Why Does Woody Paw Me?

[JoHarborne]

I hope there's somebody out there who's a behavioural expert because this is driving me mad!

I spend a lot of time with Woody - I'm usually with him most of the day - and quite often I'll sit on the floor with him and we'll chat and I'll be cuddling him or he'll sit on me while I watch TV and we'll have lots of love and cuddles.  

But he will insist on pawing me - on my face usually - which can result in his nails catching my lip or even (in my husband's case) his eye.  Why does Woody do this?  We're giving him loads of attention and talking to him all the time and up comes his right paw and he starts scratching at us.

Does anybody know?    

[cbabe]

I't affection - he is trying to communicate with you! Bryony and Amanda's Indie are little beggars for this - even trying to 'hold' your chin so they can kiss it!

He may be asking for you to stroke him or wants a pomp, or a kiss - who knows!

[Gilly]

Buttons does it all the time, in fact she did it to my face this morning while I was in bed and the side of my nose is now all red  
Buttons does it if you are stroking her and you stop, or if your not stroking her, or if she wants stroking   which is alot so I regularly have scratches on my face and arms  

[TOPAZ BILLY]

Billy and Abby do it, Billy does it if he wants you to stroke him, Abby does it even if you are stroking her because she wants you to look at her whilst you are doing it and if you try and talk to anybody whilst you are stroking her she will bat at your face.

Michelle

[Sharon]

My Rosie does this when I'm on the telephone......I think it's her way of saying 'hey mum, don't forget me!'

[Magic Star]

Indie is another pawer   If we stop stroking her out comes the paw on your hand or arm, then she tries to hold onto it   She also paws the air when shes after your food  

[Jessica's Mum]

Jessica paws whether she's being stroked  or wants to be stroked
 She also does it to get you up in the morning!
Sometimes I'm left with long red scratches down the side of my neck
It is just an affection thing with her..... she loves attention!

[Pammy]

interestingly - both Jasper and his sister do this - yet Buddy and Ollie - Jasper's sisters co-pooch, don't.

Jasp and Minnie do it in exactly the same way - and can get quite violent with it  

[*Jay*]

Buttons does it if you are stroking her and you stop, or if your not stroking her, or if she wants stroking   which is alot so I regularly have scratches on my face and arms  

Vegas is exactly the same  

[Gilly]

It's funny Pammy as Roana (my friends cocker) doesn't do it either...so I suppose not all cockers do it...just a "gifted" few    

[suzysu]

Georgie does this and especially when I'm on COL - she knocks my hand off the keyboard and if I continue she goes round to the other side and does the same - bless her !!!    

[Luvly]

  

[suki1964]

Alfies the same when Im on the Pc, gets his head up under my arm and knocks it out of the way untill hes getting cuddled Gunnar was the same

[JoHarborne]

So we're not alone then!!  I do find it quite endearing but it's a bit painful if Woody catches me on my lip.  His nails are quite short though because our garden is all paved and our downstairs is all wooden floors/ceramic tiles/laminate.  It was far worse when he was little and didn't venture out very much.