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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Couch or Floor

26 replies

assumpta · 05/10/2010 10:07

We have a lovely 13 week old cockapoo, who is very cute and looks at us with beautiful brown eyes as she is sitting by our feet on the floor. We have not allowed her up on the couches so far, but ove the last 3 or 4 days she has been constantly jumping up and stretching out on them. Each time I have taken her off and put her on her mat, said 'on your mat' and given her a treat. When my daughter tried to take her off she got really cross and growley. Should I just leave her on there?

OP posts:
Macdog · 05/10/2010 10:10

No!
She is trying to put herself above your daughter by growling at her.
Dog's place is on floor, humans get on couch.

If you start with strict rules, your life will be easier

DooinMeSizers · 05/10/2010 10:12

Mine is in various dogs beds/blankets or pillows spread about the house during the day (mainly so he is away from the dc as he is not overly keen on them) and on the sofa with me on an evening. Or last night on my lap. He was jelous because the puppy and cat snuggled up to me. It's very comfotable having a a fox terrier try to make on a bed on your knee. Very warm though Grin

If she is growly when you are trying to move her, put a house lead on for a few days and use the lead and treats to lure her to her mat. Once she is settled on the mat, treat her again. Let her know the mat is best place in the world EVER and 'good things' happen when you sit on your mat Smile

arfasleep · 05/10/2010 10:18

Def on floor, if you haven't already, get her a really snuggly bed & put in livingroom somewhere if you want her to be close to all family. I think its nice when dogs can be allowed up on couch for pet/little cuddle but if they become growly towards anyone about this, esp kids, then it needs to be stopped. I think it makes them think they are equals if allowed up beside you, which for 'pack' animals is not good idea, you, all humans in house, need to be boss.

DooinMeSizers · 05/10/2010 10:25

I disagree with pack theory completely btw. Your dog knows that she is a dog and that your daughter is not a dog. She is growling at her simply because it is her only way of saying 'I don't want to be on my mat. It's all snuggly up here' not because she believes she is 'higher in the pack' than your daughter. Make her mat/bed the best place to be in the house and problem solved.

My dog is not allowed on the sofa during the day because he growls at the children. Not because he thinks he is 'higher' than them but because my children are very bouncy and he is telling them he doesn't want them to come too close because he is worried they will hurt him accidentially.

He now knows his beds are his and bouncy children won't play near them, so he safer there. Not to mention that fact that tasty treats are often hidden in beds and sometimes he gets given tasty treats just for lying down in his bed.

Pack theory was disproved years ago. Run away very quickly from any trainer using the words 'pack' or 'alpha' Smile

arfasleep · 05/10/2010 11:17

DooinMeSizers 'pack theory was disproved years ago'. I'm not aware of that stance, any literature I've got about dogs comments on it. Perhaps what I have is out of date? Confused

DooinMeSizers · 05/10/2010 11:21

There is loads of research that has been done recently that shows packs of feral dogs behave completely differently to wolves (which is what pack theory training is based on). I'm late for work so I don't have time to find any links but if you give a shout out to Bella, Midori, Minimu or WTWTW they know loads more than me about it.

But yes, unfortunately loads of trainers still use these methods, which are out of date and possibly dangerous.

MmeLindt · 05/10/2010 11:26

Yes, I have read that the pack theory has been disproved several years ago.

Our Maltese Terrier is allowed on the couch, but then she is small, generally not muddy and does not growl at anyone when we try to put her off. She has growled at DD, but as a warning when DD won't leave her alone.

If you decide you don't want her on the couch then you have to be consequent with her, and put her off every time she goes up there. Don't leave her there because she growls.

How big is she likely to get?

Scuttlebutter · 05/10/2010 11:32

We have greyhounds who are constitutionally designed to take over sofas, beds and any soft comfortable surface they can find. Dog beds, duvets etc are a perfectly acceptable second best, but they will leave you in no doubt of their views as they gaze at you reproachfully if evicted from favourite roost. No growling though - just a lot of drama queen huffing and best "martyr" expressions.... Grin

On a side note, although pack theory may be old hat, it's worth remembering that dogs in a group do have different behaviour to dogs singly - I'm particuarly conscious of that with our three.

