Sign of Submission
Canines have endless ways to communicate submission; covering their face with their paws is one of them. Staring into someone’s eyes is a sign of aggression, so your pup is taking it a step further than avoiding eye contact by covering their eyes.
Grooming
It takes some work to be gorgeous, and your fur baby grooms theirface with their claws (and tongue where it can reach). Removing dirt, food, or anything on their beautiful face requires paw and claw action.
Embarrassment
Dogs can feel a kind of embarrassment that may not be as complicated as human embarrassment. They might cover their eyes when they feel silly about falling or knocking something over.
Itchy Eyes
Just like we use our fingernails, our fur babies scratch their eyes–or any body part– with their claws. If you notice your pup is rubbing their eyes a lot, try to observe if it’s after going out or after eating in case they have seasonal or food allergies. Your vet can perform an allergy test to determine if Fido is allergic to indoor allergens, trees/grass or if you need to change their food.
If their eyes are red or watery, they might have an eye issue. Your vet can examine your fur baby’s eyes for glaucoma, eyelid abnormalities, tear duct issues, dry eye, vitamin deficiency, tumours, poisoning and cherry eye.
We Tell Them How Cute It Is
Of course, they’re going to cover their faces with their paws repeatedly after we make a big fuss over how adorable they are when they do it. Positive reinforcement strikes again.
They May Be in Pain
Painful conditions like ear infections, dental problems and arthritis might drive your doggo to cover their face with their paws. They may be trying to communicate to you that something’s wrong or trying to relieve the pain.
A vet should examine your pup for ear infections and dental problems. They will clean out your pet’s ear and give you medication. Dental problems sometimes require cleaning or surgery. Brushing your doggo’s teeth regularly is important to avoid dental issues. Your vet may recommend arthritis treatments like cold laser therapy, acupuncture, massage, hydrotherapy, glucosamine supplements, weight loss, food fortified with omega 3/glucosamine/chondroitin and CBD oil.
Keep The Light Out of Their Eyes
They just want to take a nap without the sun scorching their eyelids. Without a doggy sleeping eye mask, they are left to their own devices and sometimes end up placing their paws over their eyes.
Blocking A Bad Smell From Entering The Nose
Doggies have such a powerful sense of smell. Imagine a scent that sickens you and multiply it by 10,000 to 100,000. I hope that blocking their nostrils with their paws is effective.
Sadness
An upset pooch may cover its face with its paws. If you notice your pup isn’t sleeping well, isn’t eating normally, is being clingy, has lost interest in things they enjoy (playing, walking, etc.), is having accidents in the house, is licking its paws or any part of themself excessively or is being destructive, they may be depressed.
Make sure you give your dog a lot of attention and treats if they take them. Is there anything that has changed that may have upset him? Losing a household pet has a profound effect on a dog as well as the human members of the family. Stimulate your pooch with exercise, going on outings, socializing, training exercises, playing with toys, omega 3 and 6 supplements and try CBD oil and essential oils. If your dog is still sad, a vet should examine him to rule out physical issues.
Anxiety and Stress
Your doggy may be anxious or stressed if they’re covering their face with their paws. Try to figure out if something is happening in your house or neighbourhood that’s noisy or worrying her. You could try CBD oil or essential oils. They both have soothed dogs with anxiety and stress. Confident dogs are usually emotionally healthy. Confidence is created through mental and physical stimulation: walks, interactive toys, visits to the park and training exercises all help.
Should You Stop Your Pup From Covering Their Eyes With His Paws?
It’s a natural habit and shouldn’t harm your dog. However, you must ensure they’re not doing it because of a physical illness or emotional issue. If so, you can address the problem.
Summary
Dogs cover their faces with their paws for several reasons: it’s a sign of submission, grooming, embarrassment, to scratch itchy eyes, they know we think it’s cute, they are in pain, to keep the light out of their eyes, to block a bad smell from their nostrils, sadness and when they are anxious or scared.
