To step, or not to step....... on/over the dog?

 I think you can teach your dogs a cue that means "please get out of the way."  I might use clicker training to shape that behavior.  But, I always thought one of my friends who has been in the biz for years had an interesting method.  She like a pesky fly and says "Excuse me" repeatedly as she does it.  When the dog finally gets up and moves away, she tosses a treat and says "thank you" - her dogs never lay in her path LOL, and they get right up when she says "excuse me" - so polite.

Like spirit dogs said, train them with excuse me. I have done this with Marley since he was a puppy and he moves every time. I always use manners when speaking to my dogs. Please, thank you, excuse me....

I find it useful for my dogs to know to stay put when I step over them as well as get out of my way if I ask them to.  How I taught them to get out of my way, I have no idea.  Like most of my training, it became part of our day to day life.

Sometimes I will move around them, if there is room, and if there is no room I will ask them to move. I never really used treats to teach this, I used the value of spatial pressure instead, by simply shimmying into their space saying "Beep Beep!" as I went. Now, with four dogs, I never have to say anything - if I am approaching, the dogs will naturally move to give me room to get by.  However, my dogs follow me all over the house, so my movement to go from point A to point B can often predict "good things for them", which means they always wake up/get up on my approach anyway, and then naturally move out of the way. I've never personally had to wake a dog sleeping in my path.

I don't tend to step over dogs, unless I'm proofing a stay exercise specifically. But I don't like to step over many things that are dog-sized or bigger, as I don't like missing on occasion and tripping up myself or injuring a dog! Much easier to have them politely move, or to move around them.

My dog thinks sleeping on the floor is beneath him, so I don't have this problem.

Deb W.

I step over all my dogs all the time.  They are big dogs and we have an old house with small rooms and narrow halls and doorways, so it's not like I'm stepping over them to prove a point it's just the fastest way forward, lol.  I know there are some trainers/behaviorists that insist on always making your dog move, like my dog is going to eat my face off out of "dominance" because I allowed him to remain asleep....bull.  I really don't care either way and have never had any issues.  Sometimes the dog sees I have my hands full and moves.  I don't kick at the dog, if I really need him to move I say so as I'm approaching.  If I'm not carrying anything and the dog is asleep, I just step over him. 

Liesje

it's not like I'm stepping over them to prove a point it's just the fastest way forward, lol.  I know there are some trainers/behaviorists that insist on always making your dog move, like my dog is going to eat my face off out of "dominance" because I allowed him to remain asleep....bull

I agree! My issue with not stepping over them is only my own worry of tripping up, not of any sort of behaviour problem. But, I have small dogs so it's not hard to step around them if they DID end up lying in my path!

CoBuHe - I'm the same way! I almost always say "Thank you" with my dogs when they've done something I requested - it's my version of a "Good dog"!    I figured it can be an all-species appreciation - I don't generally say "Good boyfriend", or "Good child", so "good dog" doesn't tend to be said a lot be me here either.

Kim_MacMillan

My issue with not stepping over them is only my own worry of tripping up, not of any sort of behaviour problem. 

Same here and as my DH and I are not getting any younger, tripping becomes much more of an issue.  I've always done what Kim does which is keep moving forward as I say "move".   When they do, I say "good boy or girl or their name".    It might requre some reward training if the dogs are used to being stepped over, to get the idea across, but I think it would go quickly for most dogs.

We have most always had big  big dogs.  I will often step over them.  My hubby is disabled and although he can walk, he is a little unsteady sometimes.  They will usually move when he is on the move, if not he will just say "move".  If I have my hands full or the Big Boy is blocking a large area I will ask him to "move please".  We alway say "thank you" when the boys do something we have asked them to do.   I think it is important that they are used to both ways so that they wont scare and jump up when Ron is moving.  This would cause a great deal of injury to both dog and human.  We didnt really do anything to teach this it is just daily routine.  They really respond to "please" and "thankyou" and Good Boy.

I usually will step over her.  If I need her to move I have always used, "gotta get up" and she knows to move right away. 

haha funny story time.

Cleo is a big dog...y'all know that...but more than big she is LONG. She ADORES laying in the kitchen or living room fully stretched out...and letting you think she's asleep and then when my husband (and only him BTW...) goes to walk past, around or over her she immediate stretches out a paw to try and trip him! It is fricking hysterical. She then proceeds to LAUGH about it! It has gotten to where my husband gives her a wide berth or points his finger at her and says "don't do it...DON'T you do it!" and she gives him this totally human look of "okay I promise (toes crossed behind her back)"

 Anyways...we haven't done anything about it (I could but honestly, I think it's funny so I don't). But on the more serious side...she definitely considers him as the low man on the totem pole around here, because he just isn't a firm sort of person...it's always a joke to Cleo if you aren't firm. She is just not a serious dog until she think you are actually SERIOUSLY telling her something.

Now for me? I never step over my dogs...because they never step over/around another dog beneath them in rank...they tell them to move, or go right thru them. When I need a dog to move out of my way, even if they're fast asleep I tell them "move it" and then keep walking. I've never stepped on one yet. If Cleo is laying in front of the door sleeping, and I need to open it. I open it...she moves...if she's sorta awake I tell her "I am going out so you better get yer hairy kiester outta my way" or something as I walk up and she shifts herself with a quickness.

oh and on a different sorta samey sorta train of thought...Cleo WILL absolutely block my or my husband's progress with her body if we are advancing on one of her kids with a hint of annoyance, or anger...even if it's pretend.

Like the stories I have posted about me threatening Lily with a spanking (game guys...a game) and going after her with an open hand...Cleo immediately rouses herself and stands between us...her body language is loose and her mouth is smiling but she will block my progress forward as much as she can...and at 105lbs and 29" tall and longer than that in length...she can block a BIG area LOL! It is a polite "please don't do that..." and I let her do it. It is nice to know she would rise up and protect them even against people she perceives as "in charge". This is a dog I walk with one finger on the lead...and can push onto her side by breathing on her LOL!

It's similar to when Lily practices her cello...as Lily gets more agitated about getting a certain note right...and I try to tell her what I am hearing and we go back and forth...it is not HEATED as much as tense you know? Cleo will magically appear and sit next to the cello and look at me. she'll then lay down and look at Lily...Lily strokes her and calms down and the situation is diffused. Lily starts to calm down and accept my critique much better. It is actually...quite remarkable.

Cleo and perhaps Leonbergers in general...are masters of using their body and least amount of firmness necessary to defuse a volatile situation. Cleo is exceedingly good at it...and she has done it with humans, kitten, puppies, and her Beagle packmates. Body position means a lot to some dogs...and nothing at all to others. The hounds are less attuned but Ellie knows if she sits beside me, Cleo will not bother her...and RC knows if she is in trouble...she can hide behind Eli...or Cleo and receive protection LOL!

rwbeagles

when my husband (and only him BTW...) goes to walk past, around or over her she immediate stretches out a paw to try and trip him! It is fricking hysterical.

Now that IS funny!