Does it really matter if our pups act as weighted blankets? Does it matter if your pup pushes you away from other dogs or shoves into you for pets? Does it matter if your dog is obnoxious about getting attention or is always leaning on you, getting between you and your spouse or child?

The short answer is Yes, it actually does matter. While we all appreciate the weighted blanket of a dog on a cold winter day and couch snuggles when we don’t feel good. A dog who is always invading your space, is in short a bully. Why is this a problem? Dog’s who invade your space repeatedly often have other behavioral issues that you really don’t like. Resource guarding, intra household aggression with another dog, excessive barking, a general lack of obedience or willingness to follow any cues. It starts with the seemingly simple pushing into you for attention or pushing other dogs and loved ones away, but it’s your first sign that the relationship with your dog has some poor boundaries and may need some tweaking to avoid larger behavioral challenges. – Lydia Bagley CBCC, CPDT-KA, LFDM