Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not?

• 07-20-2008 9:12 AM

  In reply to Indy05

  IrishSetterGrl Joined on 05-19-2007 Posts 715 Points 110

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact Yep - both dogs go on and off the furniture whenever they want. Cadie sleeps in bed with my parents, Riley sleeps in bed with me. The dogs are part of the family and if guests can't accept that, then that's too bad.  It surprises me how many dog owners say they love their dogs so much but have a big problem with them on the furniture or beds. I can't imagine being comfortable lying on the floor all my life. I enjoy my dogs' company, why shouldn't they be allowed to sleep in the bed with me? They should be allowed to be comfortable. ~ISGrl Cadie - 8.5 yr/o Irish Setter Riley - 1.5 yr/o Irish Setter I love my shelter dog. Adoption IS the BEST option! =)

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• 07-20-2008 10:04 AM

  In reply to IrishSetterGrl

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 4,481 Points 735

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact My dog is allowed on furniture (when and only when invited). That includes the bed, but he is allowed on the bed less often because he likes to try to weasel around the "only when invited" rule. He's never filthy (if he gets dirty, he gets a rinse the moment he gets in the door), doesn't shed much and is brushed constantly anyway, and doesn't snore. IMO, letting a dog get so nasty that it would foul up the furniture, and using that as the reason they're not allowed, is pretty gross I totally understand people not wanting their animals on the furniture, though. Same reason I'd prefer if people took their shoes off when they came in the door, or didn't put their feet up on the coffee table. At first BF was of the "dogs on the furniture is gross" camp so the dog was rarely invited up, but after a month or so of living with me and Rascal, he started inviting Rascal up WAY more often than I did!

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• 07-20-2008 10:06 AM

  In reply to IrishSetterGrl

  aDorkable Joined on 09-16-2007 SC Posts 430 Points 85

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact IrishSetterGrl: It surprises me how many dog owners say they love their dogs so much but have a big problem with them on the furniture or beds. I can't imagine being comfortable lying on the floor all my life. I enjoy my dogs' company, why shouldn't they be allowed to sleep in the bed with me? They should be allowed to be comfortable. For me the off the furniture rule isn't an option (not my furniture), but I think Misha gets way too hot on the furniture and prefers laying down on the hardwood, tile, or concrete floors if he has the option. He used to go lay down on the hardwood whenever he was inside - even though the room we were all in is carpeted. To be fair though, I come over and lay or sit on the floor in order to give him the option of cuddling.

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• 07-20-2008 10:10 AM

  In reply to IrishSetterGrl

  Chuffy Joined on 12-17-2006 UK Posts 5,504 Points 10

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact IrishSetterGrl:  It surprises me how many dog owners say they love their dogs so much but have a big problem with them on the furniture or beds. I can't imagine being comfortable lying on the floor all my life. No but then I would hate to eat a raw meaty bone or jump into a freezing cold river or stick my head out of a car window.  And if I stuck my nose in my guest's crotch there is a possibility I would be arrested.  I love my dogs but I don't superimpose my own likes and dislikes on to them   Yes they are part of the family, but unfortuantely they can't be a part of EVERY single thing that our family does.  If we are all eating chocolate cake, then sorry dogs but you're not getting any!  If we go for a walk round the neighborhood, the dog wears the collar and I attach the lead and decide where we go.  If we go for a romp in the fields, the HUMANS trail at the back and enjoy the view, the dogs run back and forth and gallop about fetching toys etc.  At home, the humans sit on the sofa, the dogs lay on the floor or in their crates with a bone or chew - it really is no different in my eyes.  I don't get in their crates or eat or drink from their dishes - that would be absurd!  Nor do they eat at the table using the same crockery as us - but taht doesn;t make them LESS a part of our family.  We just fill different roles, that's all. I think Callie said it best in another thread.... it doesn't matter where they are or what they are doing any where near as much as the fact that they are ***WITH YOU***  - that's what counts, in the eyes of the dog.  IMO, allowing dogs on furniture is more for the human's benefit than the dogs' in most cases. I dislike the implication that those of us who don't have animals on furniture don't "love" the dog as much as those who do allow it. I also think that for folks with large/giant breeds, disallowing the dog from climbing on furniture is sometimes a health consideration, to avoid putting stress on the joints. Having said that, I worked in a vet surgery and a little Yorkie pup came in with a bust leg.... because he tried to jump off the sofa and hurt himself.  The bone was "green" at the time of the break and that poor little guy had a lot of problems with it. "Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life." (Pratchett, Jingo) "I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'" - Fred Jungclaus

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• 07-20-2008 10:42 AM

  In reply to Chuffy

  mudpuppy Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 5,492 Points 100

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact IrishSetterGrl:  It surprises me how many dog owners say they love their dogs so much but have a big problem with them on the furniture or beds. I can't imagine being comfortable lying on the floor all my life. as I type there are three dogs lying on the hard wood floor. One of them carefully wadded up the doggy bed so she could lie on the hard wood floor instead. The couch, which they are allowed on, has no dogs on it.

