Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let puppy sleep on the couch all night?

33 replies

Xen20 · 14/08/2019 07:26

We always maintained we would crate train our puppy however, she’s an intelligent breed and is practically housetrained now with the odd accident.
She tends to wake us up between 1-3am every night - supposedly for bog but she runs outside, squeezes a wee out (for our benefit) and then runs back in and tries to get on the sofa. It’s like all she wants is to sleep on the sofa. After that she starts screaming again at 5am and again, just wants to get on the sofa. A couple of weeks ago she slept all through the night and by 6:30 we’d still heard no noise so I panicked and went down to check on her - turns out she’d escaped the crate and slept on the sofa all night. No damage. No toileting.

AIBU to give in and let her just sleep on the sofa now? She’s 11 weeks old today.

OP posts:
MrsGrannyWeatherwax · 14/08/2019 07:31

(At 11 weeks I’d be sceptical of her being fully house trained)

If you want to allow her the sofa then do but this is the age you can more easily train them into acceptable behaviours. Much easier to say no then allow when older if you decide it’s fine. You decided prior that you didn’t want to, don’t be indulgent because she’s cute and regret it.

My dog is allowed on sofas but think that means everywhere and on anyone who sits down - we don’t mind and I always warn guests.

MyFokMarelize · 14/08/2019 07:32

Well I would! But would it be warm enough for her? Have you thought about one of those doggy beds that is actually more like a small tent?

Original poster
Xen20 · 14/08/2019 07:33

I don’t mind dogs on the sofa, I just wanted her in the crate over night as I was worried she’d wreck the living room (bitter experience of when my Frenchie was a puppy!) but when she did escape, she didn’t touch anything, just slept all night.

OP posts:
Original poster
Xen20 · 14/08/2019 07:36

@MyFokMarelize they are cute but she’d need a gigantic one 😂 it would take up the whole living room. The crate is next to the sofa so temperature should be the same. Plus it’s covered in fleeces and blankets (no wonder she likes sleeping on it!)

OP posts:
MrsGrannyWeatherwax · 14/08/2019 07:38

Oh let her then, my dog has several blankets to snuggle into on the sofa (but she prefers my bed Blush)

Original poster
Xen20 · 14/08/2019 07:40

She would definitely be in my bed if it wasn’t for DH! 😂

OP posts:
yearinyearout · 14/08/2019 07:40

Is there anywhere you can put the crate other than next to the sofa? Maybe if she couldn't see it/smell it she might be better. I'd also be tempted to take one of the fleeces from the sofa and put it in her crate.
Don't be fooled into thinking just because she hasn't chewed anything up overnight now, that she won't in future.

MrsGrannyWeatherwax · 14/08/2019 07:41

Ahhhh just kicked DH out ...

Mine caved when pup was still a pup and has regretted it ever since, but she’s a lovely food warmer in winter 😂

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 14/08/2019 07:43

I’d allow it, you don’t mind if she goes on the sofa later, and the crates are so big and take up tons of space.

NotAgainKen · 14/08/2019 07:46

What breed is she? We had to be really strict about supervising our big dog when she was a puppy, as jumping on/off furniture, going up/down stairs, etc, was potentially bad for her joints. I'd be worried about too much unsupervised jumping around at 11 weeks.

NoSauce · 14/08/2019 07:48

What breed is she? I don’t know OP. It might be ok now but if she does start trashing the lounge when she’s going through the terrible teenage years you will find it hard to get her back in the kitchen and off the sofa.

Personally I would persevere. She’ll soon get used to it.

Twooter · 14/08/2019 07:53

If you can try and persevere with the crate it’ll be a lot easier if you stay overnight with friends, holiday rentals etc where they may not want your dog sleeping in the sofa. Try and get into good habits now.

Original poster
Xen20 · 14/08/2019 07:55

Come to think of it I should really keep her in the crate. When I go back to work she’ll need to be crated anyway I suppose.
She’s a Doberman

OP posts:
NoSauce · 14/08/2019 07:59

Crate while you’re at work? How long for?

Inarightpickleandpreserve · 14/08/2019 08:00

Surely we can’t possibly decide without a photo of said 11 week old puppy....

TapasForTwo · 14/08/2019 08:02

Would you really keep a dog in a crate all day?

How cruel.

Nautiloid · 14/08/2019 08:02

Puppy can sleep wherever puppy wants. Also need photo of puppy.

likeridingabike · 14/08/2019 08:05

Would a baby gate to keep her in one room work when you're back at work, rather than a crate? She's going to need a massive crate. When we had larger dogs they stayed in the kitchen when we were out.

I've just finally persuaded my adult dog he doesn't need a crate because it took up so much room and he has many places he also sleeps in around the house.

StillMedusa · 14/08/2019 08:14

Mt 13 week old pup sleeps where she likes... she has a crate but we don't shut her in as I have no need or wish to. Sometimes she takes herself in there, mostly she likes the cool floor. Sometimes it's the sofa. We have a baby gate to keep her in the living room though because if the cats.

I think it only matters if you don't want her on the sofa when she's older..I don't mind, and mine isn't going to be crated in the day (have doggy care set up ready for when I go back to work p/t)

Pics needed tho!

Original poster
Xen20 · 14/08/2019 08:17

Woah I never said I worked all day! I’m not a monster, I love my dogs more than I like most people! It’s 4 hours in a morning. Still too long imo which is why I’m holding off going back

OP posts:
stucknoue · 14/08/2019 08:18

No, I wouldn't, I would put her in a small room like a utility room or hallway with her bed. Mine isn't allowed on the sofa unless invited and always sleeps shut away. I would stop getting up in the night too

Original poster
Xen20 · 14/08/2019 08:18

Also, that’s 4 days a week max. Not all week.

OP posts:
cocomelon23 · 14/08/2019 08:27

I wouldn't. Mine sleeps in the kitchen all night on her bed.

treeplop · 14/08/2019 10:35

My dog was awful at house training so I used to put him in my bed so I'd wake up if he needed to go to the loo, plus he cried on his own.

One husband and a couple of children later he still sneaks into my bed.

(But he will sleep in his bed if told to and is perfectly happy and well adjusted in all respects 😎)

Soubriquet · 14/08/2019 10:38

Eh go for it

Whatever makes life easier really

We used to have the puppy sleeping in the crate with the adult on the sofa because we were worried puppy would get hurt.

No, after a while they cuddled up together on the sofa and are inseparable