Strange behaviour??

BusyBee · #1 10-10-11, 05:11 PM

Me again

with yet another question lol

Sam has started displaying a rather odd behaviour which I'm not sure whether I should stop or not?

It only happens with my toddler Gregory, who spends 50% of his day laying on the floor playing or watching TV. Sam will go and very purposefully stand over him very still, Greg then crawls between his back legs and Sam will re-adjust his position to be over him again???? this "game" will continue until I stop it because Greg is getting frustrated by it (usually because Sam is in the way and Greg wants to be on the floor) or until Greg gets bored and stands up or goes and sits on the sofa.

My mum thinks it's a dominance thing and it should not be allowed at all, but I wondered what you all thought, I should add that sometimes my son begins the game and gets under Sam on purpose.

So does this sound like just a 'game' or should I be stopping it?

Thanks

Sally and Sam

Stuart · #2 10-10-11, 05:50 PM

I am not sure,.. dominance is usually done by lowering the head and neck over the one to be dominated,... this sound more like protection

...but without seeing it....... not sure

wildmoor · #3 10-10-11, 05:58 PM

I think you should stop it the dog cant put his head over the shoulders/neck if the child is flat on the floor hence why standing over

Stuart · #4 10-10-11, 06:00 PM

Arrrhhhh that makes sense

LindaM · #5 10-10-11, 06:10 PM

From a mother's point of view and not a GSD owner I would stop it

BusyBee · #6 10-10-11, 06:34 PM

Yes it's stoping right away... I have been trawling the net all afternoon, but couldn't find anything about dogs standing over humans, then I have just found this picture, and this is definately the 'stand' that he does. Except Greg is between his front and back legs.

Fortunately it has only been happening a couple of days (Sam only recently got tall enough) all I have to do to stop it is call Sam or a simple Oi! works...do I need to be doing more?

Thanks for answers...once again!

Su-C · #7 10-10-11, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BusyBee

Fortunately it has only been happening a couple of days (Sam only recently got tall enough) all I have to do to stop it is call Sam or a simple Oi! works...do I need to be doing more?

Thanks for answers...once again!

If an 'oi' is stopping Sam from doing it, then that is enough. If he starts ignoring you, then you ned to up the anti.

Sue
x

Stuart · #8 10-10-11, 08:03 PM

I am glad this question came up,.. we live and learn

GV9297 · #9 10-10-11, 09:33 PM

Just found this thread - was going to say definately dominance and stop it now and be quite hard on him - he has to know his place with the children. If he is listening then fine but you may have to do a bit more if it continues - time out etc

kita · #10 10-10-11, 10:07 PM

Whatever the reason behind it I would stop the behaviour.

Not only the dog - I would also stop your son instigating the 'game', otherwise the dog is going to be getting conflicting messages and will not know who to listen to.

Sue