Furniture: rules or no?
- Thread starter SpringerLover
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I used to want them to only come up when invited, which was fine as Quinn usually doesn't come up anyways without asking, but I've gotten way more relaxed now. Dogs can come up onto the couches any time they want, I prefer having a dog beside me 
Ned has even taken to sitting on the back of the couch (which sometimes leads to him going up and sitting on the windowsill)
Ned has even taken to sitting on the back of the couch (which sometimes leads to him going up and sitting on the windowsill)
There's no option for us.
We are totally inconsistent!!!! Mostly yes, when we are home, but a huge chunk of no!! When they get on our nerves.
Bodhi is a still and silent snuggler, but can squeeze into small gaps and lean on you and stay very very heavy and still so (in her mind) you don't notice her. And actually it's like snuggling next to a brick.
Fred can be a wriggler, and he's ALL FEET AND LEGS so you run the risk of being smashed in the face quite a lot.
So then we spit the dummy out the pram and they're no allowed up, but it totally confuses them because we are so inconsistent
We are totally inconsistent!!!! Mostly yes, when we are home, but a huge chunk of no!! When they get on our nerves.
Bodhi is a still and silent snuggler, but can squeeze into small gaps and lean on you and stay very very heavy and still so (in her mind) you don't notice her. And actually it's like snuggling next to a brick.
Fred can be a wriggler, and he's ALL FEET AND LEGS so you run the risk of being smashed in the face quite a lot.
So then we spit the dummy out the pram and they're no allowed up, but it totally confuses them because we are so inconsistent
Before Crossbone came home it was a resounding no on any furniture. We travel to other peoples houses so often, it's nice to not have a dog on the couch of someone's house where that is frowned upon.
Then Crossbone came home and apparently there are no house rules. Furniture? Absolutely! Table bench? No problem! On the table? Well, not when company is over.
I like him on the couch -- but I do have table rules that are mostly ignored -- like four on the floor (and the opposite encouraged) by DH. Can't win 'em all.
ETA - Crossbone doesn't usually lay ON the furniture anyway-- he's mostly on top of one or both of us at all times.
Then Crossbone came home and apparently there are no house rules. Furniture? Absolutely! Table bench? No problem! On the table? Well, not when company is over.
I like him on the couch -- but I do have table rules that are mostly ignored -- like four on the floor (and the opposite encouraged) by DH. Can't win 'em all.
ETA - Crossbone doesn't usually lay ON the furniture anyway-- he's mostly on top of one or both of us at all times.
For the most part yes they are allowed on furniture. When we move that may change to a "need to be invited". We have an issue with all of the dogs insisting they be on the bed at once. It's annoying because my husband and I end up on the very edges of the bed about to fall off because there are dogs all over the bed. Once we move and aren't living in such a tight space I'm probably going to have a no dogs on the bed rule except Cricket. The reason she is the exception is because she presses up against me and actually helps me fall asleep so I kind of need her on the bed with me.
We have rules, they've just shifted a bit over the years.
Originally, Meg was not allowed on any furniture except my bed. Even that appalled my mother, but it was my bed so she let it go. She doesn't understand the appeal of waking up next to a dog, but just because she's never experienced it. (That's Meg's pillow, I don't sleep on such a gross thing)
Then I got sad watching Meg stand under the window in my den trying to see out, so I gave her the ottoman to my reading chair and covered it with a blanket. So they had my bed and the ottoman that were free range.
Then we got all new living room furniture, and Meg decided, despite many years of never getting on the furniture, that the nice reading chair by the window was hers. My mom is a softy, so she ordered a nice custom cover for it and Meg had the bed, the ottoman, and the chair downstairs.
Then Gusto came along, and of course he needed his own chair to be fair. So Meg had the chair by the window, and we got a custom cover for the recliner for Gusto.
But then Meg decided that was also her chair, and once she had slept on it once, Gusto was too respectful to get on it. So we moved his little doggie carseat into the living room, because it is too small for Meg to claim, however much she tried
It doesn't live in the car, because it was purchased to replace the human carseat that Gusto thinks is the Best Thing Ever. He won't use the doggy one in the car, so we just bought this off my cousin, cut the belts out of it, and yes, Gusto rides in this (in my mother's car). She tried to get me to put it in my car, but I pointed out that I scare men off enough by myself.
So Gusto was without a chair, until I came in one day and he was in the nice reading chair in my den. I told him off, and this happened.
So now both dogs sleep on the bed and the ottoman, Meg has two chairs downstairs, Gusto has one doggy car seat downstairs and, as long as he follows his own rules that "on the back of the chair isn't ON the chair", has the reading chair in my upstairs den.
