From the couple of newer videos I've ordered and some of the responses here on the forum I can see that dog training has changed considerably over the past 8 years or so. The biggest change that I've noticed is the diminished role of the prong collar and the adoption of marker training.

I seen a picture that Cindy had taken with dogs on the couch and the caption said something like "Ed would be mad if he knew the dogs were on the couch".

And therein lies my question...If I recall, years ago the story was: "keep the dogs off the furniture, it establishes and maintains pack structure". I want to say it had something to do with the height of places but I could be wrong.

I just received an email from my wife asking if it would be OK to allow the puppy up on the couch.

My soft-side says that it would be kind of nice to sit on the couch and relax and have the puppy present to pet...The realist in me says-This "PUPPY" is going to be full sized one day and it's going to be a different story. The pesimist in me says-fleas and ticks are a huge problem in these parts during the warmer months, do I really want to give the fleas and ticks an upper-hand and give them a better chance of getting up onto the places where I sit?

But more than anything, I guess I am concerned about the "pack" dynamic. I don't want to create a situation where a year from now, I've got a dog that wants to take my face off because I'm sitting in "HER CHAIR".

TO simplify: is it "ok" for puppys and dogs to get onto the furniture?

It depends on the dog.

Many dogs, I'd say "when invited, yes." My dogs at present are all in the category of "OK if invited."

Others will have different opinions, and I hope they will post, too.

If you're establishing clear rules and boundries, which you are with a puppy and kids, I'd teach her to stay off the furniture and have a place for her to lay. The other part of that is jumping off furniture. Puppies tend to launch themselves off high places and get hurt or even harm joints that are forming which will be future problems.

I don't allow dogs on the furniture (with one past exception). There is no single reason... The hair is hard enough to clean up off of the tile floor, I don't want the dogs feeling like a spot is theirs, fleas, not asking my visitors to sit somewhere that animal cooties are, just to hit the high points.

My previous dog was an outside dog that was allowed in in the winter. She was housebroken and was a lovely visitor when indoors, and she had to get a bath before being turned loose in the house. She was allowed to sleep with my son in his bed, where she would curl up on one corner and remain still and quiet until he woke up the next morning. She didn't even try to get on any other furniture.

ETA: dogs don't wipe their feet.

Edited by Duane Hull (12/06/2012 10:12 AM)
Edit reason: eta

Fleas and cooties. There's something I hadnt even considered.

My dogs are allowed on the furniture. But in no way is it 'theirs'. They adjust to where I sit, but they do have a preferred spot and, truthfully, I don't normally care. When told to off they do, there is no dominant behavior, so I have no problem with it. If I had a dog who was a jerk (which I never would), but I do have friends that do - I don't like them on the furniture. But mostly only because they do not listen and IMO shouldn't be allowed any privileges, because they are a jerk.

I love having any of my lot on the sofa next to me, especially on a cold winter night like tonight, they are like giant hot water bottles!

The only problem we have is not enough seats to go round if darling daughter and me are both home, then one of them has to slum it on the fat, furry bed next to the fire!

If there are no issues with squabbling about a perceived 'right' to be on the furniture, I personally don't see the problem, but as Connie says, it depends on the dog, if it isn't something you want to do because of hair or mucky paws, then that's fair enough, it's a personal thing really.

 Quote: steve strom

Fleas and cooties. There's something I hadnt even considered.

I'm constantly cleaning up dried dog slobber off of my low windowsills. I can't imagine what it would be like on the sofa. Can you imagine breaking it to a ladyfriend when she asks what this scum on the sofa is?

She'd be old enough to know it wasnt cooties? Right?

 Quote: Duane Hull

 Quote: steve strom

Fleas and cooties. There's something I hadnt even considered.

I'm constantly cleaning up dried dog slobber off of my low windowsills. I can't imagine what it would be like on the sofa. Can you imagine breaking it to a ladyfriend when she asks what this scum on the sofa is?

If she gets covered in slobber and dog hair, but still wants to come over again, she's a keeper, if she pulls a face and tuts loudly, show her the door, love you, love your dog