Why Do Dogs Rub Their Face On The Carpet - T-Tees - Your Answers Await, Life's Questions Unraveled

A pet owner who was wondering what it means when her dog rubs her face has been given the answer to her question by a leading expert.

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Soffie the Shiranian’s owner always thought it was her dog’s way of thanking her for a meal, but Richard West from Puppyhero, a website designed to help users find puppies from ethical sources, says otherwise.

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“As a dog expert, and a canine parent, I have learnt that virtually every act, demonstrated by dogs, is their own way of either communicating a feeling, or a need to us, or just them trying to express feelings of satisfaction or distress,” he told Newsweek.

However, when it comes to why dogs rub their face against a surface after eating, West believes it’s a little more complicated than that.

It seems like rarely a day goes by in which a dog does something that surprises us. Much of that is down to their intelligence. Psychologist and leading canine researcher Dr. Stanley Coren estimates that canines possess a level of intelligence that is on par with a human child aged between 2 and 3.

“There are three types of dog intelligence,” Dr Coren told the American Psychological Association. “Instinctive (what the dog is bred to do), adaptive (how well the dog learns from its environment to solve problems) and working and obedience (the equivalent of ‘school learning’).”

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It’s difficult to know which of these behaviors the after dinner antics of Soffie the Shiranian fall under. They certainly left her owner baffled, which is why she took to TikTok, posting under the handle soffie.thepomshih to ask: “Does your dog also do this after eating?”

In the 10-second video posted to social media, Soffie can be seen rubbing her face on a mat and then the mattress of a bed. You can watch the video here.

A voiceover says: “When you see your dog rubbing her face, especially after eating, just know they are happy and they may be thanking you for the meal.” At the time of writing, the video has been watched over 2 million times, sparking lively debate in the clip’s comments section.

One dog owner thought their pet was just using these surfaces “as a napkin.” Another claimed it was likely an “allergic reaction.” A third said: “My pup does it every time after bathing her” with a fourth adding: “My dog does this after a good meal, but also when happy after walkies.”

Elsewhere, one wrote: “Our dog does it after we come back in from our daily walks…always rubs his face and body on the side of the sofa” while another said: “My vet had told me that if my Maltese rub his face after eating every day, that means that he is allergic to some of the substances that he eats.”

West has a slightly different take on the true meaning. In his expert opinion, there are likely two meanings to this kind of canine behavior.

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“The truth is, it is quite easy for dogs to pick up habits from their owners, even when it is not your intention to teach them,” he told Newsweek. “Your dog observes you when you eat, and they see how you wipe your face with a napkin after a meal (or how your little child wipes their hands over their face, just to get rid of those leftovers glued to their face). Hence it is only natural for them to want to imitate you, even when there is nothing to wipe off.”

Alternatively, West believes that sometimes, the most obvious answer is the right one. “It’s their natural way of getting rid of that extra piece of food stuck in their fur,” he said. “The thing is, after a meal, bits and pieces of food get stuck around their faces, and they feel it, and because it makes them uncomfortable, they want to get rid of it, and rubbing their faces against the closest surface, is what comes naturally to them.”

In either case, fundamentally, West believes this type of behavior could well be, on some level, a dog’s way of “expressing satisfaction and joy after a hearty meal.”

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

Stock image of a dog rubbing his face on the grass. A pet expert has offered insight into what this type of behavior means. Stock image of a dog rubbing his face on the grass. A pet expert has offered insight into what this type of behavior means. Dona Shiell/Getty

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Category: WHY