Dogs That Lean
DOGS THAT LEAN
Many dogs lean against people while they are being petted, especially retrievers. While some might consider this an endearing trait, others don’t. This behavior is a subtle way of controlling you and teaching your dog not to do this is a subtle way of reminding him of your authority. A dog that consistently leans on you ends up a lazy sitter and will have difficulty doing Sit-Stays when you’re not nearby to prop him up. So how do you get your dog to stop this behavior?
Simply take a step in the direction the dog is leaning so that he literally loses his prop and falls over. Most dogs need this to happen only a few times before they get the idea. Remember to do it the moment you feel pressure on your leg. If you let him get away with it for a few minutes, he might find it was worth it and go right back to leaning on you the next time.