Walking on top of you

Chiana · Aug 25, 2015

Does your Frenchies walk on top of you...I mean like literally stepping??

Moses has been doing this for quite a while now and I was wondering if this is something I should seriously intervene.

For example when we are sitting on a couch watching tv, he occasionally (practically every evening) jumps and starts to walk on top of us, on our laps, climbing on us. He paces back and forth on both of our laps doing this. His ears are fully folded back and typically he has some of his chew toys in his mouth. While doing that he also wants to touch our nose with his. He does not come across aggressive at all, but he seems to be very focused and determined when doing this.
This normally lasts about 10 mins.

I have tried to find an explanation for this online, but haven't found any decent article describing this exact behaviour.

French Bulldog Buzz · Aug 25, 2015

Hi Chiana,

It sound like that your Frenchie does not know any rules, boundaries and limitations...

He just enters your intimate space with his toys, and wants tp lay with you. BUT it should be on your terms, the walking on top of you is not good. I believe he sees himself as the leader of the household thats why he does it. Try to corret him when he comes to close to you, or when he starts stepping on top of you. Basically what he does is claiming YOUR private space, try to ask him to stay of the sofa and see what happens. And if he jums again on top and steps on you put him down on the floor..

It is something where we as humans must be consistent...

blushy · Aug 25, 2015

Mine don't get that focused but they do walk on us.

I agree that you should try to curb the intensity & definitely keep Mo out of your face.

Chiana · Aug 25, 2015

blushy said:
Mine don't get that focused but they do walk on us.

I agree that you should try to curb the intensity & definitely keep Mo out of your face.

French Bulldog Buzz said:
Hi Chiana,

It sound like that your Frenchie does not know any rules, boundaries and limitations...

He just enters your intimate space with his toys, and wants tp lay with you. BUT it should be on your terms, the walking on top of you is not good. I believe he sees himself as the leader of the household thats why he does it. Try to corret him when he comes to close to you, or when he starts stepping on top of you. Basically what he does is claiming YOUR private space, try to ask him to stay of the sofa and see what happens. And if he jums again on top and steps on you put him down on the floor..

It is something where we as humans must be consistent...

Glad to hear mine is not the only goof! :tongue:
Mo is otherwise so well behaved and respectful, besides this one quirky habit. That is what made me wonder if this has some specific meaning that we should understand.

I will try to calm him down next time he starts doing that and see how he reacts.

Tgirl · Aug 25, 2015

Mine hops in my lap all the time, or anyone's lap really. Honestly I shouldn't let her enter my space at all until I ask her to, but it's not that big of a deal to me. If I were having any behavior issues with her, she wouldn't be allowed on the furniture much less my lap. She's spoiled but she does mind when I tell her no about something. We are also working on some obedience commands and things to reinforce that I am in charge.

Squishy Walnuts · Aug 25, 2015

Wally is very pushy as well and I just push him away and tell him no. He usually looks so hurt when I do but he gets over it quickly. lol!

French Bulldog Buzz · Aug 25, 2015

Sometimes we don't see those little things as an issue...But if we do not address them, then they can become later on an issue...when we trained people in Beijing, we faced many times the situation that the dogs were jumping all over the place...Don't get me wrong my Bushido is as well allowed on the sofa even on the bed after a shower...But it is all on my terms...as we know how stubborn they can be..

2bullymama · Aug 25, 2015

Cheli does this but it usually means he has to go potty as he does not bark to go out, he gets on our lap and places his face in ours... I then ask the question, 'do you have to go potty?' and he runs for the basement door.

hannah · Aug 25, 2015

Banksy just learned to jump on the couch and when he does he steps all over me and puts his face right in my face and just smells me. I thought it was cute the first couple times and now I just firmly say "heyyy" and push him away and if he doesn't get it I put him on the ground. If he asks up again or jumps up I let him but continue to put him down until he is acting more like a gentleman. He is starting to get it. I agree with French Bulldog Buzz it has to be on your terms.

Chiana · Aug 25, 2015

I have not yet figured out if he has something to tell us when doing this, but will try to start control it better. I try the "heyyy - and gentle push" method first, since I don't want to hurt his feelings too much... :blush2:

He really seems like he is in "zone" when he paces...like a man with a mission. And it always follows the same pattern, hop on the couch and start pacing from one end to the other and when crossing our laps he does his climb and nose touching thing. So weird.
In most cases he just lounges besides us or partly on our lap. He definitely is in a completely different mood when pacing.

Alice Kable · Aug 25, 2015

It seems all of our dogs have been lap dogs. Yes, all 6 English Bulldogs have been lap dogs. I do not let them get in my face, however! Buster is good about stretching out on my lap to get belly rubs!

blushy · Aug 25, 2015

Titan paces over us, but I can tell he's just passing by and moving on to the next thing. He definitely doesn't have a motive besides maybe getting dog hair all over everything in my house

I would make Mo sit on the floor when he does this and then once he sits you can invite him back on the couch, see if he chills out on the weird pacing!