Walk Around, Step Over or Make Move?

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I didn't give this question much thought until a few years ago when I ended up staying for a period of time with my elderly parents during their final illnesses. At that time I had 2 large dogs who were used to sleeping in the doorway of the kitchen and being stepped over. What I ended up with at my parents' home was 2 dogs who were clueless about moving and a stubborn father with ALS who wouldn't admit he couldn't step over them. A disaster in the making!!

 

Recently, I saw a local trainer on T.V. addressing this very subject. He stated it was imperative to teach your dog to always move out of your way. He mentioned the need for this in the case of losing your power when you might need to walk around in the dark. Falling over your dog could injure you and/or your dog. (More likely you!) 

 

However, even with my experience and his advice I still find myself "stepping over" or going around. Tara is smaller than our former dogs and doesn't fill up the doorway so it seems silly to always make her move.  And except for the bedrooms and baths our house has an open floor plan so there is always plenty of room to "go around".

 

What do you do?

 

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I once came around a corner, with a newborn in my arms, and tripped on my dog (at that time I had an Irish Setter). I fell and chipped my elbow which swelled up with blood in the joint, but the baby didn't hit the floor! I was in a cast for the next six weeks! I also have stairs (that can be dangerous) so I have taught Webber to wait at the top of the stairs until I get down, and, to get out of the way. Now, I am tripping over Seda every time I turn around! So, it starts again. When I am in the kitchen, which is open, Webber and Seda sit on the couch (their idea, not mine) and from there they watch everything I am doing. At my ancient age I cannot afford to break something else!

[Mustard Seed Ranch]

Just wanted to add: If you are having any issues with your dog being dominant or pushy then the dog must move. It asserts your position as pack leader. We have protection trained GSD's so we NEVER go around or step over them, they must move out of our way, but I freely admit to letting my Goldendoodles stay where they are and get their rest while I go around.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

MSR--I've been reading about this (dominant issue) also. I'm as guilty as the next for saying, " excuse me" while I step over my dogs however our 9 month old girl is struggling with dominance issues at this time. She likes to growl if you ask her to get up and move. Off the bed, off the couch, go out the door, etc... So we are currently training with GSD at the police training facility. We brought this issue up and sure enough.NOPE. Not in my house. You have to move. This has been a hard concept for us ( the polite owners). We have never had this strong of an issue with a dog but she is getting it or soon will. I too, freely admit to getting another chair if a cat is sitting in my chair, or our other Goldendoodle is sleeping but true, if you have a teenage doodle who is confused about dominance--Make them move!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

So I am seeing both methods here: To Step Over or To Not Step Over.
With Spud we step over and as I mentioned above with teenage Starlit we make her move. Spud lately has been standing up and it scares the doodles out of DH. Here's why:

DH tripped over his dog in the old bachelor bungalow he was living in before his wonderful life with me. As he was letting his Bella out he fell down the steps and tore out his knee which later required two surgeries.

There he lay, robe wide open, completely sprawled out and naked while the 8am traffic drove by on their way to work. Four lanes of traffic just staring at the naked man lying on the ground. Nope, you think someone would have called to at least report the PORN going on but no..he lay helpless and in pain. So do you teach them to move, lay still, or step over? I love all the reasons and I don't see one really stronger than the other. But it may be a good idea to be dressed before you let your dog out in the morning.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The neighbors would have to be resuscitated if this happened to me. What a shock to their eyes!!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

This was one of the things that our trainers had us practicing when we were in obedience training. She incorporated stepping over them and having them lay still while we did it for Therapy Pet purposes. She said people would be stepping over them all them time when we were in nursing home and hospital environments so they had to know how not to jump up. So, now I just step over them. I've not had issues in falling over them in this case, but times when I didn't know they were behind me or they get tangled in my feet when we are moving through the house. They are forever stepping on the back of my flip-flops when I'm trying to walk.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

We never make Hunter move! What suckers we are. We step over, around, move, etc. She just looks to darn sweet and comfortable laying wherever she is laying. She doesn't sleep in our bed so its normally the kitchen floor or the couch and loveseat we have to oblige and work around her. If we HAVE to make her move it sounds something like this "Hunter baby you need to move sweetie, do you want a cookie?" LOL LOL

[2m42srv7vi6sq]

We have this problem. Caeleach sleeps in doorways, so we have just gotten in the habit of stepping over her. BUT we have her trained to NEVER get up when you are stepping over her. (My 88 year old mother lived with us, so this was a necessity).

Yes, we have tripped over the dogs, in the dark, but it is usually when they are sleeping ontheir dog beds...where they are SUPPOSED to sleep. I guess we just expect them to be in doorways, or in the middle of the floor.

Who would think to look for them on their beds?

LOL

[Frannie & Callie]

This is an ongoing arguement I've had with my parents for YEARS. They will sooner give themselves sleepless nights and back problems than move their 21lb tibetian terrier! It has been like this with every dog they've ever had (it's also never been a question of who is in charge...the dogs are, whatever dog it may be).

This isn't such an issue with Callie, as she is instantly alert to my movements and gets up if I get up - which is why I haven't peed by myself since April 17, 2009! I unhesitantly prod her in bed to reposition her...when she has to get up and go to work in the morning we can re-evaluate this. Until such a time, my sleep is more important!

All that said, "letting sleeping dogs lie" became a saying for a reason!!!!

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

I also have glue dogs! They both follow me everywhere. As a matter of fact I sit on my couch and "work" on my computer and when I close it they both bolt upright because they know I'm about to get up! I will admit that they do lay under our feet in the kitchen and I've stepped on a tail or two in the kitchen, but neither of mine seem to mind a bit. Other than that they follow me everywhere so no real problems unless I quickly change directions and run into them.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

We don't move Peri unless she is blocking something - like if she is sleeping under the table and we are about to eat dinner. We will also move her if she is on our bed and we are ready for bed (she goes to her bed on the floor). But otherwise, we don't move her. The funny thing is, she is never so sound asleep that she won't move. She is completely glued to my hip. She can be passed out, but if I leave the room, she is usually right behind me before I have even left!
Is that because she is still a puppy or is she a light sleeper??

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You know your dog is getting old when you leave a room and they don't realize you're gone. :)