Dogs are pets, but first and foremost, they are living beings. Therefore, treating them as such is essential to understanding their behavior, satisfying their needs, and therefore having happy pets at home. Stress can be very detrimental to dogs or cats, so paying attention to these symptoms is essential. “If your dog mounts you constantly, it means they may need a little more activity to release their stress,” says dog trainer Baruch Correa.
This type of reaction is usually a way of channeling pent-up energy
What happens when we see our dogs are overstimulated is usually because they need more activity than they’re getting. Both physical and mental activity. Animals have to release that energy somehow, so “the displacement behavior is that: mounting you,” says the canine expert.
The key is to play more and better, that is, physical activity that truly benefits them and mental activity that helps them become more agile. This type of reaction is usually a way of channeling pent-up energy, so the pet owner’s obligation is to offer the dog what it demands. Correa insists that this isn’t a problem that can be solved overnight. The key is consistency and regular practice until the dog learns to channel its energy appropriately.
Other tips we can follow if we encounter this situation at home are the following: On the one hand, don’t force mounting behavior when it occurs, which means that when the dog mounts us, we shouldn’t pay any attention to it. On the other hand, eliminate punishment, because the dog is clearly not doing it for no reason. Furthermore, it’s not usually effective and can sometimes even reinforce mounting behavior. On the other hand, as we’ve already mentioned, exercise regularly and combine it with play sessions to reduce excess energy and achieve that common adage on the streets: a happy pet.
Neutering usually significantly reduces riding problems, and they may even disappear
When the dog mounts, we can give it a command or a sequence of commands. For example, “sit” or “lie down.” This way, we interrupt the mounting behavior. We should then reward it when it performs the commands we’ve given it. This way, it sees a positive response to its change in behavior. Finally, neutering usually significantly reduces riding problems, and they may even disappear. It’s important to keep in mind that if the dog has learned to mount to relieve stress or for play, it will be able to continue doing so even if it is neutered.
As Baruch Correa says, “This requires patience and a lot of practice until your dog obeys you.” So we have to be patient and understand that just as we may struggle with stress or anxiety, our pets can struggle with it too. Although to a different extent, this is something that can be managed in order to have a more harmonious pace of life at home.
“Dogs get frustrated when they have high expectations about something”
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that some dogs don’t just mount their owners, but also begin to mount objects, toys, other dogs… “Dogs get frustrated when they have high expectations about something that don’t live up to expectations,” says Anna Jovells, ethologist and veterinarian. In this case, the dog may be asking to play or simply wants our attention, and if they don’t get it, they get frustrated and begin to mount our owner or an object.
Finally, it’s important not to neglect obedience training, as it not only helps establish clear communication between owner and pet, but can also be beneficial in reducing stress in dogs. When dogs are well trained, they feel more confident and relaxed in various situations, which can reduce their stress levels. Obedience training also strengthens the emotional bond between the two. Therefore, let’s make sure our pets are calm and have everything they need.
