Do you let your dog on the sofa?

[Mamabear12]

Growing up our dog was allowed on sofa, but we didn’t live in a city. We lived in a new area, with new clean sidewalks, that were not used often and our dog did her business in our garden. I feel like london sidewalks are filthy. And in the park, loads of poo that people don’t pick up 😡 so we always said we would not let the dog on the sofa. But of course the kids let her up and now the dog goes up at night. She obviously doesn’t get she should not do as the kids let her up. So my question is - is this a battle I want to fight? Do I keep insisting no dog on couch? Or do I just give in now? Obviously I love having her on the couch. I just hate thought of whatever she stepped on is also going on the couch. And then if we sit on it in our pjs and get into our beds - yuck! I’m a little ocd with having clean beds, clothes etc.

Sharing the same pillow?? yuck!

Strangely my GSD prefers firmer surfaces so hardly ever goes on the fabric sofa (or his numerous beds). Wouldn't mind it if he did.

Seems like m in the minority but ours isn’t allowed on the sofas or upstairs.
It’s down to behaviour rather than cleanliness though. When he was a small puppy he bit me when I tried to get him to come downstairs as he had taken a treat up there and thought I was trying to take it. He also uses to get growly when asked to get off the sofa.
He did have some resource guarding issues, which we worked on with a trainer and her advice was not too allow him on the sofa. I’m sure he would be fine with being told to get off the sofa now and he has been upstairs occasionally with no issues but as it became a general rule we’ve stuck with it

I don't let my Springer up and haven't ever so it's never been an issue. She rests her head on the sofa for cuddles, and curls up on my feet which I love. Sometimes if she thinks I need a cuddle she'll put her front paws up and lie as much as herself on with her back feet still on the floor but she knows she has to get down after a quick stroke. She's not allowed upstairs either, and doesn't try, just waits on the 4th step for us to come back down. I sound really mean compared to others but she's a dog. She doesn't get to do everything that the humans do. Doesn't mean she's any less loved.

Sharing the same pillow?? envyenvy yuck!

DDog starts his nights under my duvet near me legs but often moves in the night. Sometimes I wake up with his arse less than 6 inches from my face. I wouldn't have it any other way.

The thing I do draw the line at is face kisses - I've seen where his tongue goes and licking his genitals is the least of my concern!

Even though I enjoy having ddog on the sofa I don't think its mean not to, as long as they have a comfy place to curl up near the family. They do soon learn their own bed and get to like it.
In your case with the kids letting your dog up it would be confusing for the dog though, so I would do washable throws and you could also wash your dogs feet after walks.

Yep, he’s up here right now!
I have an Ikea sofa with washable covers. They were relatively cheap, so I don’t mind replacing them every couple of years. I also use a lot of Vanish carpet foam and do a lot of hoovering!

I have dark brown leather sofas. We bought them specifically so they were easy to wipe down if needed as we wanted to let him on the sofa for all those lovely doggy cuddles .

However after a muddy walk my dog is hosed off anyway so he doesn't actually spread that much dirt about.

Nope. Ddog has never been allowed on the sofas or upstairs. She's never tried to go upstairs anyway (ex-racing greyhound, had never been in a house before I got her, and stairs freak her out).

I decided that I wouldn't let her on the sofas and put a bed for her in the living room instead. She's happy on there or on the floor in any available patch of sunshine. Come the evening she drags her bed into the corner of the L-shape where my two sofas meet, and lies as close to me as she can . Never tries to join me on the sofa though.

I have a whippet. It’s practically law that whippets are allowed on sofas and beds

Luckily he barely sheds and honestly does not smell doggy at all. Only problem is he’s a pointy hound and well...pointy. He loves a cuddle but he’s not exactly soft and fluffy.

@Snipples thank you. Im not in anu way biased but she was the best dog EVER.!!! so badly treated 12 homes before us we know off. She was incredibly grateful, oh and we lost DS when she came to us. He gave me HERS! if you asked her where the "baby" (he was 5 when we got her) sh3 would run to wherever he was and do a little dance even up untill this year just before we lost her (ds is now 11)

It's basically her house and we just live in it! sounds like here. The dogs and their housekeeping staff live here wouldn't have it any other way!

@maddiie dogs world is already small enough, I would never not allow him on the sofa. He's part of the family too. TOTALLY AGREE. aforementioned ds is my step son, (preparing for a bashing....) I can't have kids so dogs are a replacement to the children we want but can't have! As daft as that sounds to many non dog people! It's my view on my fluffy babies...

