[KBLover]

I was browsing some posts and came across one where the handler let's his/her dog sit on his/her chest to boost confidence.

So I tried this with Wally - and he wouldn't. He would sit beside me with no problem and look at me like "okay...why are you on the floor?"

Then he goes into his licking and sniffing fit all over my face. He'll keep doing it too with just the slightest encouragement. If it's not my face, it's my hands or even my sweater if it's a certain texture.

Anyway, I tried to coax him to sit on me, and closest he got on his own was his front two paws. Then he looked down at me again and started with the licking again! LOL

My mom says that when she lied down on the floor, he climbed up on her and sat on her with no hesitation! He even lied down and got comfortable She had to push him off in order to get up, but there was no licking.

So I wonder why he readily and quickly climbed up on my mom, but would only reluctantly put his front paws on me. I wonder why he licked me like I was a fresh kill but wouldn't give my mom so much as a token lick.

Anyway, just thought that it was interesting.

 

[rosemaryninja]

In the same vein as the sitting-on-chest thing: Neither Spunky nor Honey ever makes any contact with my body when I'm lying down. They will sniff, but never anything else. I can put food on my stomach and they won't take it. But the minute the food is on the ground they try to snatch it. Kind of odd.

 

[Inga]

Really? My dogs sit on me all the time. If I was on the floor for a few seconds one or both of the boys would be trying to get their butts on me. They are definitely full contact dogs. I wonder if that is some form of disrespect? Hm, something for me to think about. lol

 

[Pepper]

Well it could be your dog respects you as leader/protector, but doesn't see your mother as that.

Many dominant dogs will try to stand over another dog or place their paws on their back..so it could be sort of like that.

 

[KBLover]

Interesting - that would be good if he does view me as his leader/protector. Would be a LONG way better from the way he used to view me

Guess that doesn't say a lot for my mother though, at least not in Wally's opinion

 

[MrsJohnnyG]

I was just noticing the other day that my puppies WILL NOT walk ahead of me -- even if we're all running to the door for a potty break. They will slow down so that I'm walking at least even with them. I think it's a similar thing in that they see us as their leader so it's hard for them to do something that would be disrespectful of their leader... or something.

OTOH... if either my husband or I lies face down on the floor, they think that's hilarious and are kissing us like crazy... I haven't tried to get them to sit on us though!

 

[rosemaryninja]

I don't know, I'm hesitant to label it as an indication of them seeing me as their leader... I'm usually very wary of all these "leader criteria." It would be more believable if you told me they were just too dumb to figure out that a part of my silhouette was suddenly edible.

 

[2malts4me]

As soon as I lie down anywhere I have one on my chest and one on my legs.

 

[PitBully]

OTOH... if either my husband or I lies face down on the floor, they think that's hilarious and are kissing us like crazy... I haven't tried to get them to sit on us though!

God, that sounds so cute.

PB

 

[K9companions]

Hunter won't jump on me, walk on me, sit on me without permission.

I like to think it's because he respects me as his leader; but it's my personal opinion, I know the word 'leader' these days often invokes extreme feelings.

But I think he was showing you respect, as you said, and perhaps just veiws your mother as just a regular playmate that he can romp with and sit on. That's how it is with my mother and father. Hunter will sit all over them, but will politely wait for me to tell him it's okay for me.

 

[Shaggydog]

If I let mine do that,I wouldn't be able to breathe! I sit in ther chair and she'll jump up and put her paws on the arms of the chair.After that,I give her a good rub and she sits quietly.On the other hand,she gives my wife more attention than she wants sometimes,she'll jump up on her chest,then after a good rubs and strokes she'll sit directly on her feet.She loves us both,but she shows different ways of it.