Tripping Over Puppy

[TYLER23]

Our 6 month old Stafford walks right under our feet, sometimes causing us to stumble as we don't want to step on him. He seems to only do it if he's excited and hasn't seen us for a while. When i come home, he will walk in between my legs and not at my side or he will cross over right in front of me. When i ask him to sit he will plonk his bum on my feet... it's almost like he is trying to crawl into my skin... i know he misses us and wants to be as close as possible, but it's an accident waiting to happen.

Is this normal behavior for pups, and what can we do to discourage it?

[WreckitWhippet]

Brett can act like I've been gone for a week, he does a similar thing, he taps me on the back of the legs and ankles and licks my feet ( which I hate ). Rather than send him away a discourage the interaction, I put his lead on and do five minutes of training. I find that he'd very eager to please at that time and also by the time we've done it, he's settled right down.

[corvus]

Normal for Stafford pups, maybe. My Vallhund pup, Erik, does this as well.

Rather than discouraging it, use it as an opportunity to practice an off leash heel. Oftentimes when you give an excited dog something to do with their energy they are super happy. You ask your dog to heel and reward him with attention. He's out from under your feet, has something constructive to do with his excitement, and is practicing a skill that is handy in many situations.

ETA Snap, SBT.

Edited January 15, 2010 by corvus

[Mr_Snow]

the 3rd night I'd gotten Oz he ran between my legs and tripped me...

reach my foot out to stabilise myself and it landed on his foot (he was 12 week at the time).

That's when the neighbours knew I had a dog, yelp'd for a few mins and had a tender foot for a day.

Since then he still sometimes crosses in-front of people, but an "out of the way" commands gets him clear (although he's caused a trip from me since then he knows what can happen). And I'm not the lightest of fellows. They'll learn by experience.

[Sandra777]

When i ask him to sit he will plonk his bum on my feet.

Thats a perfectly normal place for a Stafford to sit

Our 6 month old Stafford walks right under our feet, sometimes causing us to stumble as we don't want to step on him. He seems to only do it if he's excited and hasn't seen us for a while. When i come home, he will walk in between my legs and not at my side or he will cross over right in front of me.

By 6 months I would not be putting up with this IMO it's disrespectful of your space. If he is generally fairly outgoing and boisterous then I would be stepping into his space and deliberately lightly stepping on his feet with the command to get back or get out or get away in a growly voice. (All mine understand "outtatheway" and stand aside) If he's more timid then use your legs to push him out of the way but don't use a growly voice, but not many timid pups will get quite so up close and personal with feet which can stand on them Yes, his happy greeting is perfectly natural, his family has come back and this is a cause for celebration (even if you've just been gone 10 seconds ) but IMO he needs to learn to greet you in a more appropriate way, even though the way he is greeting you his a natural way to do it.

[TYLER23]

Thats a perfectly normal place for a Stafford to sit

It will come in handy in winter

By 6 months I would not be putting up with this IMO it's disrespectful of your space. If he is generally fairly outgoing and boisterous then I would be stepping into his space and deliberately lightly stepping on his feet with the command to get back or get out or get away in a growly voice.

That makes sense, i'm going outside now to trod on his toes and see if he likes it!