But they are totally not allowed on the couch. Unless it is covered with a blanket and they are invited up. They both start spinning in circles when they see me pick up this blanket.
As you can see, it is very important to have firm household rules so the dogs don't try to dominate you.
Originally, Meg was not allowed on any furniture except my bed. Even that appalled my mother, but it was my bed so she let it go. She doesn't understand the appeal of waking up next to a dog, but just because she's never experienced it. (That's Meg's pillow, I don't sleep on such a gross thing)
Then I got sad watching Meg stand under the window in my den trying to see out, so I gave her the ottoman to my reading chair and covered it with a blanket. So they had my bed and the ottoman that were free range.
Then we got all new living room furniture, and Meg decided, despite many years of never getting on the furniture, that the nice reading chair by the window was hers. My mom is a softy, so she ordered a nice custom cover for it and Meg had the bed, the ottoman, and the chair downstairs.
Then Gusto came along, and of course he needed his own chair to be fair. So Meg had the chair by the window, and we got a custom cover for the recliner for Gusto.
But then Meg decided that was also her chair, and once she had slept on it once, Gusto was too respectful to get on it. So we moved his little doggie carseat into the living room, because it is too small for Meg to claim, however much she tried
It doesn't live in the car, because it was purchased to replace the human carseat that Gusto thinks is the Best Thing Ever. He won't use the doggy one in the car, so we just bought this off my cousin, cut the belts out of it, and yes, Gusto rides in this (in my mother's car). She tried to get me to put it in my car, but I pointed out that I scare men off enough by myself.
So Gusto was without a chair, until I came in one day and he was in the nice reading chair in my den. I told him off, and this happened.
So now both dogs sleep on the bed and the ottoman, Meg has two chairs downstairs, Gusto has one doggy car seat downstairs and, as long as he follows his own rules that "on the back of the chair isn't ON the chair", has the reading chair in my upstairs den.
But they are totally not allowed on the couch. Unless it is covered with a blanket and they are invited up. They both start spinning in circles when they see me pick up this blanket.
As you can see, it is very important to have firm household rules so the dogs don't try to dominate you.
When Mike was home, it was only when invited. But I really don't mind the dogs on the sofa as long as they get off when told, so now that Mike isn't here it has become whenever they want. I have a feeling when Mike and I are living together again and we get new furniture, it will go back to invite only.
He can come up whenever he'd like and there are no rules. I wish there was though. He does guard the couch a little bit, as in if you try to physically move him he growls. So I wish we taught him some "move over" or "off" command. But we discovered if we just start to sit on him he moves without growling (guess he doesn't do social interactions with butts). And it's easier to get my parents to do that than it would be to get them to do any sort of training.
Also, I sort of wish he didn't walk on people on the couch. On the one hand I personally like it because he comes and stand or sits on my lap to get loved on, but he also does it to guests that he likes which isn't so awesome. So maybe that's one I wish he needed permission for. It might also keep him from occasionally running full speed onto my mother lol.
Also, I sort of wish he didn't walk on people on the couch. On the one hand I personally like it because he comes and stand or sits on my lap to get loved on, but he also does it to guests that he likes which isn't so awesome. So maybe that's one I wish he needed permission for. It might also keep him from occasionally running full speed onto my mother lol.
Teagan gets to go anywhere and everywhere And she does not have to ask permission. Panzer is allowed pretty much everywhere but because he is so big he gets kicked off a lot of the furniture and although pan has a nice comfy kennel in our room he has been sleeping in bed with us because we like to sleep cold and with the window open and even with his Jammie's on pan still gets too cold. So snuggling under the blankets he goes.
At my parents place the dogs get the run of the house. At my inlaws teagan has the run of the place, but big dogs have to stay off the furnature and they are only allowed in the main floor of the house. It shall be interesting if that actually sticks with pan being there this Christmas. Ha ha
At my parents place the dogs get the run of the house. At my inlaws teagan has the run of the place, but big dogs have to stay off the furnature and they are only allowed in the main floor of the house. It shall be interesting if that actually sticks with pan being there this Christmas. Ha ha
I chose "when invited" but I could also have chosen any of the others.
Kili is crated when we aren't home and is only allowed on the couch when we are home. If someone is on the couch she has to be invited. If no one is using the couch she is free to go up there on her own (but has to get down when asked).
