Do you let your dog on the sofa with you?

mrcol1000

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

my dog isn't allowed upstairs or on the bed, however, I have to say I often fall asleep on the settee with her - I dont know why, but it is the best kip I ever have, I sleep like a log, even though the dog insists on lying all over me! Anyone else find the same?

I often have to peel myself away from my OH and dog fast asleep on me.

mrcol1000

Paparika wrote: »

But by allowing the dog on the sofa, you are allowing him to feel equal to you in the pack, that is the unfortunate thing

Rubbish. Dogs pick up their place in the pack from lots of things not just whether they can sit on the sofa with you or not.

jessbob

mrcol1000 wrote: »

Rubbish. Dogs pick up their place in the pack from lots of things not just whether they can sit on the sofa with you or not.

My doggie knows I am the pack leader (so do my 'kids' !!!!), even though he sits on the settee with me (its leather so not a problem to clean), and sleeps at the bottom of my bed. If he starts to annoy me (not very often), he obediently will sit/sleep on the floor (provided he is not too far away from me, as I am sure he thinks I will not survive if he's not there to protect me ! ) Bless. He is priceless :j:j

suki1964

Just have to wonder about this "pack " idea. Can someone please explain to me how canines and humans can belong to the same pack?

If we have guests, we take the fleecy thing off and the dog knows she is not allowed on the sofa.

Same as mine and indeed although mine is (are) allowed on my bed at night its only when the throw is on. I have been woken up by the wee sod whinging wanting up on the bed and the throw having had slipped off :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Paparika

mrcol1000 wrote: »

Rubbish. Dogs pick up their place in the pack from lots of things not just whether they can sit on the sofa with you or not.

I know its a lot of other things, this was just one example

sarabe

suki1964 wrote: »

Just have to wonder about this "pack " idea. Can someone please explain to me how canines and humans can belong to the same pack?

They can't. They can co-exist in harmony but domestic dogs don't even form packs amongst themselves let alone with another species.

That is why all of this pack leader, dominance stuff is so flawed. If we are consistent and the dog always knows what to expect and when, then there will be harmony and everyone will be relatively happy and content. It is why the 'pack leader' rules tend to give the impression that they work.

This is because there is a routine and consistency where previously there was none.

I consistently feed my dogs before I eat. Cuddle up with them on the sofa, send them ahead of me out of the door, encourage them to be higher than me by teaching them agility, let them win at tug games and probably numerous other things that some would have you believe is bad for your relationship.

Yet despite all of this I have a houseful of reasonably (not perfect) well behaved dogs that previous owners had given up as untrainable.

mrcol1000

sarabe wrote: »

They can't. They can co-exist in harmony but domestic dogs don't even form packs amongst themselves let alone with another species.

That is why all of this pack leader, dominance stuff is so flawed. If we are consistent and the dog always knows what to expect and when, then there will be harmony and everyone will be relatively happy and content. It is why the 'pack leader' rules tend to give the impression that they work.

This is because there is a routine and consistency where previously there was none.

I consistently feed my dogs before I eat. Cuddle up with them on the sofa, send them ahead of me out of the door, encourage them to be higher than me by teaching them agility, let them win at tug games and probably numerous other things that some would have you believe is bad for your relationship.

Yet despite all of this I have a houseful of reasonably (not perfect) well behaved dogs that previous owners had given up as untrainable.

I think there is a certain amount of viablity in the whole pack leader thing. I agree that you don't make yourself pack leader by making sure your first out the door its the little things and the body language which you give off to the dog that makes it realise its place. One small example. On saturday night my dog will sit in front of its bowl of a treat of salmon with its mouth watering until I give her permission to eat. In the mornings on her morning walk she will keep checking behind her to see if I am still walking the same way as her because she knows we only go a certain way down the road before its home time depending on how much time I have. As soon as I turn around she will turn around to come home. I have also found the best way to deal with her fear of other dogs is that by walking and ignoring them she will keep walking by my side rather than lunge at them.

catlou

welshmoneylover wrote: »

Mine have their own 2 seater chocolate brown leather settee covered with throws. Cost me about £650 but well worth it, they may occassionally allow us to sit there with them!

ha ha!!!!! :T :rotfl: :rotfl:

sarabe

mrcol1000 wrote: »

.....On saturday night my dog will sit in front of its bowl of a treat of salmon with its mouth watering until I give her permission to eat.

That is because you have trained her to do this. If you hadn't taught her to wait then she wouldn't just choose to.

mrcol1000 wrote: »

.....In the mornings on her morning walk she will keep checking behind her to see if I am still walking the same way as her because she knows we only go a certain way down the road before its home time depending on how much time I have. As soon as I turn around she will turn around to come home. I have also found the best way to deal with her fear of other dogs is that by walking and ignoring them she will keep walking by my side rather than lunge at them.

Yet some would maintain that the dog walking in front is 'leading' and checking back to make sure that his 'pack' is still following.

Off course if you don't react to other dogs and stay calm then this is likely to have a positive effect on her. You can be 'in charge' of a situation and set a good example but it doesn't necessarily translate as 'pack leader'.

Not that it matters really. It's all just labels.

foxy-roxy

My 2 dogs sit on the settees and it doesn't bother me, they have a bed which they will lie on sometimes, and i won't allow them to chew bones etc on the settee.