Why Dogs Push

[Dawter]

I cannot find in the forum where it says why Rott's push us.

[AngelBunny]

Push us--as in bully is? Try to get their own way??

[Dawter]

Yes....My rott will push on me when I am walking like a bully. What does this mean when he does this? He also walks directly in front of me sometimes in the house. What does this all mean? thanks

[jlaack]

If my dogs do that I walk right through them. I don't push them with my hands but rather my legs or body. When they try to push me they are taking up my space. This is my house and they need to move out of my way. That said, Rotties also tend to have a lean. They kind of half sit/lean against you. This is fine so long as I am not trying to walk somewhere. The second I start to move they do too.

[bessy-senior]

Yes....My rott will push on me when I am walking like a bully. What does this mean when he does this? He also walks directly in front of me sometimes in the house. What does this all mean? thanks

Sorry but I'm still not too clear what you mean here when you say your Rott pushes on you. Does he do that to stop you walking? Or does he push you to nudge you to go somewhere else?

[Dawter]

I have been walking on as if he's not there. And yes, they love to lean and sit on you! I was just wondering why they do this.

[jlaack]

So was the lean your concern? Again the lean is fine as long as they realize when you move they best move also.

[Gunsey'sMom]

I would do a search on "Rottie Lean" Thats wt its most commonly referred to as. It does seem to be almost a characteristic of them. I am fine with it as long as its convenient for me. I am really not sure why they do it? Social interaction? They are dogs, dogs are social.

Its a nice foot warmer sometimes...lol

[groupieindenial]

I think its a form of play, but in a bullying way. My boy has always done this, and still does, but the difference now is that he JUMPS out of my way when I hollar "MOVE!!" He's gotta go down the stairs first, even if its taking me down with him. My attitude is he'd better move outta MY way before I barrel through him. lol Attach it with a word/command, and you'll have a dog that gets out of your way when you ask. It doesn't mean he'll stop that behaviour totally. It is a form of bullying, but its also due to excitement, "where we going? I want to be there first! Are we going out back? out front, ME FIRST" lol

[jlaack]

Groupieindenial you are more polite than me ;o)! I don't tell or ask I just do it. If they want to be able to stay on their four paws they best be moving too.

[sweetlee]

If you mean leaning into you always like while you are petting them, they just do this. My dog is a total leaner.
If you mean trying to push you to go somewhere or crowding you when you are walking, that is not acceptable, at least to me.
My dog knows what "move please" means and he will get out of my way when I say it. Our dogs love to lay at our feet, or lean up against us, sometimes putting their head or paw on our laps. They are just sticky dogs that way, or as some people say velcro dogs, they want to be near you and touching.
you are doing the right thing by just keeping going your direction and walking right through the dog, and yes by all means put a command to it and it will be quickly learned to get out my way.

Sharon

[Ayoka]

I am also reminded that this can be herding behaviour too, not that it makes it any more acceptable because herding IS controlling but it may his natural instinct showing. There's lots of ways to curb this through training as has been suggested.

We have a couple of commands to communicate to Bear that he's in the way including "back up" and "move" but I also notice that he's very sensitive to touch and generally if will move if anything brushes against him - this is probably experience related as he HAS been stepped on and this is the MAJOR reason why he's no longer allowed to lay around in the kitchen.

[Dawter]

Wow! You guys have great answers and they're all good. I have taught him to move when I say, "Move." He is swell about it. I was just wondering why they are such "leaners"...He's not causing any problems.

[rainman]

Must say I never experienced this with a rottie. Are they really "leaners"? Have had rotties for 30 yrs and they never "leaned" on me. But I have known other "leaners" - usually hunting dogs & especially vorsthe-dogs. And I know their behavior was because the dogs in question were very dominant dogs.

[jazzking1971]

Rotts are cattle herding dogs. If you ever watching them work then you will see all sorts of slams and leans. This is not play, it's what is in their genetics.