Why Do Dogs Hate Having Their Paws Touched? •

Last updated on November 26th, 2023 at 07:07 pm

If you have ever tried to touch or hold your dog’s paws, you probably noticed your dog did not like it. Your dog may have jerked or pulled his paw back from your reach. This is common and normal, so don’t be alarmed.

Dogs hate having their paws touched due to the sensitive nerve endings extending into their feet. Additionally, a dog’s paws are essential survival tools, so they will naturally feel protective of them.

Why Dogs Are Protective of their Paws

Many dogs are hyper sensitive to when it comes to their precious little feet! I have noticed that if I lightly lay my hand on my dog’s paw, she is usually OK with this. However, if I grab or hold her paw, she is not happy and will pull away from me. This behavior can be attributed to a combination of factors, including both instinctual and learned behaviors:

Paws are Sensitive: Dogs have a high concentration of nerve endings in their feet, making them particularly sensitive to touch. This sensitivity can make paw handling uncomfortable or even painful for some dogs.

Vulnerability: A dog’s paws are vulnerable areas. In the wild, a dog’s paws are crucial for survival, as they provide traction, balance, and a means of defending themselves. When a dog’s paws are touched, they may feel exposed and vulnerable, leading to a defensive or fearful response.

Lack of Control: Dogs like to maintain control over their bodies and movements. When someone touches their paws, they might feel a loss of control, leading to anxiety or resistance.

Previous Negative Experiences: If a dog has had negative experiences with paw handling in the past, such as being hurt during grooming or medical procedures, they may develop a negative association with having their paws touched.

Lack of Socialization: Dogs that have not been adequately socialized to various types of handling, including paw touching, may be more prone to react negatively to such interactions during their early developmental stages.

Dominance and Submission Dynamics: In some cases, a dog may interpret paw touching as a dominant or submissive gesture, depending on the context and their relationship with the person doing the touching. This can lead to resistance or discomfort.

The functionality of a Dog’s Paw

Dogs Use Their Feet for More than Just Running!

Mobility and Locomotion: A dog’s paws are designed to facilitate movement. The padding on the paw cushions the impact when the dog walks, runs, jumps, or lands, helping to reduce stress on their bones and joints.

Traction, Stability, Balance, and Coordination: The paw pads contain textured surfaces that provide traction on different types of terrain. This allows dogs to maintain stability and grip while walking or running on various surfaces, including slippery ones. Dogs also use their paws to maintain balance and coordination on uneven or challenging terrain.

A Dog’s Paws Are Important Tools

Think of a dog’s fore feet as their “hands”. Yes, they use all four feet for running. But they also use their front paws to reach out and touch another dog or to paw at you. Dogs use their paws to hold onto things like toys or bones as they chew on them. It is really pretty amazing how functional they are — more than we realize.

Here are some additional functions of a dog’s paw:

Communication and Interaction: Dogs use their paws for communication with humans and other animals. They might paw at people to seek attention, play, or signal their needs. Paws can also be used in social interactions, such as when dogs playfully engage with each other by batting or pawing.

Exploration and Manipulation: Dogs use their paws to explore their environment, touch objects, and manipulate items. Paws enable dogs to investigate scents, textures, and objects by touching and feeling them.

Heat Regulation: Dogs can sweat through their paw pads, which can help regulate body temperature to some extent. Sweating from the paws contributes to a dog’s cooling mechanisms, especially in hot weather.

Protection and Defense: The structure of a dog’s paw provides protection against rough surfaces, debris, and extreme temperatures. In the wild, dogs also use their paws for digging, which can serve as a means of shelter or hunting.

Grooming: Dogs often use their mouths and paws to groom themselves, particularly when cleaning their faces. Paws may be used to wipe or scratch areas that are difficult to reach with their mouths.

Overall, a dog’s paw is a versatile and essential part of their anatomy that plays a significant role in their everyday activities and interactions with their environment and other animals.

Getting Your Dog Used to Having Their Paws Touched

Puppies who are used to being handled and held at a young age will be much more comfortable with you handling their paws. However, if you adopted an older dog from a shelter or rescue group, they may be lacking in this important socialization. Therefore, you will want to introduce them slowly to having their feet handled.

You can start with general petting and patting before touching more sensitive areas such as their feet, the top of their head, or their tails. These are the vulnerable areas.

Gently teaching your dog to “shake” is a great way to reduce some of their anxiety. Use high-value treats and turn the training into a fun activity so your dog will look forward to it. But just let your dog lay his paw on your hand, and don’t try to squeeze or hold it. This will reduce your dog’s feeling of being vulnerable.

Eventually, you may be able to trim your dog’s nails or have a groomer do this for you. Keeping nails short is essential for your dog’s health as well as your own safety. I have received some pretty wicked scratches from my dog, Charlotte when I let her nails get too long! And, if a dog’s nails get too long, it will interfere with their walking and may cause discomfort.

Another reason for handling your dog’s feet is to provide first aid if your dog picks up a burr or has an injury. My dog Charlotte is not very cooperative if she has a scraped foot, but I can sometimes manage to apply antibiotic ointment to a small cut on her pad. For more information about home treatment, see Whole Food Journal’s excellent post about treating paw injuries.

Final Thoughts

Dogs are very sensitive to having their paws touched, but it may be necessary that they allow you to touch or handle them. They may need to have a burr removed or have an injury treated. And all dogs need to have their nails trimmed periodically.

Just don’t force your dog to do anything they are really frightened of. Be as gentle as you can and get some help from your vet or a trainer if necessary.

Deanna Euritt is a dedicated dog enthusiast with over three decades of experience in raising and training a diverse range of dogs, including many rescue pups. Her practical expertise is rooted in real-life experiences, where she has successfully navigated the challenges of nurturing rescue dogs into confident, well-adjusted companions. Residing in Northern California, Deanna’s days are filled with adventures along trails and beaches with her beloved dogs, Charlotte and Georgia. In her writing, she offers insightful, compassionate advice to fellow dog lovers, leveraging her extensive personal journey in the world of dog care and training. Visit us on Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and FlipBoard (+ icon below)  See our full story — About Us.