I’m often asked if its alright for a dog to be on the furniture.
Yes and No.
First of all, its your couch and chair. If you are a reasonably clean person, you shed minimally, have an acceptable odor, and haven’t licked any cushions lately. Can you say the same about your dog?
On the other hand, if you smoke or eat Royal Fudge Ripple while on the sofa, never mind. Your dog most likely has never left a cigarette burn or melted ice cream on the chair seat.
Secondly, a
ccording to
VetInfo, dogs “who choose where they rest or sleep are at the top of the heap and the others are left to fend for themselves.”
Ultimately, its about respect and whether its mutual or one-sided.
In my mind, there are two types of dogs in the civilized world: dogs that CAN be on the furniture, and dogs that CANNOT be.
YES – The dog that is okay to be on the best chair in the house (if invited):
Has never, ever bitten anyone. Ever.
Has never snapped at anyone.
Has never growled at anyone (unless it was in play).
Doesn’t chew furniture (obviously).
Willingly moves over so you can sit down.
NO – The dog that should NOT be on the furniture, or if he is, he needs to get off, pronto:
Has bitten someone.
Has snapped at someone.
Is possessive over the chair or couch, i.e. growls or refuses to move.
Startles easily, and grumpily, when woken from being asleep.
Always seems to find that one loose thread and can’t resist picking at it until the textile is in shreds.
I can hear you now “but I’ve tried to get her off and she justs gets back on!” Then you gave up. And your dog thought “That was easy.”
So, break the cycle. Instead of hauling her off physically, yelling at her, or giving up and sitting on the floor, try this:
Get a dog bed (or a mat, or blanket, or towel) for her. Put it on the floor in a warm spot in the same room where the family hangs out.
Walk to the bed and call her to you with love, not anger.
Praise her for coming to you.
Give her a special toy or chew that she only gets when she is on her bed.
Repeat as needed.
For persistent dogs (yes, yours), put a leash on her and have her lie down next to you with her toy/chew. Let her know what a gracious and selfless dog she is for relinquishing the best chair to its rightful owner – you.
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