! When people say their dog is mouthing them, they generally mean that their dog is putting his mouth and teeth on their body with very little (or no) pressure. Either something in the environment causes your dog to mouth you, or something that happens after your dog mouths you rewards his behavior — or both. Sometimes, the underlying reason behind why a dog might like to rub their face on odd things is as simple as that it feels good, or smells good. Your veterinarian will do a thorough examination to see if something is out of the ordinary and could send you to a neurologist for a more in-depth evaluation. . Dogs love physical contact -- hence the requests for belly rubs and chin scratches -- and he may be doing this during the day while everyone is gone to satisfy that need. It’s just another way for dogs to dry off. When a dog rubs his face around another dog’s muzzle, almost like a face massage with a few licks thrown in there, that’s a dog’s way of giving respect to another dog, or showing submission. When a dog rubs his face he may use both of his paws or just one paw and consistently rub it to ease any pain he may be having. After my dog has a bath she’ll run around the house and start rubbing her body up against the furniture.