Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Thread gallery
30
Thomasina79 · 01/12/2020 17:14

Well I tried with my late dog. She was quite good, but of course went on the chair as soon as we went out and spread hairs etc.

On the other hand she would get on the sofa for cuddles when she knew I was sad or upset about something; she was a dog with a lot of empathy. She was a golden retriever and we still miss her. She died ages ago.

Faynite · 01/12/2020 17:23

I let my dog on the sofa. I still remember her beseeching little puppy face when I invited her up. That was it, I could never get her off. Spent months sitting with her on the floor but then she hopped right back on.

Don’t start it. My beautiful sofa is so stained (despite using a throw) and has to be thoroughly vacuumed every day. I also get nose bumped until I stroke her so can’t just sit and MN in peace!

Mydogmylife · 01/12/2020 17:28

@CarolVordermansBum

My dog is allowed on the sofa, but by invitation only. He's not allowed to jump on and off as he pleases.
This is how it is in our house. Ddog can come up for a cuddle ( he's a small breed) when invited. He never stays long though, enjoys a wee tummy scratch and ear tickle then jumps back down again , most deffo not allowed up on his own or by his own choice. Seems to work fine
Hendalle · 01/12/2020 17:33

Ours doesn’t go on the sofa. And he may be the only one of his breed who doesn’t Grin retired greyhound and the groups we belong to are full of pictures and stories of the Ddogs being bought into their new loving homes and immediately taking up residence on the sofa.

We have a small 2 seater leather sofa so no way is it dog suitable. He’s happy with his comfy bed and duvet in the living room (& 2nd bed in our room).

Growing up our family pet wasn’t allowed on the sofa either.. but she used to get up on it at night after Mum went to bed. She was caught out a couple times when mum or one of us kids got up for a drink in the night. But we just ignored it. She never ever tried to get up while anyone was awake so it was decided it wasn’t a problem. Oh I miss this dog, she lived to a good age. She was a stray found wandering as a puppy and we got her from the SPCA (New Zealand), staffie cross.

Original poster
ZebraSpotts · 01/12/2020 17:43

Oh blimey, that's a lot of responses. I thought it'd be a landslide vote for dog allowed on sofa! So quite surprised it's not!
Think I'll keep training him to be off the sofa, even if he is totally adorable.

A few of the reason why dogs aren't wanted on sofa (jowl marks, coat grease, doggy butt) are very compelling.

Just set up his crate next to sofa, with his cosy bed inside, to start his crate training. So he'll no be far away in any case. Will try not fall for his puppy dog eyes when he's asked to get off 😭

OP posts:
Original poster
ZebraSpotts · 01/12/2020 17:45

@LaChatte

I vote no.

Ddog votes yes.

😂😂
OP posts:
Fuckitsstillraining · 01/12/2020 17:47

I'm a dog lover, I've 5 dogs, 4 are rescued and I vote no to them being on the sofa. Our oldest sleeps in our sittingroom where her bed is but she ignores the bed and curls up on a leather armchair. That armchair is ruined from her, the sofa is marked because when I'm away my husband allows the other dogs on it, as a result we need to replace the suite of furniture but won't while we have the dogs, it drives me nuts. I love the dogs but theres no need for them to be anywhere other than the floor or their beds.

momager1 · 01/12/2020 17:48

wait! sofas are for humans?? I can rarely fit on ours lol. 2 standard poodles..don't shed, never muddy as they prefer being indoors except for walks on leash and poop breaks in the back garden. 16 yr old Lexi and our 1 year old Gracie. Spoiled rotten. They have us trained well though lol

Dog on sofa - yes or no vote
Marshmallow91 · 01/12/2020 17:51

I've got a staffy and toddler, it's a yes from me. My mum has two pedigree great Danes... Also a yes 😅

Dog on sofa - yes or no vote
vodkaredbullgirl · 01/12/2020 17:54

Mine is curled up next to me on the sofa.

sandy541 · 01/12/2020 18:11

Useful hairy hot water bottle

Dog on sofa - yes or no vote
RolandSchitt · 01/12/2020 18:22

It's a no from me. Our old sofa ended up so smelly from the dog, it was terrible. I tried cleaning it and hoovering it, but it wouldn't go. I'd never let a dog on the sofa now. He has his own bed and goes there these days.

BarryWhiteIsMyBrother · 01/12/2020 18:31

Is your sofa leather or fabric? If leather, then yes, absolutely. It's easy to clean. If it's fabric I'd only allow him/her if you put down a blanket for them first.

PronkWine · 01/12/2020 18:33

Yes. love an evening snuggle from a constant rotation of dogs who've got too hot in front of the fire!

MiddleClassMother · 01/12/2020 18:36

Always allowed on the sofa, their whole life exists in your house so why not let them have comfortable areas of it?

Tumbleweed101 · 01/12/2020 18:41

My first dog was a no as had young children. My current dog is smaller and my children much older and he seems to have snuggled his way on. The sofas have covers and blankets.

It’s a definite no to bedrooms and beds still though.

Tumbleweed101 · 01/12/2020 18:44

Sleepy dog.

Dog on sofa - yes or no vote
Branleuse · 01/12/2020 18:46

YES and also the bed

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 01/12/2020 18:47

If you do decide to allow the dog onto the sofa you must balance this with spending the equivent time x 2 sleeping in Ddog's basket - so Ddog knows who is BOSS.

jambeforeclottedcream · 01/12/2020 18:49

Yes but she has to be on the throw blanket thing, and has to be pretty dry if she wants to be up there after her walk

Griselda1 · 01/12/2020 18:51

I have a rescue dog who is wonderfully behaved but has some dominance issues, particularly towards my 12 year old son.It's been very important for us not to have him on the sofa because of this. My son is noisy and loud and probably scares him but on the occasions when my dog has been irritable towards him it's much easier to control and isolate the dog when he's on the floor. The change brought about in the pecking order by the dog being on the sofa is shocking.

Wellthisismorethanabitgrim · 01/12/2020 18:55

Ddog's velvety head in my lap whilst I watch tv is one of my favourite things! She absolutely loves being snuggled up between me and DH, she does lie on the floor of her own choice a lot of the time but on the sofa snoring peacefully is her favourite spot. That said she's a very clean dog, and we have throws on the sofa...if I've taken them off for washing and forgotten to put the other set on she won't go up there as she knows she's not allowed and will come and find me to ask me to put one on so she can hop up.

butterycooler · 01/12/2020 19:04

Neither of them are. They both have very nice memory foam beds which they love.

Although the younger one does try his hand now and again and gets on the sofa when we're out of the room Grin

AnnaFiveTowns · 01/12/2020 19:07

Yes. Much easier to cuddle up.if they're on the sofa.

jambeforeclottedcream · 01/12/2020 19:25

Ddog doesn't malt but does need grooming and that's much more comfy for human and dog if this is done on the sofa