I have noticed that when I am sitting and laying down, and I wiggle my foot to get Walter to play, he stands over my food in that stance that dogs use when they are being dominant. He stands over my foot, looking really macho (for a little weenie fluff-dog, anyway).

I am just curious. When he does that, does he think he is dominating me, or just my foot, as if it were a seperate entity? Does it matter?

I used google images to see if I could find a picture, but I could not find any very close to what he does. This was the only picture available. :lol:

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0NgBpZXYT9RR33tmL3TaWPwKDMexhrWYxF1G0gtbkeBSCBVb1K Kugagn6RdtpKfIJYGtCPAabtoQx9yvwM*rUjQ/dominant.jpg

He might not be completely aware at that point that it's a part of you. I've wondered that about cats before, if they realize that my feet are still me.

Is Walter a puppy?

i thought this was going to be about humping. anyway, i've wondered to what degree my birds see parts of me as "me," too. i don't think it matters to my rabbits what belongs to whom/what.

He is only 5 months old. He's pretty smart...but I am really tall. :p

Ha. I wouldn't know. If you're wiggling your foot and he's staring intently, I'd say he's probably just curious and play watching. .... ??

But if you want to make sure he doesn't start trying to dominate you, there are some things you can do to reinforce your role as leader:
- obedience command before attention.
- you lead the walks
- ignore him upon meeting. (you initiate greetings)
- you eat something before he does
- you go through all doors before he does

BTW, Did you ever post any pictures of Walter?! I don't remember seeing them. :-/

Ha. I wouldn't know. If you're wiggling your foot and he's staring intently, I'd say he's probably just curious and play watching. .... ??

But if you want to make sure he doesn't start trying to dominate you, there are some things you can do to reinforce your role as leader:
- obedience command before attention.
- you lead the walks
- ignore him upon meeting. (you initiate greetings)
- you eat something before he does
- you go through all doors before he does

BTW, Did you ever post any pictures of Walter?! I don't remember seeing them. :-/

He definitely does not tend to be dominant. The thing with my foot, well, he stands directly over it. You know that pose, I'm sure. It's pretty funny. he does not seem to be trying to dominate me though. He always puts his ears back in a submissive way when I approach him. He listens to me pretty well. That's why I wondered if he just thinks my foot is some other thing that is smaller than him. My foot is his buddy :p

Here are pictures...

http://walterisagoodboy.blogspot.com/

Walter's really cute. :)

Oh my, that is too cute! Love the blog! "Walter's ball review" :lol: (part 5 had me rolling)

Nah, doesn't sound like he's dominating your foot then. I bet he's practicing trying to herd your foot. It sounds like a herding stance.

kpickell's probably right. He's herding. Hah!

and I LOVE that blog. Especially the bowling-ball review. :)

I don't know what he's doing,but it sounds like he trust you not to hurt him and he loves you.
my dogs know I dominate them but they also know they own me........lol