Why do dogs walk in front of you and stop?

[TNDemo]

Do they have some kind of devious desire to watch their masters fall on their face? Whenever I walk they always walk right in front of me and stop. What is wrong with walking beside or behind me or even far out front??? I can remember fearing years ago that I was going to go flying over one of them with a baby in my arms. So what is up with this dog brain activity?

[tishaLA]

1. They hate America

[DaveFL99]

2. It's Clinton's fault

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. My dog nabs me right in the reflex spot behind my knee

Drives me nuts!

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. Not sure...

but I guess I have it a little easier.

Mine's about 2 and a half feet tall and weighs almost a 100 pounds. When he stops in front of me I can't get around him!

and it's always when I need to be in another room-- to get the phone or something.

[LDS Jock]

8. what kind of dog do you have?

Just wondering with the size and all.

[fudge stripe cookays]

13. Great Pyrenees =)

Ecco Fargo...

[kodi]

14. nice doggie! sweet dude.

kuvasz!

[fudge stripe cookays]

16. Aren't they cute?

All big white doggies are adorable. Even more so than most regular doggies!

FSC

[smirkymonkey]

17. How cute! He looks like such a sweetie!

I want one!

[fudge stripe cookays]

18. Here ya go...

http://www.netpets.com/dogs/dogresc/breeds/doggpyr.html

We got Fargo from the rescue group here in Texas, and it was so worthwhile. He's so mellow and relaxed-- just a giant couch potato.

He barks to let us know something's up outside, but for the most part, he's just a big ole floppy sleepy boy. This is my 1st Pyr, but I want a bazillion of them for the rest of my life.

[Maple]

5. Dogs have a sense

of humor too.

But they don't understand many of the little jokes you play on them, like perching food on their noses, so I guess we don't always understand their little jokes. ;)

[ronnykmarshall]

6. So they can laugh at ya!

[bain_sidhe]

7. Following in front

At least, that's what we call it. They love you, they want to follow you everywhere... but they love to be in front, where you can see them and maybe pet them or give them a treat... so when you're moving, they have to keep stopping to find out where you're going next, so they can "follow" you. See? Simple.

[MsUSA]

9. LOL

I'm sure our neighbors are talking about my husband and I walking our diva, a 14 lb Weiner dog. She walks us.....we just follow her, and if you try to hurry her up, she moves sideways or sticks out both front feet and you can not, and I mean CAN NOT move her. Oh yeah, I'm sure our neighbors get a real laugh at a 14 pound dog walking the human. Our neighborhood is full of, red necks for one thing, and they're all related, and they all have yellow labs that are related, so yeah, I'm sure when they're all discussing the next neighborhood drunk fest, a Vi-queens football game, or *'s reelection, they have a great laugh at a little black wiener dog walking their "outsider", Green Bay Packer fan, liberal human. ;-)

[put out]

10. Cats, too, at least mine.

Her pea-brain has sort of figured out my morning routine. To the kitchen to start coffee, out for the paper, in to get a coffee cup, to the fridge for some water, back to the coffee maker for some coffee, then to the couch to set down coffee cup and newspaper, then to the bathroom, then back to the couch....boring and predictable.

All the time with the cat stopping in front of me every three steps, looking up expectantly. If the routine varies even a little, she is totally confused. Her revenge is plopping down in the traffic area where she can obstruct every possible path.

[Zan_of_Texas]

11. Yep. Mine does it too, especially in tight spaces

when I'm trying to get to the phone. He's 65 lbs so he's hard to get around.

They are pack animals, and there is an instinct to be the lead dog. Depending on how they're trained, you're alpha or they are.

If you let them go through doors first, and sleep on your bed, and feed them first before yourself, they tend to think they're alpha. So, they want to lead the way (even if they don't know where "we" are going!).

On walks, it's pretty easy to train them to "heel" (just walk them on a short lead (real short) with a treat held steady inside your hand by your left side. Let them know it's there, and walk at a steady pace and they will be RIGHT by your side. Just do 10 or 20 steps having said "Bowser HEEL!" or whatever their name is. Give 'em the treat. Repeat, lengthen the distance, and pretty soon they know the command.

In the house though -- I still find Mr. Fur Lineblocker blocking the way.

[MsUnderstood]

12. Do you notice it happens at crossroads?

Where you can go into the kitchen or living room from the hallway?

I think it is because they want to lead but don't know where they will be leading you next.

[LWolf]

15. My dog uses that for a couple of messages:

1. Stop! You're supposed to be playing/petting/brushing/adoring/feeding me!

2. You're not going without me. If I don't go, neither do you!

My late cat used to do the same thing.