Bedtime Problem w/Schnauzer

Question
We have a 3 year old schnauzer who just recently started this strange behavior at bedtime.  Normally she would just lay on the couch with us until we go to bed, but now she has started going into the bedroom for a few minutes and coming back getting in our faces, trying to sit on your shoulder/head. If you try and get her to sit by you on the couch her legs get stiff and she refuses! This goes on until we go to bed.  Any suggestions?

Answer
Suggestions? Go to BED! It is apparently past your schnauzer's bedtime<GGGGGG> LOL!

Seriously, though, I have heard of similar things numerous times from schnauzer owners. When it is time for bed, it is time for bed, and schnauzers apparently don't like sleeping alone.

We have a babygate up at our bedroom door, and as I am getting ready for bed I will let the dogs in there before I am ready. When I do head for the bedroom, they are all lying around the gate, but then they immediately head for the bed as soon as I come in.

So I am not a lot of help today as this is a common schnauzer trait that you will laugh about some day when you think back on this dog, but one thing I will say is that I, as alpha, **NEVER** allow a dog up on my shoulders or certainly on my head as that is dominating behavior. This should NOT be allowed under any circumstances! For that reason, you need to start practicing "Nothing in Life is Free" with your dog. http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm  When the dog does this to you, "growl" at it and immediately put it down on the floor as you stare it in the eye. (Here I just growl until the dog gets down on its own; my growling gets nastier the slower the dog moves.)

You might even find that NILIF helps with the bedtime behavior a bit, too. The dogs that sleep with me never bug me at bedtime, but lay here all around my feet until I am ready, as this night owl always tries to check her email one last time before bedtime.