Dominance or just Dane?

[Kramers mom]

Kramer is 7 months old and almost 130 pounds now and tends to lean his rear end towards my kids...almost like he's going to sit on them. My heaviest child is 70 pounds so you can see where this is a problem. I push him away from them, but he continues to try to prevent them from playing or block their paths...almost like he's saying "Stop, play with me!" My question is....is this a "dane thing" or something else?

...Ruth

[gmac]

Leaning is definately a Dane thing. I taught Missy to find the sensitive place in Maggie's loin and just poke it with her finger. I know - it sounds stupid, but "somebody" is very sensitive and doesn't like her tickly spot being poked. I didn't tell Daddy the secret though - that way, he thinks Maggie loves him best cause she only leans on him. :7

[Kramers mom]

Too funny Gwenna...thanks for the tip! :)

...Ruth

[mp]

A Dane will use his body to block an adult or child from something the dog considers dangerous. Leaning with the rear end towards the person, however, is typically submissive behaviour. mp

[Ellen]

I have read that leaning (dogs in general) can either be an affectionate thing or a show of dominance depending under what circumstances it occurs. Do you think Danes are different in that respect? That leaning for them is just dane leaning?

[ls1grrrl]

As you said, it depends on the dog and circumstances. I know for a fact that I've had pushy Danes in my training classes, and for them it was a dominance or challenging behavior not an "I love you".

Not all non-Danes that lean are being dominant, and not all Danes that lean are being lovey-dovey.

Regards,
Heather, Oni & Loki
http://hastur.cc/gallery

[Ellen]

It just sure seems that danes lean way more than other breeds (or do we just notice it more cuz they are so hefty :'( )

[Kramers mom]

Well I know he does it to mee too...actually sits on my feet or lap at times...and it isn't a dominance thing with me, because he knows I'm the boss! :) He is also submissive to my lab mix, but will use her as a "stool" at times. I'm just not quite sure how to teach him NOT to do this to my 3, 5, and 8 yr olds...I keep hearing "Help mommy! Kramer won't move!" Poor guy...he doesn't realize his size...still tries to fit his whole self on the front bucket seat of my caravan. Looks at me like "I USED to fit...what's going on?" :(

...Ruth & Kramer

[Ellen]

In post 3 MP had said they will sometimes lean/block protectively. Is it possible that the kids are doing something that makes him behave this way? I can picture my kids at that age getting silly with eachother, like poking fingers into eachothers belly, things like that. Could he be interpreting that behavior as something he wants to stop. It could be the littlest thing. Like 2 kids playing the*who can look at eachother the longest without laughing game*...a dog would not consider that a game and might want to put the squash to it (literally!) Maybe there is a trigger to his doing this that a human would not pick up on casually but maybe could see if they watched for it? Just a thought. :D

[Kramers mom]

Well the instances vary...our kitchen, extra large playroom, and sunroom is gated from the rest of the house. The dogs get this "domain" until Kramer is better trained :). When the kids step over the gate Kramer will be excited to see them and start the leaning. The kids could have been in the playroom for awhile just sitting and playing with their toys, and he wakes up from a nap and starts the leaning. I could be on the computer (in the playroom)and my 3 yr old will walk over to me, and Kramer will block him from actually getting to me. The kids will be sitting on the couch watching TV in the playroom and he will try to sit on their lap and block vision of the TV. It sounds like he's just spoiled and "needs" his attention doesn't it?

...Ruth

[amehhs]

LOL! :7 Sounds like he's trying to sit on them. Gypsy is a year old now and started really sitting on us about a month ago. We were at obedience class the other night and the instructor was telling us something but when he looked over at me just busted out laughing because Gypsy had backed up to me and sat in my lap, the whole while starring at him and listening to him talk.

She seems to do this when my husband first comes home and sits down. She runs over there to sit in his lap. He thinks it's so funny, but it does get her the attention she wants!

[mp]

From a dog's point of view, staring can be aggressive behaviour. And in the case of two kidlets trying to outstare each other, a Dane could well interpret that as an aggressive situation that he would like to gently defuse.

Now the Dane staring fixidly at me at 6:00 p.m. is not aggressive -- it's just a strong reminder that it's dinner time! mp

[Kramers mom]

The kids aren't staring at each other or Kramer...they're just playing with their toys. :D Oh well...now we have a new problem...I'm opening it with a new post in this section... :D

...Ruth