Mary Allen
Understanding Your Dog’s Behaviour
Dogs are social animals that have evolved over thousands of years to live and work in partnership with humans. As such, they have developed a range of behaviours that allow them to communicate and interact with us in ways that are often subtle and complex. One such behaviour that many dog owners may observe is their dog standing between them and the counter.
The Counter as a Focal Point
For many dogs, the counter is a focal point in the home. It is where food is prepared, and where their owners spend a lot of their time. Dogs are naturally curious and inquisitive, and the counter offers a range of sensory and visual stimuli that can be very appealing to them. As such, it is not uncommon for dogs to be drawn to the counter and to want to be close to their owners when they are working there.
The Concept of Pack Positioning
Dogs are pack animals, and as such they are very attuned to social hierarchies and pack positioning. When a dog stands between its owner and the counter, it is often doing so in order to assert its position in the pack. By placing itself in this position, the dog is communicating that it sees itself as being equal or higher in the social hierarchy than its owner, and that it feels entitled to be in that space. This behaviour can be a sign of dominance or insecurity, depending on the individual dog and its personality.