Why does my dog keep climbing on me?

Every dog owner knows that their furry friend exhibits odd behaviors at times. Most of these quirks are harmless and cute. We laugh when our dogs chase their tails until they get dizzy and fall over. We take videos of them licking the last bit of peanut butter from the jar or twitching in their sleep. Nightly zoomies are part of our routine as dog owners. We find random chew toys buried in our laundry and half-eaten treats underneath the couch.

Even though our pets’ weirdness is part of their charm, sometimes we have to ask why they behave in strange ways. One question many dog owners have is: Why does my dog stand on me? Perhaps your 80-pound Labrador Retriever thinks they’re a lap dog who needs to stand on you every time you sit down. Does this sound familiar?

Standing on their human is a common behavior among dogs of all sizes. There can be many reasons why your dog does this, including personality, training, and health. Let’s take a look at the most common reasons dogs like to stand on their humans and discuss when there might be cause for concern.

The 7 Reasons for The Behavior

One of the most common reasons our dogs love to stand on us is because they want attention. Dogs are social animals. They also become very attached to their humans. When we spend too much time on our laptops or have been out all day, our dogs miss us.

Sometimes your dog will try to engage by sharing a toy or barking. Other times, they take the direct approach of standing right on top of your lap when you sit down. If you’ve ever experienced this, you know it is often accompanied by a direct gaze into your eyes. Your dog is telling you that you’ve done enough other stuff today and it’s time to pay attention to them.

Even if you spend plenty of time playing with your dog and showering them with attention, they still might climb on top of you when you sit on the couch. Often, this is their way of demonstrating they care. Dogs like to show their owners that they love them. Getting close can be a way to do that.

Your dog may also want your affection. Standing right on top of you can be their way of asking for pets and ear scratches. Give them a few pets and they may hop down or settle in for a long cuddle session in your lap.

Image Credit: Gorodenkoff, Shutterstock

We talk to our dogs, but they cannot return the favor. If your dog is sick, the only way it can communicate with you is through body language and behavior. As a pet owner, you know your animal and its normal personality. If your usually playful and energetic dog is suddenly subdued and clingy, this can be a clue that something isn’t right in their world.

There are many signs your dog might be ill, such as limping, shaking, panting, excessive licking, or changing appetite. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, paired with an increased need to be near you, you should call your veterinarian.

Although we don’t know exactly how they do it, dogs can sense when something is wrong or different in their humans. They may be able to smell a change in your body or notice some other shift.

When your dog does notice something off, they want to protect you. Standing on you is one way they do this. If you have been under the weather and your dog is more clingy than usual, it might be a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor.

If your dog has received cuddles and attention from standing on you before, they are likely to do it again. Dogs are smart and remember being rewarded for specific behavior. Since standing on you elicited affection in the past, your dog will do it again when they want the same result.

Image Credit: Page Light Studios, Shutterstock

Even if your dog isn’t ill, they still might be feeling anxious about something. Maybe a thunderstorm is on the way or they are in an unfamiliar situation where they feel uncomfortable. Some dogs are afraid of loud noises or strangers. This fear can create a need to be close to you.

Your closeness and affection can provide comfort for a scared or anxious dog. Tucking their tail between their legs can be one sign that your dog’s hovering is caused by anxiety. If your pet is prone to anxiety in new situations or is easily frightened, you should discuss these behaviors with your vet. They can offer tips on working with your dog to overcome their fears.

• Related read: Why Does My Dog’s Breath Smell? 6 Causes & How To Fix It!

If your dog is standing on you and also exhibiting hostile behavior such as growling or snapping, you should seek advice from your vet immediately. They can recommend a dog trainer and other actions to curb aggressive behavior before it becomes a problem. Letting this behavior go unchecked can lead to future issues. Since sudden, unusual aggression can also be a sign of an underlying issue such as illness or fear, it is important to seek help from a professional.

Next on your reading list:

Possible Solutions

Most of the reasons your dog stands on you are not a cause for concern. However, if it does become problematic, there are steps you can take to lessen the behavior.

