we have a st. bernard (who's head was ALWAYS in the way) best way is to make sure your dog knows you as pack leader.

no mater where you go (in and out doors in the kitchen ect.) you go first and there is no such thing as their head in the way. if by chance it is just the size of the dog (like it was for ours) teaching it respect of space (kinda like teaching a horse) is the best way imo.

SOmeone else mentioned walking in there space. you can do this from the front, side, back, while they are laying down..anything. You get there attention, walk towards them and the second they move mark and reward.

once they get that then ad the verbal cue (back or I use "go") and they will soon realize your space is to be respected at all times.

If they do not move, and lay there like a bump on a log, try shuffling your feet under their feet or directly into their feet (front feet) it will make them uncomfortable, wont hurt them or cause them to fear you. mine went straight into a sit possition and I allowed that to be exceptable for a few days and then pushed into his space again (shuffling my feet into his) until his BIG BUTT got up and the marked and reward.

He is a st.so it took him a little longer than most to get it..like two weeks. but he got it..now if he is in the other room and just looks at my dinner plate on the table (which he can easily eat off of while still on the table) I just say "go" and he backs up and walks away. It worked for me..but i bet there are some awesome variations of this strategy.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (03/05/2011 12:28 AM)
Edit reason: paragraphs!!! ;-)

When they are standing right in front of the gate just open it up towards the dog. They have to move out of the way and when they do just mark it and reward. Put a name to it once they start "getting it".

Since I do wood working I have all sorts of lumber. I've also put two 4x8 sheets of plywood on edge in a narrow space. When the dog is between the plywood just walk towards them. As the step back mark and reward.
In heel position my dogs are following my left leg regardless of it position. When I step back with my left foot and they follow it, I mark and reward.
Wish I knew about marker training 50 yrs ago. I might have dog training figured out by now!

That is similar to what I did. I would walk toward my dogs in an area that they couldn't go around me. And I would get really close and almost push against them, and then say, back. Of course when they did they would get great rewards! You will be surprised at how quick they will learn it. Now I can say back from a short distance and they back up.
Sharon