Leaning is very common in bigger dogs. Smaller dogs are often too small to effectively lean against their much-bigger humans, although they may still attempt it. However, bigger dogs are tall enough to reach our waists, making leaning much more practical. Commonly, Great Danes lean when they want attention, affection, comfort, or if the behavior has been reinforced by the owner—it’s similar to how a feline may rub up against its owner’s legs. Some anxious dogs may also lean against their owner for reassurance.
However, while this leaning is meant to be loving, Great Danes are extremely large, and this leaning can be a bit troublesome. It can surprise and even unintentionally knock some people over, especially if the dog does it too enthusiastically. Therefore, it may be a good idea to train the dog to do something else when they want attention. Sitting is a standard option, for instance.
Having a Great Dane sit when they want attention instead of leaning can be much more manageable.
Still, not everyone chooses to train this behavior away. Some dogs are gentler about it than others, and their leaning may be less of an issue.
Potential Reasons for Leaning in Great Danes
Your Great Dane may lean against you for several reasons. Most often, this is a sign of seeking attention, affection, and comfort from their owners, often in a playful way.
Some Great Danes lean when they are scared or anxious. While these dogs are quite large, they can become fearful or stressed in some instances. A lack of socialization can lead to excessive fear. For instance, when dogs are not exposed to many different (potentially scary) objects, places, and situations when they are puppies, they may become fearful later on.
However, even with correct socialization, some Great Danes can sometimes be fearful or get anxious. Leaning against their owners may be a way for them to seek reassurance and safety.
Sometimes, Great Danes may also become slightly tired. They may be tired of standing and decide to lean up against you instead. In this case, we recommend getting your dog somewhere to rest. Great Danes have pretty amazing stamina, but can get tired after plenty of physical exercise.
(Just like people, Great Danes need regular exercise to keep their stamina up. If you suddenly start their exercise routine after a long lull, they can easily become tired.)
Do Great Danes Lean to Exert Dominance?
It’s a common misconception that dogs like Great Danes will try to exert their dominance. One look at the internet reveals several ways people claim dogs do this. From eye contact to physical “overpowering,” almost any dog behavior is listed as a potential “dominance” behavior.
However, the truth is that most dogs don’t show dominance that way. The original theory around canine dominance arose from a study on wolf behavior. However, this study was done in captivity, where wolves are in unnatural circumstances. Later, the study was disputed by the same man who originally did the study.
Therefore, much of the previously believed knowledge surrounding wolf behavior is actually incorrect, but many people still drew from the study to explain dog behavior. Of course, this is troublesome because the original wolf study has been disputed. Behaviors also aren’t easily transferred from wolves to dogs—they may have a common ancestor, but dogs have undergone significant behavioral and social changes through the process of domestication and breed formation.
It’s a bit like using human behavior to explain baboon behavior. You might happen to get it right sometimes, but behaviors don’t transfer that easily.
In some cases, dogs may exhibit behaviors driven by social hierarchy, such as resource guarding with other dogs. There is now a large movement centered around debunking the alpha dog theory and changing training techniques to match how dogs work. Modern research shows that dogs do not seek dominance as a personality trait, but instead respond to positive reinforcement and social learning.
Therefore, if your Great Dane is leaning on you, it is not because they’re trying to exert their dominance. Instead, they’re likely looking for attention, affection, or reassurance.
Is Great Dane Leaning Bad?
If you’re reading this article, you may be worried that your Great Dane is showing some troublesome behavior. However, leaning isn’t necessarily bad. You don’t want your dog leaning so enthusiastically that they unintentionally knock people over. In this case, positive reinforcement training may be necessary to encourage a different behavior. However, beyond that, leaning usually isn’t bad.
You may want to consider that it may be a sign of an unmet need. For instance, your dog may lean if they want your attention or if one of their needs is unmet, such as a need for physical exercise and mental stimulation. In this case, identifying the cause and meeting their needs is recommended. On the other hand, leaning may signify fear or an underlying stress. Therefore, we highly recommend looking for the underlying cause of the leaning behavior.
Most of the time, this behavior is just attention-seeking, which isn’t necessarily bad. If your dog leans too forcefully or is particularly large, you can train them to sit instead.
Conclusion
Lots of larger dogs lean, including Great Danes. Usually, dogs do this when they want attention. Larger dogs may lean like a cat may rub up against you. In most cases, this is not a huge issue nor a sign of an underlying problem. There are some misconceptions out there regarding dominant behaviors exhibited by Great Danes. However, this theory is unfounded.
Sometimes, leaning can indicate something a bit more troublesome. For instance, the canine may be stressed or fearful. In these instances, you may want to remove the dog from the situation until they become more comfortable.
Featured Image Credit By: Schwoaze, Pixabay
Potential Reasons for Leaning in Great Danes