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• 07-20-2008 10:47 AM

  In reply to Chuffy

  ron2 Joined on 09-10-2007 far north central Texas Posts 9,827 Points 500

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact Chuffy: I love my dogs but I don't superimpose my own likes and dislikes on to them Actually, you just did. You don't like the crotch sniffing and eating on the furniture. That's okay, neither do I. And you are right, sometimes size does matter. Our friend had a Great Pyrenees that she paid and waited for from a breeder. And never allowed her on the furniture and it was not through lack of love. It was because Lilli would grow up to be almost 34 inches tall and 140 lbs and would take all the couch if allowed to do so, hence, never allowed to do so. And our friend loved her so much and knew that living in the cramped quarters she usually has was not enough and gave her to friends that own a sheep ranch. And Lilli took to it as if she had grown up there. And that's about par for the course for our friends. Her son's girlfriend gave us Shadow. Later they had bought a Bull Mastiff and had him until he got big and their finances soured again and the couldn't keep him. Our friend had even taken in Duke from his original owners. Duke was Shadow's bestest friend, the Jack Russell Terrier he grew up with. Anyway, our friend couldn't keep him because of her work schedule and his bathroom schedule so she gave him to other friends who live near Lake Texoma. Duke got out of the yard and was killed by a coyote, which run wild on the Hagerman Wildlife Refuge. And these are people who have had dogs all of their lives and can't keep them but they still keep getting them. But I digress, true enough, not allowing dogs on furniture is not a sign of lack of affection. In the case of our friend, it was a matter of available space. Had she gotten a Westie, it might be a different story. Then again, our friend doesn't feed raw and certainly doesn't allow pets to eat on the furniture, either, though I don't think anyone does, for that matter.   The way you treat your dog in this life determines your place in heaven. - chukchi proverb

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• 07-20-2008 11:00 AM

  In reply to IrishSetterGrl

  losinsusan Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 359 Points 75

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact Funny how this topic is being discussed now.  Dublin is allowed on the couch and beds.  He usually just sleeps.  Well last night he had a rare case of the zoomies due to not enough exercise because of so much rain.  He was running from the couch in the loft back and forth to the bed.  He flew up on the couch and his claw sliced a long tear in my couch.  I quickly flipped the cushion but my husband will surely see if eventually.  I will never hear the end of this.  Already starting to save for new couches I guesssthat might be more durable for him.  These are corduroy but they are tearing all over from his nails.  Now I am rethinking the going on the couch idea a bit more.  JAX RIP 03/16/07 Run free my beautiful man

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• 07-20-2008 11:38 AM

  In reply to ron2

  Chuffy Joined on 12-17-2006 UK Posts 5,504 Points 10

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact ron2: Chuffy: I love my dogs but I don't superimpose my own likes and dislikes on to them Actually, you just did. You don't like the crotch sniffing and eating on the furniture.   No, I was making the point that I don't like doing those things but my dogs do.  I wouldn't like to sit or lie on the floor all the time, but I wouldn't like to eat from a bowl on the floor either.  But my dogs do all of these things and show no signs of being unhappy about it.  "Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life." (Pratchett, Jingo) "I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'" - Fred Jungclaus

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• 07-20-2008 11:51 AM

  In reply to Chuffy

  ron2 Joined on 09-10-2007 far north central Texas Posts 9,827 Points 500

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact Chuffy: No, I was making the point that I don't like doing those things but my dogs do I think you missed my point because you are still wrankled at the perceived implication that you don't love your dogs because you don't allow them on furniture. Dogs like to do all kinds of stuff that we don't allow, per our own personal requirements. I don't think a dog suffers from not being allowed on the couch. Once again, I am trying to agree with you that dogs are best off when knowing what the rules are and where they fit in. Or is that disagreeable today, also? I think I'll go take Shadow for a walk and get some more treats to stuff into the treat can. We haven't had a training session in months. Thanks to your words of wisdom, the clicker did the trick and less than a year of full on clicker training seems to have accomplished just about everything we needed to learn, though I continue to learn and think about it. I just have treats around to spoil him rotten and, who knows, we might find something else to train on. My intention was to train manners and attention to me.   The way you treat your dog in this life determines your place in heaven. - chukchi proverb

