Is your Rottie as "sticky" as my Rottie?

[brutus'mother]

I'm jealous of you guys with sticky rotts. Brutus is always close by and frequently checks my whereabouts but he isn't a very touchy dog so far.

[ReeboksMomForever]

My first rottie girl, Reebok, would lean against me and love to be around me. With Tex, whenever I get up he gets up and wants to know where I am going. When I take a shower he's either laying in the bedroom or on the bathroom floor and if I'm on the computer he'll come downstairs and lay down - if he's sleeping upstairs and he doesn't know right away that I've gone downstairs I'll hear him get up and he'll be looking through the doggy gate down at me - so cute! He also likes to walk between my legs with his head behind me and get a butt scratch! Occasionally, he'll sit in my lap or or back up and sit on my leg. When he's outside bouncing around in the taller than him wild flowers (so he can see over them!) he'll come out every so often to make sure I am still there! YOU GOTTA JUST LOVE IT!

Kim

[JaniceH]

I sympathise with you Brustus's mother.

Teazle is very independant, not at all sticky, and quite happy to lie on her own in her favourite place or on her bed and doesn't follow me around. She sometimes likes to follow me upstairs and lies at the top if I am doing something.

However there are times when she does come over and wants to lie inbetween my legs if I am sitting on the floor, and rests her head on my lap. These "lovable" moments I cherish.

She has never ever been a big "softie", even as a small puppy, but she has her endearing loving moments which I value.

I often wondered if she didn't love me but I think she does, and this is just the way she is...not all rotties are puddings, although I suspect most are from what I have read. She is still a very happy and well balanced girl and I have come to accept her for what she is. I still feel very privilaged to have her in my life.

[Ikey]

when they are always trying to sit on ur foot and back into u it is mainly them trying to control you and its an indication of dominance (not aggression)...so i don't allow him to sit on my foot or lean on me, although he is allowed to heel nicely right next to me, LOL...to me i discourage it because i want to show him i am in charge and also it is not appreciated by most people when he does it to them, so i don't want him to get confused by selective discouragement of it..

[ReeboksMomForever]

Originally Posted by Ikey

when they are always trying to sit on ur foot and back into u it is mainly them trying to control you and its an indication of dominance (not aggression)

Ikey - I assume that 'they' found out the above by asking a dog so I asked Tex and he said no way, that he sits on my lap/leg just because he loves me! You may want to ask your dog why he would like to do it -you may be missing out on a lot of loving! (PS - Tex only does this to me and no one else and I always practice NILIF! )

[Princess26]

I have an 8 month old rottie and he sticks like glue to my husband and I. Especially when we first come home. If I go out of the room, he follows, if I go in the bathroom he follows. He is our first rottie and I love him to death. No matter how bad my day is I know my rottie is going to "love" on me when I get home.

[Ikey]

well RMF you can act like your dog is a person and pretend that this behavior is merely a sign of love, that's fine...dogs are pack animals, and by them sitting on ur foot or leaning up on u they are controlling where you can go, or at the very least when you go they will know you're going...i think the fact that he doesn't do it to others is probably b/c its not an aggressive behavior, it is a dominant one...he does this (as my dog does) to assert himself within the pack (your home)...so when he does this to me i get him off my foot, tell him to down, and then after he does a good down for a few minutes he can come over and get petted as long as he doesn't go back to sitting on me...i don't allow my dog to demand affection...

[bessy-senior]

I am 110% with you on that Reebok's Mom I think you will be able to tell when the dog is being dominant, or just being plain old affectionate

Of course, if the dog IS really trying to show control by demanding contact, it shouldn't be encouraged at all.

I had such a lovely time reading everyone's stories about their "velcro dogs" (I love that phrase! )

[ReeboksMomForever]

Originally Posted by Ikey

well RMF you can act like your dog is a person and pretend that this behavior is merely a sign of love, that's fine...dogs are pack animals, and by them sitting on ur foot or leaning up on u they are controlling where you can go, or at the very least when you go they will know you're going...i think the fact that he doesn't do it to others is probably b/c its not an aggressive behavior, it is a dominant one...he does this (as my dog does) to assert himself within the pack (your home)...so when he does this to me i get him off my foot, tell him to down, and then after he does a good down for a few minutes he can come over and get petted as long as he doesn't go back to sitting on me...i don't allow my dog to demand affection...

I don't treat like my dog is a person (or furbaby) - I just love him to death and he loves me. If what you say with dogs leaning, sitting on laps,legs, etc. is being dominant than most everyone who has commented in this thread have dogs that are dominating them - shame on all of you - please teach your dogs some manners! LOL

[JaniceH]

I think there are levels of dominance that many of us accept.