Original poster
assumpta · 05/10/2010 13:04

Very interesting. I think I will continue with her cosy mat. She is little now, but will grow to about 15" high and about 15kg. Lovely now I know, but when wet and a little stinky I will be glad I persevered. It's a bit like putting a toddler back upstairs again, and again, and again!

OP posts:
minimu1 · 05/10/2010 13:22

Articles on why dominance idea is a load of tosh

here

and here

and here!

All well respected organisation with years of dog training and research between them.

MmeLindt · 05/10/2010 13:36

15kg. Daphne does not even weight 5kgs. :)

PurpleFrog · 05/10/2010 13:40

15kg! Shock Our 16 week lab pup now weighs 14.8kg! Gulp! Grin

Labradorlover · 05/10/2010 14:16

Dogs allowed anywhere here. I'm not houseproud at all. But dogs always have to move if I want to sit where they are, and no jumping on people.

arfasleep · 06/10/2010 10:02

Thanks minimu1

musicmadness · 07/10/2010 00:11

purplefrog my fully grown labrador weighed 37kg last time he was on the scales (a couple of months ago for his operation). The vet always comments on how nice it is to see a labrador that is the right size as well! he is quite tall for a lab though. Enjoy the 15kg stage!

Unless you plan to allow the dog onto the sofa for life definitely keep taking her down each time. Make her bed nice and comfy and "her place" and she will soon get the idea. Personally mine is allowed on the sofa on the 2 cushions covered in his blanket. I enjoy him using my lap as a pillow too much to deny him!

ceres · 07/10/2010 06:36

it's up to you whether you want him on the furniture or not.

our staffie is allowed on the sofa, beds etc. he always has been - he is 4 stone and thinks he is a lapdog!

don't think there is a right or wrong tbh, only what is right for your household.

Alouiseg · 07/10/2010 06:42

Our Bulldog, all 27kg of him is happiest on the sofa despite dh's rules Hmm

bedlambeast · 07/10/2010 14:33

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Alouiseg · 07/10/2010 16:57

Ha ha! Was that a recent event?

bedlambeast · 07/10/2010 22:50

This reply has been deleted

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Laska · 07/10/2010 23:25

Ours gets on the sofa when invited, but only because we proofed a rock solid 'down you get' command so anyone can ask her to get down.

You never want it to become a big issue, so spend lots of time using an off command and rewarding highly for doing so with games or treats.

Never allow anyone to try to physically remove the dog from the sofa if he or she seems to be guarding the resource, as that is likely to lead to confrontation.

nooka · 09/10/2010 06:25

Our pup used to be very fond of the sofa, but now only really gets on there when there is a nice leg to lean on. Otherwise he prefers beds Hmm. Recently we discovered that he really likes beanbags, so he has one in the sitting room now. The only problem we've found is that in the evening when the children go to bed he is inclined to join them (their bedrooms are on the same level as our sitting room, and they do like having him) and then he is not at all keen to get off and go and sleep in his own bed. Sometimes I resort to bribery Blush

CalamityKate · 11/10/2010 13:48

What DooinMeSizers and Minimu said about the pack theory being outdated and pretty much debunked.

Curses on the Dog Wrestler for banging on about it.

CalamityKate · 11/10/2010 13:52

Oh and I agree it's perfectly possible to teach them when they can get on, and when they can't.

My DP often goes to bed before I do, and you can see the dogs casting hopeful "Are you buggering off yet??" looks at him throughout the evening. The second he goes up to bed, they surge onto the sofa next to me with happy sighs. If he's only gone to the loo and comes back, they are told to get off, which they do, immediately. Not without dirty looks, and presumably dark thoughts though Grin

MrsC2010 · 16/10/2010 20:56

We used to let our two on the sofa, but when we found out I was PG we stopped them, as we felt it might help re-establish their 'lower pecking order' status. It worked a treat, they don't even try to come up now.