Do you have a large-ish dog, e.g. Boxer and bigger that insists on being a lap dog, when it really isn't?

[TheTecknician]

Our family dogs decades back were cocker spaniels, admittedly not a large breed but our three were particularly sturdy (probably overfed, I admit) and you certainly knew about it had one of them been using you as a cushion for half an hour or more. It amazes me when I see people sitting on sofas accompanied by the likes of Labradors and Great Danes. Great for the dogs but less satisfying for the humans!

Sorry @BlueEyedBogWitch 🐶💙

If any of you lapdog owners were to provide an alternative, e.g. a pile of old cushions or pillows in a warm spot, would that be seen as acceptable to your pets...or not?

No. We've bought lovely big squashy beds and cushions for ours before and they totally ignored them in favour of our sofas. I think a lot of it is down to wanting to cuddle though.
I don't think our giant dogs have ever seen themselves as a dog - the current one is particularly undoglike and probably identifies as a cat. Of course the cats are glued to the sofa or our bed for about 20 hours a day, so pup wants to do likewise.

edited for typo

I've spent a lot on dog beds, especially for my St Bernard, they just remain unused.

The only acceptable spot for my girls is a human being, preferably me.

Try 2 Bernese mountain dogs that have no idea how big they are !!! Love them to bits though

Our dogs were generally happy with any resting place as long as it was warm and comfortable. That sometimes meant furniture plus person. Obviously there are some fussy buggers out there.

If you have both lapdogs and lapcats, are they happy sharing the same person or does it get competitive and territorial?

They just take the whole sofa for themselves then and we sit on the floor 😁

All those dog crates - would never happen in my house !!! I love my dogs too much to cage them even when I was dog showing they were never ever caged would you like to be put in a crate ?

I agree. We don't crate either, it is really unhealthy for large dogs. Our pups are free range from 8 weeks.

My parents had a spaniel cross Labrador who would try to sit on your lap. His 2 companions were Jack Russells who also liked sitting on your lap. Except they actually fitted!

One dog crate which is massive and to be fair he is never shut in he uses it when he wants to throw up 🤷🏻‍♀️if you actually look you will see the crate is opened as he rarely uses it. pen is open as he has free range but has a habit of chewing things and we have never managed to fully dog proof. I can also fit in the crate if I need too

What happens if thy ever need to stay at the vets overnight? They get crated then don’t they?

I used to spend hours cuddling a tiny piglet who was missing his mum and siblings. Said pig will still try and get in my lap if I crouch down while in his pen, despite being far far too big now to do so. He thinks he can still fit in the crook of my arm but he really really can't.

Yes they do. Over the years three of ours have been crated at the vets post surgery (though never overnight) and two were crated to travel on a ferry.

I generally have both on my knee, about 50kg total. They prefer my knee to my DH’s.

Yes I have a saluki X greyhound pup, basically a small horse who insists on sitting on me and being carried downstairs

A few years ago my DS and family had a rather large black Labrador who always tried to sit on my knee when I visited. It was very funny and he never tried to do it to anyone else . That dog was fabulous.

My Doberman has his own chaise longue. He’s only allowed on the sofa when invited up. He likes to be really, really close to me. Preferably with his face against mine, head on the shoulder or chest but will slide down so his top half is on my lap. ATM only I will do. He refuses to cuddle with DSs and will retreat to his bed or chaise longue if I sit in an armchair and they invite him on the sofa. They take his snub in good humour - even when we swop seats and he’s up in a flash!

My Podenco is 68cm tall and made entirely of elbows. When he feels the need he comes and lays his entire self on you with no warning whatsoever. I love it.

Crates are contentious on here people liken them to prisons, mine is crated in.the car and at bedtime in with me the crate is massive but if people hate crates there is no changing of minds.

Labrador and cocker spaniel both share the couch when they want to and sleep on the bed. I had a friend with 3 boxers, who would all try and sit on my lap at once…on an armchair …hilarious. I could take one but not three 🤣

Our Lab is over 5 stone in weight & has no concept of personal space at all. He often jumps up onto my knee & crushes me into the sofa to then start licking & nuzzling me. If he gets up on the bed while I'm asleep I wake up not being able to move & he's there snuggled up either lying on me or next to me so the bed quilt is that tight I'm stuck there til he decides to move.

Bad dog!