For example when my girl shoves her toy in my bum when I am washing up I will turn and play with her. If I am sitting on the floor and she sits in front of me, then paws my leg, I know she wants to curl up between my legs and I let her.

I know this can be translated as dominant behaviour but in my mind, she is communicating to me what she wants in the simplest way she can. If it is not a problem to me then I will allow her the required interaction. If it is inconvenient then I tell her and carry on about my business.

However, the relationship I have with Teazle is based on mutual respect and yet there is no doubt that I am her leader. We have a really good bond. If her temperament or behaviour suddenly demanded a lessening of these privilages, then I would remove them.

In other words I think most people know how much to allow their dog without compromising a safe and respectful relationship.

These are just my thoughts and I know lots of you will disagree.

[ReeboksMomForever]

Originally Posted by JaniceH

I think there are levels of dominance that many of us accept.

For example when my girl shoves her toy in my bum when I am washing up I will turn and play with her. If I am sitting on the floor and she sits in front of me, then paws my leg, I know she wants to curl up between my legs and I let her.

I know this can be translated as dominant behaviour but in my mind, she is communicating to me what she wants in the simplest way she can. If it is not a problem to me then I will allow her the required interaction. If it is inconvenient then I tell her and carry on about my business.

However, the relationship I have with Teazle is based on mutual respect and yet there is no doubt that I am her leader. We have a really good bond. If her temperament or behaviour suddenly demanded a lessening of these privilages, then I would remove them.

In other words I think most people know how much to allow their dog without compromising a safe and respectful relationship.

These are just my thoughts and I know lots of you will disagree.

I totally agree JaniceH! Great reply!

[RottieGirl86]

If I think they are being pushy, I correct the behavior. I will then invite them if I feel like it. Athena was almost too soft , so I realized I needed to ease up on her and it reaffirmed her trust in me. 2 doggie rules I learned here are: fairness and consistency.

Max is a different ball of wax, as a rescue with unknow abuse. I have to make sure we are in 'his' comfort level - eye contact and him understanding that we're ok. I can then make a re-direct to him. in my inexpert opinion, trainning onus is 100% on the part of the human. use oyur brain, not brawn and make the dog work for you.

Max has slight seperation anxiety. he is 10x more likely to follow me. Athena is my cuddle dog. She loves hugs, belly rubs and smoochies. Max mimic will our behavior, so it will work for him too - he accepts and looks for me to repeat the behavior. he can have the saddest eyes at times!

If I am out of eye range for too long, Athena will look for me and lay down in the same room. it's really too sweet.

Not every action is dominance imo, so use your best judgement. When in doubt, consult a professional. You are with your dogs hours each day and should establish some sense of gauging their behavior.

[SABELLESMOM]

No. With mine foot warming was a puppy thing. (never leaned) They've long since outgrown the "constant need" and as I'm formulating my response, I now have one on each foot! (ages 3 and 6) They just came in from playing in the yard.

What I meant to explain is, they do grow up and the need is less. Mine are often perfectly content to be off lounging on a bed, by the air conditioning then on my feet in the kitchen. I may even watch TV without one in my lap!

Fickle they are, tho. Just let friends/company arrive! They will obey if I say, "No." ( or have them lie down) but they'd just as soon scrounge a few pats from a friend as not.

PS: My dogs do NOT sit on my feet to control/demand from me. They learned long ago who is in charge. They may be pack animals by nature. But in nature, one dog does not teach another to sit or lie down when asked, or run a piece of agility equipment. Human, dog relationships differ. I do not have to be a dog to be a leader. Quite frankly, they know how to behave like ladies in my home.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by Ikey

when they are always trying to sit on ur foot and back into u it is mainly them trying to control you and its an indication of dominance (not aggression)....

I HIGHLY doubt this is true. For a lot of them, I think it's simply a contact that they enjoy. If anything, "backing" into someone would also seem to be a sign of submission, not dominance. Dogs that enjoy the contact are not necessarily trying to dominate.

[kdogspa]

Oh My Gosh Yes!!

Sticky ALL OVER!!! No matter how much leg bumping I do, How often I turn my back to her, ignor that behavior, she keeps it coming, for every time she misses out 'stickin it to me' she makes up for it, on the couch, rolling onto me with her feet up, ears twisted back, and her jowles exposing her teeth, she looks so ridiculas, that I can't help myself but to giggle and kiss and squeeze her so hard all over, she can't get enough.

She will do this to all of my customers, the women in their SANDELS and freshly painted toenails are especially fun for her, they are so worried and jumping backwards to 'protect their toes' that she finds this 'new way of dancing' even more fun and won't let up until I grabb her and put her away.

Only with the Adults. Never with the children.
She is calm and plesant around them, as long as they dont run in circles, then she gets excited and follows them, but most of my ustomeers kids know her and come in and flop on he gound for better acess to petting her,