anyone know why the dog did this....?

[sixlostmonkeys]

Just wondering if anyone could explain this dog's behavior?

here's what happened -
dad was walking through his street to see a neighbour when 2 dogs escaped from another neighbour's garden. They charged for him. As they got close my dad stopped, looked at them and shouted "woah!". They stopped but one of them (German Shepherd) stared and growled, baring its teeth.
Then the owners, obviously realising the dogs had got out shouted for/at them. dad saw the look in their faces, they knew they had to return. They did turn and go back home, but before doing so the German Shepherd walked to dad and using its full body weight pushed into his legs.
This is the behavior that is puzzling us. Dad said it was like the dog was saying "OK I'm going but I'm going to have the last say"

Anyone know the reason for this? Something to do with leader of the pack type of thing?

Yep, pretty much. The dog was asserting what he thinks is his authority over your dad. Pretty standard dog behaviour eseprcially from a breed such as a GSD. It's pretty much as if the dog was saying "hey stranger you're on my patch, oh okay, here's my owner so I won't do anything as bad as bite you, but I'm just giving you a warning."

I have a Labrador and a Golden Retriever, and they're not aggressive dogs but they're very territorial, particularly the Lab. Recently they were outside our house briefly, and I went out to call them in, and they were blocking the path of a couple and wouldn't let them walk past the house!

I would agree the little bleeder was saying something along the lines of 'This is how strong I am'

Probably. Unfortunatly it seems like the owner hasn't socialised them very well!

I walked through a field of horses once and one of the horses barged into me, shouldering me to the ground. It was clearly deliberate and he could then have trampled me if he had wanted to. He was telling me to get out of his field.

Later that same day, Princess Diana was killed. The two events are closely linked in my mind.

You don't think the horse did it do you Threadworm?

lol madoldcat..you never know?!

I'd say the GSD needs more socialising as well.I'd be horrified if my dog did that.

Also, if I were the one the GSD was squaring up to, I'd be pretty scared! Sounds like the OP's Dad handled it well.

Dominance thing, the leaning. He was proving he was dominant over your dad. Not well socialised, I agree.

in some contexts, leaning against you can be the dog equivalent of a hug - especially in rescue dogs who have suffered trauma and are afraid of human hands, it's a way to be close and give/get affection without risk

obviously not what the GSD had in mind there, just in case anyone read that, panicked and embarked on some rank reduction campaign with their own nice gentle dog

My nice gentle dog is a 'leaner' I know what you mean, it is an affectionate thing. Even if I do struggle to stay upright, he's a heavy sod!

Yes, tis true. My large dogs lean lovingly but we dont let them lean on strangers.