Summit is allowed on any furniture at any time. He spends most of the day when we're at work on our bed. He sometimes will get up on the couch but not as much. Again, he does have to get off when asked. And if I'm in bed he does need to be invited into bed with me. But I'm a lot more lenient with Summit than with Kili. You know, seeing as he has manners and what not.
Kili is crated when we aren't home and is only allowed on the couch when we are home. If someone is on the couch she has to be invited. If no one is using the couch she is free to go up there on her own (but has to get down when asked).
Summit is allowed on any furniture at any time. He spends most of the day when we're at work on our bed. He sometimes will get up on the couch but not as much. Again, he does have to get off when asked. And if I'm in bed he does need to be invited into bed with me. But I'm a lot more lenient with Summit than with Kili. You know, seeing as he has manners and what not.
Rosey was allowed on any furniture at any time. Don't want her on your bed? Close the door.
She was (usually) good about getting off when asked, though. At least, until she hit 13. Then she would put on the "woe is me, I'm ooooold" when asked to get off, to see how badly you wanted that spot. It usually worked and we found somewhere else to sit.
We got new couches probably 5-6 years ago, and before they got delivered, my dad was adament about no dog on the couch. I kept trying to explain to him that after a decade you can't change the rules (since he wouldn't actually train), and he was sure that she would just KNOW she's not allowed on the couch. Well, couch gets delivered while dad is at work, we get the plastic off, dog jumps onto couch, everybody else laughs and says "so much for no dog on couch".
She was (usually) good about getting off when asked, though. At least, until she hit 13. Then she would put on the "woe is me, I'm ooooold" when asked to get off, to see how badly you wanted that spot. It usually worked and we found somewhere else to sit.
We got new couches probably 5-6 years ago, and before they got delivered, my dad was adament about no dog on the couch. I kept trying to explain to him that after a decade you can't change the rules (since he wouldn't actually train), and he was sure that she would just KNOW she's not allowed on the couch. Well, couch gets delivered while dad is at work, we get the plastic off, dog jumps onto couch, everybody else laughs and says "so much for no dog on couch".
Astro is still crated when I'm not home - he's completely housebroken but I don't trust him not to chew anything up - so he doesn't get to go on furniture then.
Otherwise, he's allowed on whatever. My bed, the couch, the chair. I can tell it's a bit of a point of contention with my roommates, because he DOES shed, despite all my brushing. We all agreed on and discussed it, so it's not like I made the rule by myself, but still....it doesn't help that our vacuum is terrible, so hopefully when I get a better one it'll be less aggravating.
I can't even imagine not letting my dog(s) on the furniture, to be honest, because I'm all about velcro, no-personal-space dogs that are stuck to your side - cuddling is half the reason I got a dog! And Astro is all about that, he's sleeping on the couch with his head on my feet right now.
Otherwise, he's allowed on whatever. My bed, the couch, the chair. I can tell it's a bit of a point of contention with my roommates, because he DOES shed, despite all my brushing. We all agreed on and discussed it, so it's not like I made the rule by myself, but still....it doesn't help that our vacuum is terrible, so hopefully when I get a better one it'll be less aggravating.
I can't even imagine not letting my dog(s) on the furniture, to be honest, because I'm all about velcro, no-personal-space dogs that are stuck to your side - cuddling is half the reason I got a dog! And Astro is all about that, he's sleeping on the couch with his head on my feet right now.
The story of Meg, Gusto and The Furniture had me dying, love. :rofl1:
The dogs are all allowed on the furniture at any time. I mean, if I tell them to get off they have to get off but that's not really ever a problem.
Honestly, I have more of a "Do not get OFF the furniture!" rule. At night you get on the bed and you do not get off of the bed until I get up. If they are getting antsy when I'm watching tv or reading then it's "Get on the couch, lay down and be good." When I'm cleaning and they keep getting in my way it's "Go sit on the couch/on top of the crate/stool and stay there." And if I'm cooking and they keep getting in the way it's "Go sit on this kitchen chair and don't move."
I think my dogs end up needing permission to be on the floor more than they do to be on furniture....
The dogs are all allowed on the furniture at any time. I mean, if I tell them to get off they have to get off but that's not really ever a problem.
Honestly, I have more of a "Do not get OFF the furniture!" rule. At night you get on the bed and you do not get off of the bed until I get up. If they are getting antsy when I'm watching tv or reading then it's "Get on the couch, lay down and be good." When I'm cleaning and they keep getting in my way it's "Go sit on the couch/on top of the crate/stool and stay there." And if I'm cooking and they keep getting in the way it's "Go sit on this kitchen chair and don't move."
I think my dogs end up needing permission to be on the floor more than they do to be on furniture....
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