Is this dominance?

[ForeverCanine]

My Neapolitan Mastiff sometimes will come up to me and sit on me. Or lean against me until I fall over. Is him sitting on me him trying to be dominate? Or is he just goofy wanted to play or simply just wants to sit with me?

As long as it's not him trying to gain dominance I'm ok with it. Just don't want to teach him a wrong thing and let him think it's ok if it's really not.

Also how to stop the humping!? I just got this 10 month old Neo puppy from these people who the wife taught the puppy that's it's ok to hump people... She would tell him "just get it all out." Yeah I don't want a 180lb humping dog. How to stop this? He is neutered already.

 

[CeeCee]

It's my understanding that when they sit on you - it all depends on their state of mind. When people or other animals approach you are the trying to prevent access to you? That would actually be resource guarding. Sometimes, they just want to be near us.

If you all don't suffer any consequences - like your pup blowing you off when you give 'em a command or trying to own you, etc. I've always let mine sit one me when they want to (and I want them to).

As for the humping, I don't have much experience with this one, but I would ask is your pup excited? Does he hump when he first meets people? If that's the case, I would not let anyone interact with or acknowledge him until he's calm. If he still tries to hump you, BEFORE he reaches you, I would also walk into his space (forcing him to move away from you), give him a verbal correction and redirect him into a sit or down stay. Reward him when he's polite with all four on the floor.

Again, my two cents not having any humpers in the house.

 

[BradA1878]

My Neapolitan Mastiff sometimes will come up to me and sit on me. Or lean against me until I fall over. Is him sitting on me him trying to be dominate? Or is he just goofy wanted to play or simply just wants to sit with me?

As long as it's not him trying to gain dominance I'm ok with it. Just don't want to teach him a wrong thing and let him think it's ok if it's really not.

Also how to stop the humping!? I just got this 10 month old Neo puppy from these people who the wife taught the puppy that's it's ok to hump people... She would tell him "just get it all out." Yeah I don't want a 180lb humping dog. How to stop this? He is neutered already.

It's not dominance. Don't worry about it. The dominance crazy in dogodom, thanks to Cesar, is largely a giant pile of BS. There are tons of posts from real behaviorists dismissing the alpha/dominance meme in the dog world. If you'd like some links to info, I'm happy to share.

As for humping, just walk away when he does it. He will learn that humping has the opposite affect of what he wants (he gets no attention). Also, he'll likely grow out of it.

 

[DennasMom]

Yep - new home, new rules.
Apply them consistently with lots of patience, and he'll get it.

If the walking away method doesn't work after a few days, try re-directing to a toy or sending him to his "place" at the first inkling of a hump.

Be sure to reward often for things he does that you DO like, too.

 

[Smokeycat]

One thing I taught Kryten was that it wasn't ok to push people over as he is a leaner. If he pushed into me hard enough to move me, I moved and he fell over. He now only leans in enough to rest against someone without moving them, unless they weren't expecting him.

 

[Slobber]

Ive had several dogs but never got anything but love from them. I dont think this is dominance either. actluly i think you and your dog got a close bond with great trust. If you dont mind i would just let him but ive never had a dog that big so i dont know how problematic it would be..some dogs realy like beeng close to the owner. Sounds like boxer i had, he realy wanted to lean or sit on me espessialy when i sat on floor he came running to me only becouse he wanted to sit on me. He allways slept near my feets and followed me evrywhere around the house. I gave him endless love and attention and he realy bacame my baby. He jumped on my back sometimes becouse he wanted me to carry him around like a racksack he slept in my bed evry night and sat next to me in my car. He was truly my best friend. we realy became too addicted to eacothers that i looked at him more like my best friend and closest family and he didnt like spending time with others than me. He didnt listen to others he just waitied depressed for me to come home. Anyways he kept me with great company for almoust 10 years. And i still miss him and think often about him.