Why do they lean?????

[RustyNail]

I have only had Danes for two years but have been around them for decades. All of the Danes I have ever been exposed to would lean on me at one time or another. When I engage one of my girls in play the other will always get between us and then lean on me--its as though she is trying to push me or something! I just cant figure this out but this is not a problem because I know this is what they do and love it--I just dont know why they do it!

[s5nelson]

I don't know but Moose & I are working on the whole "leaning" thing. I'm trying to teach him that leaning against walls & furniture is ok (and yes he does rearrange furniture when he does this) but against me is not ok because I fall over.

I think he does it on purpose

[RustyNail]

Yes--He does do this on purpose! They all do it. I just can't figure out why they do it!

[Meatos]

They do it because...why not?!

[regularkevin]

They love you/ are comfortable with you.

Affection.

[Shamu]

maybe because they CAN? because of their size, it is pretty comfortable for them

[Mr. Walnuts]

I would probably lean too if I had all that weight on little bitty pads... I can't imagine what the abnormally large danes go through with feet problems (not to mention bone/hip) problems.

[RustyNail]

I would probably lean too if I had all that weight on little bitty pads... I can't imagine what the abnormally large danes go through with feet problems (not to mention bone/hip) problems.

You do have that weight--Do you lean on people??

[Mr. Walnuts]

haha... I do have that weight, but I have big feet... and no, I try not to lean on people haha

[kimogilvie]

Just to make sure you know they're there? It's a Dane thing, and I love it, but I'me also curious as to the why.

[maggiemay98]

haha... I do have that weight, but I have big feet... and no, I try not to lean on people haha

That's exactly it. For our Danes it's socially acceptable, they can get away with it. If you try to lean on a co-worker or a complete stranger, you're gonna get hit or sued!

[sydney]

Macy leans when she wants pets and attention. If there are a group of people standing, she will weave among them like a cat leaning on each one as she goes past. Stopping if they pet her, then continuing to the next.

[RustyNail]

I guess thats a pretty good reason--"attention seeking". It would explain why one dog gets between me and the one I'm paying attention to.

[CalicoJenn]

Our last trainer said it was a dominance thing... we quit using her after she made a snide comment in regards to our pit mix, that she would never own anything with pit in it, so no accounting for accuracy.

[mistified247]

Our last trainer said it was a dominance thing... we quit using her after she made a snide comment in regards to our pit mix, that she would never own anything with pit in it, so no accounting for accuracy.

I will admit that I don't know why they do it either but I think that statement is ! I can understand why you stopped using her.