Dog not allowed on the sofa or in the bedrooms here, really couldn't cope with the smell. I'd just go with throws or towels that can be easily washed if you feel comfortable with them being on the sofa.

pinkunicorn20, how would you know anything about me? I think its insensitive for you to say I am being insensitive for using the word OCD. I believe I have a slight tendency to it, but I TRY to control it, so it does not take over my life or effect my children. It stems from me having a phobia of vomiting or children vomiting, so I am very germ phobic. I have to wash my hands a zillion times a day, only let the kids wear clothing once and wash it. When they come home from school, I make them take their clothes off straight away before they do anything else, so I can put clean clothing on them etc. So yea, I think I have a little OCD and I feel I can use the words. I try my BEST not to go too crazy over it and I am becoming a little more lenient about it since getting the dog. I met with a specialist regarding this and I was told I need to try and not let it take over my life, as it can spiral out of control. So please stop judging people for using words, when you don't know anything about them!!!!!!

I just asked Ddog and she said DH and I are very lucky she allows us up onto HER sofa!

Seriously though, it's her favourite part of the day. We have 2 small separate sofas in the kitchen but if DH and I try to settle there in the evening she mopes about until we move into the other room so she can sit with both of us on the big sofa, usually in the middle. She was a rescue and didn't have a great life before she came to us, and her favourite thing is to be snug on the sofa surrounded by cushions and blankets and humans, it melts my heart how happy it makes her.

OP you need not justify yourself to anyone
X

And to everyone else, thanks for your comments :) I agree, I think having a dog to cuddle on the couch is a huge benefit of having her in the first place. We all love her so much and she brings so much joy to the house. I will look online some couch throws or blankets to put on, so I can at least wash those. I think it would be a losing battle to keep her off the sofa...with my children letting her on all the time (they are just 5 and 6, so do not always listen).

OP even plain king size flat sheets will do untill you found throws you really like I have those as a back up if my wash one use one sets of throws are stuck in the machine and dryer xx

DogMamma, thanks, that is a good suggestion. I really want to find something I like and I can easily wash :) If it will be on the couch all the time, I want it to look nice. I will have a look online to see what is out there.

OP a lot of people do use the phrase Im a bit OCD when they are just extremely houseproud or whatever. In their case I believe its normally not meaning to upset anyone, but as a way of saying don't think they are being judgemental to anyone who doesn't match their cleaning standards. However people with real OCD have found this means that the public may have less sympathy for what can be a very debilitating condition. For this reason they may not get the support they need from friends and family. So they ask people not to use that phrase.
In your case I can see you have indeed got mild OCD or a similar condition so it may be best to make a small adjustment to your phrasing in future. I have been diagnosed with mild OCD or I am recovering from OCD or similar.

Yes. I even let him lie along the back of it behind our heads as that’s his favourite spot. This supposedly is a total NO! NO! as it gives them ideas above their station apparently. This has not been my experience.

Yes, when we go to my parent’s my mum puts an old sheet over her sofa to protect it from my delinquent dog.

Ddog not allowed on sofa or upstairs. I'm not majorly house proud but we live in the country and dog is often wet, dirty and smelly (especially if she finds fox poo on our walks).

Now she is old and has slight old lady incontenence I'm very pleased we stuck with this rule.

Not only that the sheets are great for a unexpected visitors because they are crisp and clean in expensive , wouldnt invest too much in throws have a best set for when you have people over and a cheaper set for dogs and children bevause they can be equally as messy as each other hahaha

Lidl have some decent ones for dog use from tome to time and all the stores have them out at this time of year because who doesn't love a new snuggly blanket at Christmas try B&M for doggy throws

Hey @Mamabear12 go for it!

We buy fleece type throws quite cheaply from amazon and wrap them around the bottom cushions so it (sort of) looks like they're part of the sofa but can be taken off and washed.

Also saves dog claws bobbling it up!

Here's Monty enjoying one of our sofas

Runnynosehunny, yes, that makes sense. My dh does not understand my phobia and he always gets annoyed when I have certain needs (like being super strict about throwing food away if its been left out longer then two hours, or throwing out food because I am worried its expired, being anal about hand washing etc). I think most people find it hard to understand, when they have not experienced it themselves. MY way of explaining is that it can feel like someone gives you a bomb to hold and it will explode any second, that fear is exactly what I feel, if a child says their tummy hurts or they will vomit, so I do MANY things to try and prevent anything that might cause this...which explains me being mildly OCD with hand washing and keeping things clean from germs. However, since getting the dog, I am becoming more relaxed, because I see how much joy she brings etc and the kids are constantly touching her and kissing her etc. So I just let things go. I am sure she is great for their immune system with all the dirt she probably has hidden on her (she is chocolate so you can't see it, but when I have bathed her the water is VERY dirty!). To be honest, if I did not have this issue, I would be fine with her on the couch. But this issue is what I am struggling with. But the blanket on the couch, which can be washed is a good compromise I think.