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Comment by anshumankmr | Hacker News Reader

I notice this in cats too. There is a stray cat I feed from time to time. When I try to pet her, she does not appreciate it by often trying to scratch me. On the other hand, I stepped on her paw once and she did nothing. Of course, this is anecdotal evidence.

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> When I try to pet her, she does not appreciate it by often trying to scratch me.

Animals will often misinterpret an attempt to pet with an attempt to grab. It helps a lot to attempt to pet with the back of your hand rather than your palm and fingers.

Works with people to. Touch someones back with the back of your hand as you slide through a crowd and people often don't even notice.

Also I did not intentionally step on her paw.

Can confirm.

When my dog was a puppy, he ran around my feet like crazy and I accidentally stepped on his paws a couple of times. He was not mad at me at all, he just learned to keep some distance when going for a walk.

Do dogs do intentional things with their feet other than walking/running? Perhaps they projected this onto you.

Mine would paw for attention or use it to paw/scratch open a door, shake or “high-five” on command.

And of course, nearly every dog uses them to scratch their own itches.

My dog knows how to ring poochiebells with his paw to be let out.[1] I also know a dog who will frequently use her paw to lower the phone in your hand or shut the lid of your laptop as if to say “pay attention to me, not this”.

[1]https://www.amazon.com/PoochieBells-Original-Handcrafted-Col...

I have the exact same ones (for each floor). :)

after training me over some weeks, my dog now paws at me to give her belly scratches (and reassurance in general). =)

My dog often uses his “hands” to get our attention or to ask for doors to be opened.

I used to live with a dog who really, really loved to be petted. He would hop up next to you on the couch while you were reading a book, on a laptop/phone etc and very deliberately hook your forearm with his "wrist" (not sure the right term, first major leg joint above the paw) and pull your hand/arm towards him for pets. Cute the first few times but he was so persistent and deliberate about it, it became a little annoying!

Of course. My sister’s dog is small and careful not to get stepped on, but when she wants attention (which is often), she steps on people’s toes to get it.

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