Maintain a routine and feeding schedule to curb their anxiety. Pay attention to changes in your dog’s behavior and temperament, and talk with your veterinarian if you notice anything unusual.

Finally, make sure you are giving your dog the exercise and attention they need every day. If your dog craves affection, give them plenty of love and cuddles. After all, love is the best gift our pets can share.

Check out some other interesting dog reads below:

Featured Image Credit: Tatyana Vyc, shutterstock

Jumping up is a common behavior problem among dogs. You may be annoyed by your excited, overly exuberant dog jumping to greet you the minute you step through the front door. But it can actually be dangerous for small children, people who have physical disabilities, some older people, and people who aren't expecting your dog's greeting.

Most of the time, jumping only indicates that your dog is seeking attention. The good news is that you can train your dog to stop jumping on people and start greeting everyone more politely.

There are a number of theories about why dogs jump up on people; popular among these are dominance and greeting behaviors. The truth is, though, that your dog is probably jumping up to say, "Look at me!"

You might inadvertently be rewarding your dog for jumping up on you by giving it what it wants. As is often true of kids, negative attention may be better than no attention. Your dog doesn't necessarily realize that when you push it off or yell at it to get down that you're attempting to punish it. Instead, your pup may view your behavior as exactly what it's seeking: treasured attention from you.

In this case, any type of attention that the dog gets from you or others may be perceived as a reward. It makes sense then that instead of rewarding your dog for jumping up, you make it more rewarding for it to keep all four paws on the floor.

Why Dogs Jump Up and Down and How to Stop It

Training your dog not to jump up on people takes patience and persistence on your part. Be aware that there are actions that you should take and others that you should avoid. Be consistent when you're training your dog, and you'll be rewarded with a best friend who keeps its front paws to itself.

The first part of teaching a dog not to jump up involves withholding your attention. There are a couple of ways to do this:

• As soon as your dog jumps up, turn your back. Cross your arms over your chest and don't make a sound. If the dog runs around to jump up again, turn the other way. Wait for the dog to stop jumping.
• Another method is to remove yourself altogether. If your dog jumps up when you walk in the door, turn around and walk back outside. If it jumps up when you're inside, walk out of the room. Wait a moment; then step back inside. Repeat this until your dog calms down.

When you're working on preventing unwanted jumping, it can really help to keep some treats close at hand. As soon as your dog is standing in front of you with all four paws on the ground, toss it a treat. Praise your dog as well, but keep things low-key. Too much excitement and attention from you may stimulate another round of jumping.

It helps if you can set up situations to practice with your dog. For instance, if the jumping occurs most often when you come home after work, spend a few minutes several times a day coming and going. Don't make a big fuss over your dog and step back outside if it jumps up. Offer a reward anytime all four feet are simultaneously on the floor.

Once your dog is able to keep four paws on the floor for a few seconds or more, start asking it to sit. Walk into a room or through the front door and give the command "sit." As soon as the dog sits, offer a treat. Practice this over several training sessions. With plenty of repetitions, your dog will start sitting as soon as you walk through the door or enter the room.

It's not enough that you practice with your dog. You should also involve friends and family in this training. Otherwise, your dog may learn that it's not OK to jump up on you but everyone else is fair game. Having other people help with this training teaches your dog to keep all four paws down no matter who comes into the room.

You may have heard about methods of training a dog not to jump that call for some form of punishment or aversive. One such method is a knee to the dog's chest. Another is using leash correction—pulling or yanking on the leash—to get the dog off you. There are several problems with these methods:

• If you knee or leash correct your dog too harshly or improperly, you can seriously injure the dog.
• When you use a knee to the chest, you may knock your dog down, but the dog may interpret this as your way of initiating play. Your dog's response will likely be to jump up again to continue the game because you've actually reinforced the behavior you're trying to stop.
• Your dog may learn not to jump up only when it's on ​a leash. Since most dogs aren't leashed 24/7, chances are your dog will have plenty of opportunities to get away with jumping up when it's off its leash.

If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet.