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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dog on sofa - yes or no vote

270 replies

ZebraSpotts · 01/12/2020 12:27

Hi - just got a 5 month pup, he's a large breed, so lovely. He's settled brilliantly. Started with basics, house rules and clicker training from the get go. So he's actually doing well and being responsive. He's a clever working breed & livestock guardian.
He's got plenty of outdoor space to access, so his world isn't limited to indoors or the floor space.

Anyways, one thing i cant decide - let him on the sofas or is that an absolute no no?

YABU - let that pup on the sofa
YANBU - pups shouldn't be on sofa

OP posts:
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30
Twiddlet · 01/12/2020 13:10

Yes, but we put a throw on the sofa which gets washed weekly. They are absolutely NOT allowed on the bed. I find that revolting. Somehow, more people seem to let their dogs on the bed than the sofa when it’s the bed they put their face on...

Leafylife · 01/12/2020 13:11

I let mine on the sofa as I really like cuddling the dog while watching tv. But I have a washable blanket covering the cushions & I accept that it involves a lot more wear and tear and cleaning.

79Beastie · 01/12/2020 13:13

My dog has his own 2 seater sofa in the front room and has 5 blankets to choose from to go on it. He will not go on his sofa if one of his blankets isn't laid out for him. He also has a seat on the sofa in the middle room near the window. I don't mind as it's leather so can easily be cleaned. Yes I know he's spoilt, everyone tells me.

tabulahrasa · 01/12/2020 13:17

Your dog, your sofa...up to you...

I don’t let large breed puppies up, jumping down is bad for their elbows - which handily also means they know the couch isn’t there’s and have a good off command before they’re let up when they finish growing.

ChickensMightFly · 01/12/2020 13:17

How anyone can let the dog on the sofa I have no idea, dog beds stink even if they are cleaned often, why would you want that for your own furniture!
A dog who doesn't know furniture is not their right to go on is a pain to take to visit other people's houses or take on holiday as they will treat it the same and it often means the pretty is unwelcome.
I think a dog should be given rules it can follow anywhere or goes without causing a problem then they have real freedom to go everywhere you want to go.
I

Soubriquet · 01/12/2020 13:17

It’s called furniture for a reason!

Not only are my dogs allowed on the sofa, they have their own section complete with blankets

VinylDetective · 01/12/2020 13:18

Ours snuggles up next to me like a little silky hot water bottle. That’s when she’s not curled up on my lap. She’s never muddy, she’s thoroughly washed if she gets dirty when she’s walked.

cakeallday · 01/12/2020 13:19

I said no for 4.5 years but have just let my Lab have one of the sofas because I love him...Grin. He has his blanket on it which is washed every few days. Sofa is leather so I wipe it down with antibac once a week too.

If we had fabric sofas, I wouldn't. And certainly not if it was the only one we had to sit on.

Tamingofthehamster · 01/12/2020 13:21

Our is allowed on the old sofas, but not on the new ones, and he learnt the rules very quickly. It does mean that everybody ends up sitting on the old sofas though so they can cuddle the dog.

Moondust001 · 01/12/2020 13:21

Sorry - a vote for no dogs on furniture, whatever the size or age of the dog.

pumpkinpie01 · 01/12/2020 13:25

Our lovely dog died this year , but when she was with us she would 'ask' if she was allowed on the sofa. Eg would stand there and wait until given or not given permission as your dog sounds quite clever could you teach him that maybe.

WiddlinDiddlin · 01/12/2020 13:27

Dog trainer/behaviour consultant hat on..

Dogs on sofa, yes.

Dogs like us, feel more comfortable sat higher up, sat in the secure positions we tend to put our sofas in (against a wall, with a view of door, window etc)... dogs also enjoy sofas because they smell like us, very strongly, and because they can snuggle up with us.

If you teach your dog the rules of the sofa.. ie:

Get off when asked
Get up only when invited if someone else is already on there
Sofa is for sitting/lying not playing

Then there is really no issue.

If you absolutely do not want your dog on the sofa then you must:

Provide your dog an elevated comfy draught free bed in a similar sort of location as your sofa (ie, against a wall, view of door/window) for your dog to feel secure in. One that allows him to stretch right out.

Spend time down on the floor with your dog, if he can't come sit with you, you need to go sit with him.

Don't give your dog access to the sofa when you aren't there unless you don't mind him getting on it when you aren't there!

For everyone regardless of whether dog is or is not allowed on the sofa:

Teach your dog on/off/up/down etc and teach these on a variety of surfaces/levels (don't scream 'down' to the dog who is lying DOWN on your sofa... he already is DOWN.. make sure he knows 'off' as well!).

