Why do dogs jump all over us when we walk through the door? Most of us think that this is just your dog being so happy to see you that he can not contain himself. This is only part of the story, because I have met plenty a dog who is truly happy to see owner and stranger alike and be bursting with joy, but this does not explain why they jump. The answer is this when dogs were wolves the way a wolf pup would eat is by one of the elder wolves would go off and make a kill eat the meat and then come back to the den and the pups would run over jump up on the and lick the corners of the mouth of the elder. This would then cause the elder wolf to regurgitate the food and the pups would feast on the partially digested meat. Now this is not to say that your dog is looking for you to regurgitate your lunch. Your dog is jumping to reach the corners of your mouth to greet you in a very subordinate fashion. You do not see a dog that perceives himself as being “dominant” to his owner run over start jumping all over there owner, this dog will appear to be very aloof and standoffish when you come home. Dogs will jump and lick our faces more as an appeasement gesture or a sign or submissiveness rather than an attempt to get your lunch……… SO now that we understand why they are jumping we have to evaluate our treatment plan….. So squeezing paws, kneeing dogs in the chest and yanking on their collar are pretty harsh punishments for a dog that is just trying to tell you that you are the best thing in their world, don’t you think.
Milard Roper L.Ac., LMT
http://sniffandsit.com
631-327-8094
