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MelB

MH
Posts:1217

02/03/2010 6:40 PM
I too have to agree that while leaning in and of itself may be to certain dog specialists a sign of dominance, it depends on the situation and individual dog to totally be put into the proper prospective. My male springer Dundee was a pushy dog. No two ways about it. He did the leaning, he did the continual touching with his feet, the nose nudge when he wanted your attention etc. It was the degree to which he did it that made it a dominant thing, versus a please pet me, or please reassure me thing. Dundee was dominant, he was persistant to the point of being totally obnoxious to people with his demands for attention. He was a body slammer, BUT, this was a game between he and I and he knew it. I did not view this behavior as a dominant thing because it was really a taught behavior that I encouraged him to do with me only when we snuggled. However, if I told him to "be easy" he would gently lay down and for go the body slam. Sniper is a leaner, but Sniper's leans are for reassurance and guidance. He is a very insecure dog and the only time he leans is when he is uncertain about something. On the same token, he is demanding when I come home from work. At this time he is most certainly being demanding and dominant, with hand grabs, jumping and grabbing clothes. We are working on ridding him of these behaviors and replacing them with a more calm method of greeting me and controlling his impulses. Xara is extremely unrepecting of our space when we are sitting in our recliners at night. She has yet to learn she must be invited to sit with us and still just leaps and body slams us. She is being dominant yes, or attempting to be, she is learning she gets slammed back, and off our laps until invited to join us. A work in progress. So I do think that each scenario can be interpreted individually according to the dog, and the situation at the time the behavior is exhibited.

carlower1

Kansas

MH
Posts:1253

02/08/2010 4:56 AM
After reading this thread I started paying closer attention to when Wachter leans on me. I am noticing 2 patterns... 1. when he is feeling insecure, things are kinda crazy around here and he doesn't know what is going on.. he has to have physical contact. 2. When my kids are hormonal or "in a mood" he will lean against me and while most of the time he places himself between me and the kid in question.. not always. Carrie

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4474

02/08/2010 6:38 AM
I have experienced what you all have been saying time and again.I see it this way: What you are really seeing - IMO - is your dog trying to control the situation as best he can. He is 'appealing' to the one in charge to 'take action'. By getting between you he is showing clear dominance,since he is not aggressive his tactics are passive. Stable dogs seek calm,balanced enviroments. They will attempt to create this enviroment when things go haywire.

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

zipty05

MID TN

SH
Posts:46

02/09/2010 6:41 AM
Both of my mine lean. Especially in the morning when I'm getting ready for work and they know I'm about to leave them and Briley loves to get between your legs and look up at you. She does this normally once I get home or before bed or while I'm cooking. So with that being said, I don't think of it as a dominant behavior, I agree with DesertRose's first post. They are just trying to get closer to their human.

Lacy & Adam Nicholas- GSD/Lab Lady- GSD/Lab Tucker- GSP Briley- GSP

birdman652001 User is Offline

MH
Posts:194

02/09/2010 8:16 PM
Mine does this ...

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