Re: Is this a dominant behaviour?

In Reply to: Is this a dominant behaviour?
Posted by:  Patti
Posted on:  October 31, 2001 at 21:45:04

: This is not really a problem, but a query.
: My partner and I let our 10mtn old Willow sleep with us. Either on the bed (which is annoying, bx she weighs down the blanket :) or underneath the covers. Here she sleeps by our knees/feet. Is it alright for her to sleep under the covers? Wil sleeping wile being covered affect her breathing? so far we've had no problmes - I'm just wondering. Next, when my boyfriend leaves for work, Willow, of course, will watch him get ready and leave, and hops back into bed with me, but this time she'll sleep right by my shoulders/head. Is she being dominant over me? I've also noticed, when she sleeps on the bed during the day, she'll sleep at the head of the bed. Is this a sign that she is more alpha over us? We haven't experienced any aggression problems in relation to other daily life activities. I'm just wondering what this behaviour means.
: Thanks.

------------------ Response Area -------------------
Hi Patti,

Don't read too much into this. If your girl was having dominance issues while in your bed chances are she would be nasty by growling and snapping and urinating in the bed.

Just shifting positions on the bed is just a dog looking for the most comfortable spot. I have one that loves to be up by/on the pillow close to my head and another that like to be down by my feet. On occasion though they switch!

As far as under the covers, I have rarely heard about any JRT that didn't LOVE to get under the covers. Many of us marvel about how they can even breathe while under them so snug, but breathe they do and they know when to come out. It beats me how they can do it lol!

Everything sounds normal to me!