http://pets.yahoo.com/blog/cesarmillan/879/the-danger-of-humanizing-your-dog/ - Page 2

I cuddle my dogs to make sure they are used to kids, I feel that this keeps them from being so bothered when a child "hangs" on one of them and I don't want them to get aggravated. 

But, I agree that I don't let them tower over me, sleep or get on the bed or the furniture and if I play with them on the floor I always stay above them.  I see in my male the desire to stand on something so he is taller than me and I always make him back down just on dominance principle.  But again, I love to cuddle them, especially to reward them for being good and they respond well.

Good idea, clewsk9s! My previous female, now deceased, would bite any child that tried to hug her. She got two of them on the face. Fortunately, it was just a nip, and not a serious attack, though one girl got a bloody lip out of it, from getting her teeth knocked against her lip. (She'd been warned MANY TIMES not to go near the dog unless an adult was present, and didn't listen.)

You can imagine why I nearly freaked out the day this little toddler came running up to Ranger, and threw his arms around his neck before I could intervene. Fortunately, Ranger loves kids, and enjoyed the attention.

I think the most important thing we can teach our kids when dog-proofing them is NEVER EVER hug a strange dog, or even a dog you don't know very well.  Any bite  is bad, but a bite on the face is by far the worst, and that's exactly where a dog's going to nail you if you hug it!

If people would just realize that dogs are decendants of the Wolf.  They are born wild.  The problems arise when we try to domestacte them into our society and fail to take into consideration their natural instincts and drives.  They are not furry fuzzy little ones with the brain of a 2 year old like some people think.

Sunsilver  & Larrydee - you are right about teaching kids/people to understand any animals natural instinct, it goes for cats too!  Animals can teach us alot about themselves if we would truly pay attention to their "body language".   I find great joy in getting to understand each of my pets unique language - and they all speak one.

I was having trouble with my female always "sassing" my male and growling at him (she was hogging up our attention) and once I starting correcting her before she behaved badly she improved considerably.

Also, I keep a tight reign on kids in the neighborhood "running up to meet them" when we walk, my male see yelling, screaming, arm flailing children running towards us as quite a threat.....

I agree with Caesar 100%. But I do cuddle my dogs and let them sleep in my bed. That is the only furniture I allow them on. I also don't let them dominate me. My 1 yr old tried to get into a good ol fashioned typical G. Shep boxing match with me the other day and I was like uh uh now way buddy, I love ya but... So I got him on his side all 80 pounds of him and layed over top of him till he calmed down. He's been good since. I am lenient with my dogs so long as they walk and don't fight amongst themselves or bite people. There is no sense show training them as there hips are bad :-(  I also have found that Caesars bit technique will not work with my very dominant female. She has "issues" I am trying to break them but so far no good. Anyone know anything about putting a weighted pack on a dog with bad hips, She is strong I mean really strong and toned, very well exercised, was wondering if I should add the weight to try and tire her out some. I have a bad back and she has way too much energy for me.