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• 07-20-2008 11:56 AM

  In reply to ron2

  Chuffy Joined on 12-17-2006 UK Posts 5,504 Points 10

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact Not disagreeable no, I just thought you misunderstood me To say I "dislike the implication" is not to say I am irritatd by it. I dislike it because it is inaccurate and pretty bizarre, when, as you've said, there are a whole host of things we humans do that the dogs are not allowed to do and it doesn't make them less loved, or less a part of the family.   "Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life." (Pratchett, Jingo) "I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'" - Fred Jungclaus

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• 07-20-2008 12:15 PM

  In reply to Chuffy

  Dog_ma Joined on 06-25-2007 San Diego County, California Posts 1,353 Points 795

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact  There's no point owning a South African Sofa Hound if you don't want a dog on the furniture. When Sasha was a pup, she wasn't allowed on the furniture until she was grown and well trained. These days, dogs (and cats) are allowed on the furniture IF they are willing to be respectful, and that includes getting off on request. Eko is a lumbering fool of a lap dog, but because of his destructive potential he is crated at night and when we're out. He's also frequently confined to an x-pen in the living room, when we're eating or company is over. (Most visitors don't appreciate being body slammed with joy by 80 lbs of puppy). Both dogs sleep in crates in the bedroom. Eko because I want to wake up with a house that isn't in tatters, and Sasha because she's developed some resource guarding regarding the cats and her sleeping space. No chasing kittehs out of my bedroom! Before that, she was occasionally allowed to sleep on the bed by invitation, which she loved. When Eko is more reliable, he is welcome to sleep on one of the beds. Every morning, my daughter wakes up and crawls into bed with me. Then we uncrate the dogs and invite them up on the bed for a short cuddle time. I don't own furniture that I'm worried about. My daughter does more damage to the couch than the dogs! I figure some day when she's older and the pup is grown, we'll get nicer furniture and I may get more protective of it, but right now my decor philosophy is "pleasant but functional." Beautiful will have to wait for another season of my life.   "Are you a dog trainer?" "No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night."

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• 07-20-2008 1:16 PM

  In reply to Dog_ma

  tiffy Joined on 09-10-2007 Tacoma, Wa. Posts 1,622 Points 130	Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact  Tootsie is allowed on the furniture, couch and bed, She always gets down when asked. The cat has the same priviliges.
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• 07-20-2008 1:17 PM

  In reply to Chuffy

  ron2 Joined on 09-10-2007 far north central Texas Posts 9,827 Points 500

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact Chuffy: I dislike it because it is inaccurate and pretty bizarre, when, as you've said, there are a whole host of things we humans do that the dogs are not allowed to do and it doesn't make them less loved, or less a part of the family. And training is key to it all. Case in point, though it may seem off topic. We went to the shopping mall and went into Petco where I get his treats. Then we walk around the mall parking lot. We make a grand tour of the landscaped islands. He catches and kills a bird in one of those islands and still has the bird in his mouth. We haven't been to the car, yet, so I still have the treats with me. A great chance to reinforce drop it with a prey animal we haven't specifically worked on. With treats in hand, I say drop it, and he drops it, blood still dripping. He won't take the treat and he would rather have the bird back but we walk on. I like to think that same strength of training is what makes peaceful coexistence in the house possible. So, I am able to get my dog to drop a freshly killed prey animal, the taste of blood on his tongue, something that he did by the instinct of hunting, and it's all your fault, Chuffy. Well, you and Spiritdogs but you made me try it. The way you treat your dog in this life determines your place in heaven. - chukchi proverb

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• 07-20-2008 1:20 PM

  In reply to Chuffy

  BannedBreed Lover Joined on 05-28-2008 Ontario, Canada Posts 208 Points 70

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact Well personally, I don't have a problem with dogs on the beds/furniture, especially after living with giant bed hogs... however; seeing as the next dog that we'll be getting is a dominant breed, I have changed my tune slightly.  The dog won't be allowed on the beds/furniture until he/she has learned his/her place in our pack, and has earned our respect, after that, the dog will be allowed up on the furniture, but only if invited. Too bad my cat can't follow those same rules   In Memory of: Cleo (1994-1999) & Dacota (1995-1999) "Great dogs in every sense of the word".

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• 07-20-2008 1:38 PM

  In reply to ron2

  Chuffy Joined on 12-17-2006 UK Posts 5,504 Points 10

  Re: Is your dog allowed on the furniture? Why/why not? Reply Contact ron2: So, I am able to get my dog to drop a freshly killed prey animal, the taste of blood on his tongue, something that he did by the instinct of hunting, and it's all your fault, Chuffy. Well, you and Spiritdogs but you made me try it.   Good grief and I thought spiritdogs could claim all the credit!  Ain't that the warm fuzzy thought tho' - Someone halfway round the world has a better trained dog because of lil ole me! Well, partly.  Still; GOSH. Anywho, back to topic   "Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life." (Pratchett, Jingo) "I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'" - Fred Jungclaus

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