Bubblegum

Thor does the nose nudge too for attention....which he doesn't get because I find it to be extremely RUDE behavior.
 
I don't for a minute believe he is doing this as a gesture of dominance, but as a bid for attention.

that's a pretty typical Dane behavior, the head-butting. I think it is meant as an affectionate gesture. Same with the leaning on you and sitting in your lap. They don't seem to realize how big they are. How sad that she got punished for trying to express her affection to her former owner. No wonder she's fearful and confused.
As to the other, that's fairly normal dog behavior. She barks at the scary man, and when he doesn't leave, she figures she'd better try placating him by being as friendly and submissive as possible. He won't hurt me if I show how submissive I am, is what she's thinking.

that's a pretty typical Dane behavior, the head-butting. I think it is meant as an affectionate gesture. Same with the leaning on you and sitting in your lap. They don't seem to realize how big they are. How sad that she got punished for trying to express her affection to her former owner.
 
My Dane/sherherd didn't nose butt,, nor does Ollie,,, but they both did the leaning and sitting on your lap,,,so I didn't figure it as a Dane thing.  HHHmmm,,,interesting!   She came from her breeder,, who always spoke of how smart Bubblegum is and how she is always trying to outsmart everyone else. 
Thanks for your opinions everyone.

I sure would think that is called dominating though,,,wouldnt you

 
no, no, no. Submissive dogs go around begging for attention from the dominant dogs. If your dog is poking you, or more typically pawing at you, he's begging for attention from his superior. You, as the alpha, get to choose whether to pay attention to the dog or not. If every time she comes up and asks for attention you drop everything and provide attention, she'll probably quickly decide you're a lousy leader, so be sure to ignore her most of the time. A "dominant" behavior that should disturb you should it occur is if you go up to the dog to initiate a petting session, and rather than happily accepting it, SHE ignores you-- turns away, or stares off into space, and possibly growls at you if you persist.

Submissive pee'ing can happen when a dog that has been aroused (heard someone coming - and didn't know who - bark bark), finally gets to the owner, who bends over (threatening - dog thinks, oh-did I do something wrong?) and hugs (did you ever notice that only primates hug? dogs hate it LOL).  At any age!
Bubby sounds like she is anxious or fearful in new situations, and sometimes just thinks the best defense is a good offense.  []

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs
(did you ever notice that only primates hug? dogs hate it LOL). At any age!

oh boy. Add this to the list of things I did not know. I am always hugging my dog. I can't keep my hands off him. I did notice his tail stops wagging for the duration of the hug but I did not know dogs hate to be hugged.

I will have to find a new outlet for my overwhelming need to hug this animal..LOL!

A "dominant" behavior that should disturb you should it occur is if you go up to the dog to initiate a petting session, and rather than happily accepting it, SHE ignores you-- turns away, or stares off into space, and possibly growls at you if you persist.    She DOES often turn away,,,but more or less leans on you,,, kind of,,, when you are sitting and she comes to you,,,she kind of turns to the side...and leans.....so you are scatching her back,,,or back end...HOPE that is not what you mean by dominant.   ??  I mean,,,she does back up to you to sit on your lap,,,I was figuring this all went together.
Submissive pee'ing can happen when a dog that has been aroused (heard someone coming - and didn't know who - bark bark), finally gets to the owner, who bends over (threatening - dog thinks, oh-did I do something wrong?) and hugs (did you ever notice that only primates hug? dogs hate it LOL).  At any age!    She is ALWAYS putting her head on my shoulder,,,with the side of her head against my face...when I am sitting, especially by my computer.  And she often is up on her hind legs with her head next to mine,,,like a hug.   Maybe its not a hug...but she does do that. 
Bubby sounds like she is anxious or fearful in new situations, and sometimes just thinks the best defense is a good offense   When I come home...so that she doesn't jump up...or paw me,,,I would go down to her and talk softly,,,,tell her she is a good girl and must stay down. I just put my face by her,,,and say that...THAT is when she pee'd a few times.  Man,,,you guys are saying its because she is fearful????   Of ME????? HER LOVER????  WOW!!!!

just thought I'd throw in that my dane mix is a real nudger and can be pushy.  He is not as tall as a dane but tall enough to have his head under your armpit when eating or typing and push in.  I've always seen it as an attention seeking behavior (of which he has many)
Bugsy has no aggressive tendencies (unless you are a toy or a chew) yet appears to be the alpha in most dog situations.  He loves affection and loves to lick us, but doesn't like grooming much (he has a dane's coat so this is a bath and nail clipping)
As he's getting older he appears to be getting more protective of us and his property, but still doesn't bark.  I have been wondering if his hyperactivity when there are guests in the house is protectiveness now.  We just had some friends for hte weekend and he was exhausted by the time they left from the constant tail wagging licking following etc.  All seem gentle enough gestures but as soon as they left he crashed - like phew I can rest now.  I wondered if he was on guard and protecting us and not just thrilled to have guests- sorry I digress.
Don't know Bubby but doesn't sound aggressive to me

Bubblegum barks like crazy at anyone that walks in the door...including people that she knows.  She does not growl, but barks terribly...as if to try to keep anyone from entering. Best thing is to ignore her.  I don't know if that is aggressive or not. Just seems like it is to me.  BUT she is afraid of mainly men.  So now I don't know if it is out of fear or protecting.
I thought I had her figured out kind of,,,but now I'm not so sure!