Understand how your body language appears to your dog - if he is on the sofa, and you approach head on with your 'stern firm dog trainer' voice, pointing and saying words... as far as your dog is concerned thats a confrontation at best. He shrinks back because to step forward towards someone potentially threatening would be to up the ante... so you shout and point and now reach and grab because this dog is disrespecting you and ignoring you.... as far s the dog is concerned you ARE now actively threatening, leaning over him when he is trapped, raising your voice, staring, grabbing.... what happens next is often a growl initially, which soon changes to a snap or real bite if this situation is repeated.

Approach, side on, invite your dog off in a nice voice with soft body language and reward him for doing as you asked.

If you find your dog is repeatedly getting on the sofa so that you will lure or bribe him off with treats, you need to up your training game and look at how much interaction/training/attention your dog gets (because dogs getting the right amount of mental and physical exercise each day tend not to attention seek like this!).

Make a habit of mixing up whether a reward comes immediately, or whether the first cue is followed by another simple cue to do something else and then the reward comes. Mix up the reward values and types too, and don't always have the reward in your hand, make a point of it sometimes being there, sometimes in your pocket, sometimes in another room so your dog is not reliant on direct bribery once he has learned what you want.

Sofas are one of the biggest areas of contention and misunderstanding that I see, dogs are gregarious social animals who WANT to be with us, and sofas are great for that. If you aren't letting your dog sit with you on the sofa, how do you know when your dog needs extra contact, fussing, cuddles etc (im not saying you don't, im saying think about how you spot that and respond). it is much easier to tell if your dog is having a hard time if he can come and snuggle with you!

Nottherealslimshady · 01/12/2020 13:29

Ours is on the bed and sofa. I wouldn't be comfortable on the floor so she isn't, she has a bed in the kitchen but I'd not like her having to go lay away from everyone else. She only lays on the floor if she's too hot, never by choice.
Our sofas are only old scabby things though with covers on so it doesn't matter if she gets it dirty.

vanillandhoney · 01/12/2020 13:31

Yes, definitely on the sofa.

My dog isn't allowed in the house when he's wet and muddy so I've never understood the mud argument at all. If he gets mucky on a walk, he's hosed off in the garden, and then wears his drying coat until he's dried off. We also keep a towel by the back door for when he goes out in the garden.

Why would you let your dog in the house when they're covered in mud in the first place? Confused

41weekswithno2 · 01/12/2020 13:31

Our dog isn't allowed on the furniture or anyone's bed. He's perfectly happy. He's a pet, not a child.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 01/12/2020 13:34

Yes. Especially if you stand up for two minutes and leave your seat unattended...

Dog on sofa - yes or no vote
Zoolally · 01/12/2020 13:35

Nope ours have their own beds and that’s where they stay. We have leather and even though they’re wipe clean, the dogs scratch them. Dc will sometimes put our small dog on their lap when they’re watching a movie but I discourage it. I’d never let them on a fabric sofa, that’s not hygienic at all. We also don’t let any of the animals upstairs. They have free reign downstairs but I have carpet upstairs and don’t want hair all over it.

BeeDavis · 01/12/2020 13:36

There’s no right or wrong answer to this. It’s what you want.

Worriedandabitscared · 01/12/2020 13:37

Yes, dogs are family and they are allowed on sofa, chair and even bed Shock

Iamblossom · 01/12/2020 13:38

Mine are allowed on the sofa in the playroom but not the sofas in the living room.

The sofas in the playroom have throws on them that I de-hair with a dog hair glove every day so that I can sit in my spot each night without getting hair on me. Which is a rod I have created for my own back.

ZoominMoomin · 01/12/2020 13:41

Definitely allowed on the sofas, but not beds. The sofas are leather so are less absorbent of any potential smells (they are short haired and carry low odour, plus are bathed often) and can wipe clean if they ever did happen to track anything onto them. Beds are a no no for the reasons above, that and if they got in they'd never bloody leave.

Iamblossom · 01/12/2020 13:41

No no no to bed under any circumstances, or upstairs.

Stellaris22 · 01/12/2020 13:42

Ours is allowed on the sofa but not in our bed at night.

The important thing is teaching the 'off' command, especially with a large breed.

We are far from house proud (rent) and doggy sofa cuddles are the best.

shitinmyhandsandclap · 01/12/2020 13:42

Dogs on sofas here, large breed and a small breed. All sofas have throws on the them which are washed every couple of days and the dogs are always washed down if they get dirty. Nothing better than a couple of dogs keeping you warm on a cold evening

unmarkedbythat · 01/12/2020 13:43

I'm not a dog person and I will never live with a dog. But if you are and a dog lives in your house, yes, let it on the sofa and snuggle!

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