leaning dog

[kingsleyblue]

why does our neapolitan mastiff lean against me when he and i are stood still?

[bednobs]

it is him showing he is in charge

[fredpuli47]

This may be a habit of the biggest breeds. Certainly , the Irish Wolfhounds I've had have done it..You are fortunate he doesn't stand on your foot too (a classic Wolfhound habit).
It just shows he's fond of you and trusts you (and perhaps he fancies a rest).Mine were never showing dominance by doing it.

[terambulan]

'cause he's only got 3 legs

[wildwood]

Not saying this is what is wrong with your dog but my grandfather's dog did this and it later transpired that it had a hearing problem. Can't remember what breed it was but it was a big black monster with a tongue big enough to wash your whole face in one lick.
It is believed that when they stopped for a chat to someone or whatever, the dog could instantly detect when it was time to proceed by pop's body movement.

[Ethel]

It is explained just over half way down this page - with an excellent solution:

http://www.dogskool.com/web/news/fall2000/page 5.html

[stellamaris]

I think fredpuli47 is correct and that this isn't to do with dominance but the opposite, trust. My Dane (and her predecessors) is a leaner. She even does it when on the lead. ... and she is a foot stomper. A quick sidestep sorts it out.

[Ethel]

I know it's not a 'trust' or 'affection' thing - all the big dogs I know do it, and they do it to first time visitors, total strangers - anyone who will stand or sit still long enough.

Watch pack dogs in the wild - the alpha dog leans against his subordinates to demonstrate his dominance

[shaneystar2]

Haha..my old Shaney was a master of the art of leaning on you !
I dare he was trying show me who was in charge but I'm afraid he knew precisely who was in charge ..Moi !
One thing he used to do though was lean on me when I stopped to chat to someone .I always took this to be a sort of ..."She's mine ..not yours " type of stance .In other words ..don't push your luck ! Or ..a sort of ..Oh hurry up ...are we going to stand here gassing all day....type of thing ..because he would nudge at me at the same time .
I think it's a possessive sort of action .But on the other hand I have known him to come back and lean against me if he felt threatened. By another dog for instance .
They all have these funny little ways :)

[alfieblue]

My lovely collie border cross (long since departed :o() was a leaner!!! He was as soft as butter without a dominant bone in his body. Suffice to say he just loved contact - he would come and lean on us if we were sitting on the sofa, he would lean on visitors - always resting his head on their knees - he just loved to be loved. - But never a nuisance just such a character!!

I have to laugh remembering what he was like - if we told him to go and lie down t'other side of room - he would stay there for a few minutes, then slowly he would do the border collie creeping action, then a couple of roll overs and then shuffle over to us, trying to keep a very low profile!!!! Lol!!! (I guess he thought no one would notice!!!) and there he was again - draped over our feet and fully at home with his companions.

The only exception was in the winter when the fire was on - he would warm himself oneside, then turn round and warm the other side and then lie down in front of it sending up the zzzz's very content in his own wee world!!!

On walks he would always have a fun time but then would come back and cuddle up close as poss before we set off home - he was a wonderful companion and much loved.

We now have a cocker spaniel who is showing the same traits - such a good companion.

Who knows why different doggies act like that, but with us -
its never been fear , dominance or protection or whatever - its just the way they are. xxxx

[alfieblue]

Oh dear! I know I ramble on - hope i havn't upset anyone with my comments - i'm just talking from my own experiences. There are different sides to everything - and i know all answers (or most) are interesting and valuable. No harm done i hope :o) xxxx

[fredpuli47]

If mine have a subtle way of controlling me then it patently isn't working ! You can't imagine a more submissive pair of bitches.The dominant one of the pair never leans on the other one ,I notice. According to the great theory a dominant one does just that!
Standing on my foot (as Stellamaris' Dane does to hers) on the other hand....? How subtle is that? Me, I think that dogs that size have feet so far from their brain that the message takes such a long time to travel from one to the other that the owner has told the dog before the dog's brain gets it.!

[thugulike]

Not just a habit of Neapolitan Mastiffs. My English Mastiff is a leaner too. All 14+ stone of him. When we're out he has a habit of leaning against little old ladies who make a fuss of him. It isn't domination as he isn't an alpha dog. It just seems to be a desire to be as close as possible to people they like. I had 2 blue Neo's, life was never dull!

[partychick80]

what an interesting question........i have a cane corso(italian mastiff) and hes a leaner at every opportunity, but then again he is quite a lazy boy.

[kingsleyblue]

Thanks for your replies. maybe his leaning habits are for reassurance, he is a rescue dog.

[tigerlily11]

You could always hire him out as a leaning dog for the uprightly challenged. lol Sorry ad joke.

[kingsleyblue]

Ha, would have to wear wellies though, he slobbers a lot.