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AIBU?

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Original poster

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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Worriedandabitscared · 01/12/2020 15:40

Actually can I just mention in my house my dogs can go where ever, it's never done me any harm and it's their house too but if we go to someone else's house and they aren't allowed on furniture then we respect that and keep them off! Cats are allowed everywhere too apart from kitchen counters and table because hygiene

WhyNotMeThough · 01/12/2020 15:40

It's a no from me. I don't have a dog at the moment but have in the past. The thought of a dog who poops and doesn't wipe then jumps on my sofa 🤢.

2me2u2u2me · 01/12/2020 15:44

@IRunLikeJoeBiden

Ugh! Floor only. I like to lie down when I watch TV, I don't want my face to be where a dog's stinky arse has been.
Grin Grin Grin

piss funny ...

agree. Hate when you see all these pictures of dogs in their owners beds urgh ... they've been trotting around outside, doing their business, sniffing etc then in your bed, big NO from me yuk

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 01/12/2020 15:48

If YOU want the dog on the sofa then yes
If YOU don't want the dog on the sofa then no

100% personal preference

Deepintheforest · 01/12/2020 15:51

I have two large dogs, we used to allow one on the sofa but then we moved house to a place with a lot of land and they are now permanently muddy so we had to teach him the new sofa was out of bounds. We got the second after we moved and it's much easier to enforce a rule from the start than teach a dog used to sleeping on the sofa he is no longer allowed.
Really depends on your lifestyle though when we had a small garden they'd just have paws wiped and hosed down after walks if needed. Now they're in and out the garden all day, swimming in the pond, finding cow poo to roll in etc. It's just not practical.
They are by no means deprived, theirs an old arm chair in the corner they're allowed on and a big comfy bed by the fire

PrayingandHoping · 01/12/2020 15:54

YABU.... let him on the sofas

But...

  1. If he's a large breed not until he can get on and off without jumping. It will damage his joints
  1. Mine are only allowed on sofa when the blanket is down. Consistency is the key to all training. No blanket=no sofa.

They understand perfectly. I have clean/hairless sofas (new ones are leather anyway) and if I have visitors over they know they can't as the blanket isn't down. However if the visitor does want a dog cuddle they are welcome to put the blanket in place lol!

Newkitchen123 · 01/12/2020 15:54

My dog is very old.
He's been allowed on the sofa for years
However I would quite like to buy a new sofa. Sofas last for a very long time and I won't be buying a cheap one. But I won't buy it while he's still around as it's unfair to not allow him where he's always been.
If and when I get another dog they will not be allowed on the sofa.

MadamShazam · 01/12/2020 15:57

Our dog only jumps on the sofa when we allow him, not whenever he feels like it. So for the purposes of puppy training I would say absolutely not!

AriesTheRam · 01/12/2020 15:58

We do but he's a 4lb chihuahua so doesn't damage the furniture

foofooyeah · 01/12/2020 15:59

I voted no. But my dog is snuggled up next to me on the sofa! Grin

magicstar1 · 01/12/2020 15:59

It's really up to you. We have our dog three months, and agreed not to have her on the sofa.

I've given in first and let her snuggle into me in the afternoons while DH is in work. She's not allowed up until I have her own blanket down to protect the couch.

MrsLebowski · 01/12/2020 16:00

My dogs allowed on the sofa, however she does have her own armchair so she mostly sits there.

AriesTheRam · 01/12/2020 16:01

How could you say no?

Dog on sofa - yes or no vote
Juanbablo · 01/12/2020 16:01

I love him snuggling up on my feet.

Dog on sofa - yes or no vote
MrsExpo · 01/12/2020 16:03

My dog has the run of the house and the furniture. I woke up with him right next to me the morning, which isn't unusual. We cover all our sofas/chairs with washable covers, the dog stays in the kitchen if he's wet/dirty until he's dry/clean and then he goes where he wants.

(for reference ..... I am the least house proud person on the planet. My house is clean and tidy but I am not a slave to it, I am totally happy with washing chair covers frequently etc etc)

notsodimwit · 01/12/2020 16:03

Oh No! Definitely not! Never! It's a dog!

(Whispers) yes when partner is out 😁

LakieLady · 01/12/2020 16:05

We got leather sofas last time precisely so the dogs could get on them without any issues.

I bloody loved snuggling up with both my dogs, even nicer was sharing the sofa with my friend's two Tibetan terriers as well.

They all loved cuddles and were incredibly snuggly.

SweatyBetty20 · 01/12/2020 16:09

Nope. I don't have dogs but my family who visit do, and it's a constant battle to keep them off the furniture because they do it at home. It's not even so much a dirt issue with me - it's a pecking order thing. I had a dog nick my spot at a family gathering once when I nipped to the loo, and I wasn't allowed to move the dog to sit back down because "Patch is settled now". I thought it was really rude when you have guests. I don't mind if they bring a bed with them, but in my house furniture is for people and the floor is for pets.

ClickandForget · 01/12/2020 16:13

Life with a well-behaved dog is much more pleasant than with one who thinks he's the boss in the house

Well said.

Kokosrieksts · 01/12/2020 16:17

Yes, but teach them to go to their spot on the sofa that is covered with blanket so you get less hair elsewhere. It’s lovely to cuddle with the dog on sofa.

ArabellaScott · 01/12/2020 16:23

It's up to you!

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 01/12/2020 16:30

@starlight14

Well I don't have a dog but DP's mum can't seem to ever come round without bringing her hairy dog with her and lets it jump up and sit on my brand new, light, expensive sofa, I told DP to tell her and he did but it hasn't made any differnece, it's so disrepectful I wouldn't dream of it. I encourage him to go there now. So if I did have my own dog, then no I wouldn't allow it on the sofa.
Just tell the dog yourself 'off' very firmly, it'll get the drift!

If MIL's manners are so awful, don't worry about offending her.

It's beyond rude to let your dog get on someone else's sofa without the expressed welcome for them to do so.

Mine were allowed, but only on their blanket or me and absolutely never on anyone else's (not even if invited as it was easier to keep it consistent. (Except at my parents, but Nana & Grandad were allowed to spoil them 😂)

LD22020 · 01/12/2020 16:42

On a sofa that is covered with a blanket

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 01/12/2020 16:52

Dh and I say yes, the dog is allowed on the couch. CatBastard is less keen on the idea. If the dog is on the couch, he gets up and glares at her until she gets done again.

When we first got the dog, as a puppy, we were not going to let her on the furniture, but the cat was allowed up, so somehow it didn’t seem fair if the dog wasn’t. I know this isn’t logical.

Ddog2, who sadly passed away early in the New Year, had Her Spot on the couch, between dh and me. And she gradually managed things so she had her spot on the bed between us at night too. Since she went, the bedding stays much cleaner, and I don’t get woken up by a dog running in their dreams and kicking me - but I’d happily cope with the grubby bedding and broken nights to have her back.

Houseinthemiddle · 01/12/2020 17:02

Ours goes on the sofa, he has his own spot on the sofa with his own cushion which he moves into place if its not put there for him already Hmm

He is small for his breed and we (me and him) share a large three seater sofa.

If we had a big breed I'd make an area on the floor very comfy instead. Dogs gravitate to the warmest place, I ain't battling a big, heavy breed to sit in my own spot every time I move to get a cuppa.