A "butt nudge" or "sideways approach/lean" from a dog is a really polite, friendly, and submissive greeting-- the sharp business end of the dog is turned away.  Dogs who are being "aggressively dominant" approach you head-on, face to face, standing tall (humans consider head-on, face-to-face greetings to be very friendly, but when you do this to a dog it can be very scary to the dog). If you want your dog to come to you, and you face the dog directly and stare at the dog, this is very intimidating. Turning sideways and crouching a little is much friendlier to a dog. Leaning over a dog, putting your hand over the dog's head, hugging a dog-- all natural human behaviors that are very threatening and scary to dogs.

Leaning over a dog, putting your hand over the dog's head, hugging a dog-- all natural human behaviors that are very threatening and scary to dogs.

I do believe this,,,and I think if I were another person (stranger especially) I could see that would be a problem with Bubby. In fact,, my son (who stayed with her for a week when I was out of town last Oct., AND who was intrumental in me getting her) walked in my front door last week,,,,she did what she usually (should say always) does and that is charge the door and bark terribly. This time she got so close her teeth hit his arm,,,and of course he said "I can't believe she bit me!"   Well, she did NOT bite him,,,if she would have,,,we would have known it.  But that was being aggresive no matter.      
BUT,,,  she comes up to me and puts her chin on my shoulder with her head really close to mine (hug) or stands on her back legs and puts her chin on my shoulder, with her head the same,,close to mine, as though a hug.  ARE you saying she can do this to me when she gets that opportunity, but if I get lean over her to put my head my her head, she is afraid of me?  When I do that,,,,she presses her head stronger into mine....as though SHE is hugging.     And she does it all the time. And yes...when I first came home a couple of times...that is when she kind of pee'd.  I took that as she was quietly excited...not afraid.  

you do have to take into account what the dog has been taught-- if someone taught the dog to accept hugs, the dog is probably  not actually afraid, just mildly irritated by being hugged. If someone strongly rewarded a dog for putting a chin on a shoulder, the dog may continue to do so. You probably reward her in such situations by paying attention to her, right?
People should stop worrying that their dog's every action is some kind of "dominance threat". If you don't like a particular behavior, train the dog out of it. If you like it, reward it.

If someone strongly rewarded a dog for putting a chin on a shoulder, the dog may continue to do so. You probably reward her in such situations by paying attention to her, right?   Of course when she puts her head on my when I'm sitting here, I can't help but to kiss her and love her. Because I do love her.  I don't want her on her back legs though,, so most often I am trying to keep her down. No I don't reward her for that,,,,but I guess you can say she DOES get attention for it.

People should stop worrying that their dog's every action is some kind of "dominance threat". If you don't like a particular behavior, train the dog out of it. If you like it, reward it. GOOD POINT! 
 
 I am honestly not thinking she is a threat....I was just reading a test on aggression at work,,,and remarking to the office manager that she seem to fit into all the catagories.
 
I don't know how she was brought up to be honest...she was brought up in a small house with a lot of Danes...at least her father and brother.. and then any other that might have been there for breeding purposes.  When I went there,,they went to the basement to get her from a kennel....so my guess is that is where she spent much time. She was also a show dog,,,and I don't know a thing about how they are trained.  I know her old mom said she used to like to go to Petsmart and thru a drive thru restaurant...so she wasn't entirely in a cage....unless that was false. 
I don't know if its her personality OR that she was a show dog...but she watches your eyes...constantly...just stares at me.  I have never had a dog like it. It used to scare me when I first got her.
AND I appreciate your expertise.

Like I always say, every once in a while, mudpuppy comes along and makes these really dynamite posts - the last two being just one example)

Have a question in regards to hugging a dog.  Mudpuppy wrote:

if someone taught the dog to accept hugs, the dog is probably  not actually afraid, just mildly irritated by being hugged

.
Do you think you can teach a dog that what we call hugging is a good thing?  I know Bubby likes to be hugged, I'm sure of it. I say this because when I do bend over to hug her, where I put my face by hers,,or on her head...she stand there and actully pushes her head a little into mine...and then when I start to stand up, she takes a step or two and does what seems like she is stopping me from walking away,,,and she presses her head to me more,,,of course if my head is not down to hers,,she just puts her head on my hip or stomach,,,as I'm trying to walk. Usually I bend down to hug her again...and it seems that she would do this until I finally have enough and walk away. 
So I was thinking this morning........if you treat a dog that barks at people when they are walking in the house by having them bring some snacks or food for the dog and throw them on the floor to teach them that these people are GOOD....can you teach a dog that likes hugs like Bubby,,,that they are not in danger if someone bends down to them, such as a hug?