I seem to be letting the dogs get away with more the older I get.
There was a time when our little beasties were absolutely NOT allowed on anything that us humans used to either sit or sleep on. No getting on the bed, no getting on the sofa. In fact the upstairs of the house was strictly off limits (in an effort to have at least a few rooms devoid of doggie hairs)!
Over time these very good intentions seem to have gone out the window. It is becoming a bit of a free for all. If I turn my back I find a dog on the sofa, maybe one being good and lying on her blanket (what’s left of it) and when I call the puppy down she comes from her little sleep on the bed. The puppies bed is perfectly fine, she just seems to prefer ours.
It’s not that I really mind this but the problem is that it is now totally taken for granted and some form of furniture is now usually a doggies first choice.
Looking after dogs is always a challenge, there is always something going on or something that needs doing. I am going to set myself a week long challenge to transform this escalating use of the furniture designed without a dogs interests in mind.
So from now on I am going to give a very real effort to curb the following:
No more dogs on furniture, including –
- No dogs on the sofa
- No dogs on the bed
- No dogs upstairs
- and finally no more having it all their own way!
So what do you think. Am I mad to try? Have you given up trying to keep your animals strictly on the floor? Have you made a conscious decision to let them on the furniture or do you think they should NEVER be allowed on the sofa, bed etc?
Wish me luck as I try to change my dogs habits over the next week. I shall report back with how it went in a week.
Right – FAYE, OFF THE FUTON……FAYE…OFF!…..OFF!……………….Gooood Girrrrlllllll.
One down, two to go.
I hear you! Our dogs won the battle and I doubt there’s any turning back. Short of replacing the sofas with small or kitchen style chairs, I doubt we’ll be able to keep them off the furniture. I curse them each time I’m “dehairing” the couches, but in my next breath I’m saying, “Hey, look doggies! Now you have a clean spot to lay”. Am I nuts?
Good luck on your “battle”.
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The couch definitely seems to be a “hair magnet” Barbara. This is why I am trying to return to the days when at least a few rooms and pieces of furniture were hair and paw print free. So far so good.
Oops probably spoke to soon!
Neither of our dogs go upstairs, or ever try to.
One always sits on one of the sofas (Jack Russel-Daschund cross) yet the other never will – yet he is a bit big, being a giant German Shepherd!
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Thanks for the input Jonathan. I seem to be doing okay so far but Faye is definitely not liking the new rules too much in the daytime.
Hi! I heartily understand where you’re coming from. I recommend watching a few episodes of Cesar Millan’s “The Dog Whisperer” on the National Geographic Channel, usually on Friday nights. It is a quick reminder that we humans are in charge, not the dogs!
It’s all about
1. Exercise
2. Discipline
3. Affection,
in that order!
So first, you exercise the dogs; just a walk around the block won’t do! We’re talking about at least a 30-minute to 45-minute walk minimum! Try getting on your bike to pick up the pace of the walk. Wear your dog out!
Afterwards, it’s time for discipline! Dogs need rules, boundaries, and limitations. They need a pack leader. They become mentally unbalanced and do undesirable behavior like “claim” the furniture if they do not have a strong pack leader.
I hope these tips help. Your dogs do not have to run your life! They should be part of your life, with you as the pack leader. You tell them what to do. They don’t tell you how to run your house. You set the rules, they follow. It can’t happen, though, unless they are getting enough exercise.
Good luck!
Hi DogLover
Thanks for your comments. The dogs certainly get enough exercise. They are outside for hours every day.
I have seen Cesar Milan on TV and he is great to watch.
Your tips are great for for many dog owners and will be very helpful.
The girls are responding very well to their new down on the floor routine. It was just a bad habit they were easily allowed to get in to.
We have implemented similar restrictions on our humans. 🙂
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Good for you Moshi and Kibo!
The dogs have access to our furniture. And contrary to popular belief, they don’t run the house. Allowing a dog on your bed or sofa doesn’t automatically mean he’s taking over. He’s looking for a comfy spot next to his favorite human! 🙂 See my article here: http://smartdoguniversity.com/newsletters/2007/January_07_Dominance.pdf
Love your dog, teach your dog.
Laurie Luck, CPDT’s last blog post..A Leash Is A Good Thing
Hi Laurie. Interesting article. For me it isn’t a dominance issue. I AM in charge. It is mainly a matter of them totally taking it for granted and jumping on the couch as soon as they are in the house. They are in and out so much that they are just making the furniture way too dirty.
I do a compromise thing where the dogs must ask and receive permission to get on the furniture and they must leave the furniture upon request. My late Belgian and I further compromised — I pretended I didn’t know she got up on the couch and/or bed when I wasn’t home and she pretended she wasn’t on the couch if I came home unexpectedly and quietly enough to catch her in the act. I hope to get a puppy early in 2009 and plan to teach him that he’s not allowed on the furniture. When he’s older then I’ll switch to the permission route.
Hi Kabbage.
It sounds like you have the dogs very well trained.
I love that you and your Belgian had a mutual understanding. Very funny.