It turns out you can't let a dog put its paws on a person.

Not all dog owners believe it's necessary to prevent their pets from placing their front paws on people or jumping on them. Some owners believe this habit is harmless, while others believe it's the only way a dog can express its joy at seeing its owner upon returning home. However, dog trainers believe this behavior is completely unacceptable and should be stopped immediately. We'll explain the reasons why in our article.

This is detrimental to the training of dogs.

In a dog pack, placing a paw on the back or, especially, on the head of a fellow dog is considered a sign of dominance. Only the pack leader and the strongest individuals, who enjoy authority among the other animals in the pack, are allowed to do so.

However, small puppies also do this, trying to attract the attention of adult dogs, especially their mother. But once the puppies grow up, the first time they try to lay a paw on another dog, they receive a severe beating, after which they forever remember that in a pack, such liberties are allowed only to the strongest individuals.

Allowing your pet to place its front paws on you is a way of acknowledging its dominance. Allowing a dog to do this can lead to it believing it is the pack leader, and therefore, its owners have no right to command it. This will inevitably lead to difficulties during training, as in addition to actually teaching commands, the owner will also have to prove their leadership to the pet.

In addition, large dogs of serious breeds, accustomed from puppyhood to jumping on people or putting their paws on them, for the same reason can become uncontrollable and potentially dangerous to other animals or people.

It may be dangerous

If there are children or elderly people in the family, a pet's habit of placing its front paws on its owners can also be dangerous. After all, by suddenly jumping on a child or elderly person, the animal could knock them down or seriously injure them with its claws. Furthermore, the dog could seriously frighten the child, which could lead to serious phobias and even nervous disorders.

It's not very clean.

Some dog owners believe that if their pet puts its paws on them at home, there's nothing wrong with hygiene. However, they forget that animals don't always understand the difference between indoors and outdoors. Having gotten used to jumping on their owners and putting its paws on them in a clean apartment, a dog will sooner or later decide to do the same during walks. So, if you find your pet's habit of putting its paws on you at home cute, consider this: would you want your dog running through puddles or slush in the rain and getting its dirty paws on your new suit? Furthermore, your pet could accidentally tear your clothes with its claws, or even injure its paw if it gets caught in the fabric.

There's nothing cute about dogs' habit of putting their paws on people, nor is there anything worthy of praise and encouragement. After all, jumping on people and putting their front paws on them can stain or even tear clothing, and if they're children or the elderly, they can also knock them down or frighten them. Furthermore, putting their paws on other dogs in a pack is seen as a sign of dominance, and by allowing your pet to do so, you're acknowledging their right to leadership within the family. This is why experienced dog trainers recommend breaking this harmful and unsightly habit as soon as possible. It can also be dangerous for both the owner and the pet, and can create serious difficulties during training.