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The doghouse

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Original poster

Is your dog allowed upstairs?

117 replies

StrongCoffeeAvalanche · 21/08/2021 09:30

Our puppy is crate trained so I can stick him in his crate is needs be. He's very happy in there. He sleeps in his crate and has never cried going in. We've been letting him come upstairs. But every dog owner I know doesn't let their dog upstairs. Just wondering if this is the norm? He's still little so I could start training him to stay downstairs (will need a gate to get us started).

Just wanted to know if this is the norm?

OP posts:
MoiraNotRuby · 21/08/2021 14:08

My nearly 2 year old lab isn't allowed upstairs except as a rare treat. Its really bad for growing dogs to go up and down stairs.

Madlymumming · 21/08/2021 14:29

Yes but not in the bedrooms. One sleeps outside our closed bedroom door all night. The other joins her when she thinks it's breakfast time lol

40somethingJBJ · 21/08/2021 17:37

Mine have never been allowed upstairs, or on furniture, but I seem to be in the minority with this amongst people I know. However, my 13yo girl is incontinent so I’m extremely glad she’s never been allowed to do these things!

muddyford · 21/08/2021 18:50

No, never. And you need to be mindful of his joints if he going up and down stairs, especially if he is a large breed.

Claudia84 · 21/08/2021 19:14

Ours allowed upstairs from day one. Can’t get into mischief if you can see what they’re doing. He slept better close to us as well and is a confident little thing now.
For furniture and beds we have the ruff and tumble throws that get cleaned regularly so doesn’t mess up the sheets.

LoveFall · 21/08/2021 19:20

Our dog has the run of the place but it is all on one level. He often takes himself to bed. He used to sleep on the bed every night but in the past month he has decided he wants to sleep in his bed or spread out on the floor next to me.

I am not sure why but it could be it is cooler on the floor or he doesn't have to jump up. He is getting older🙁.

WibbleyPie · 21/08/2021 19:30

All on one level and when we're in she goes wherever she wants, will get down and sulk get on one of her own beds (one in just about every room!) Prefers her crate if she wants some peace or there's raised voices and takes her toys and bones/chews in there to have.

Stays in the kitchen when we're out (crate door open) and we've proofed the kitchen because she can jump and climb almost like a cat, but she's mellowed with age and the only thing she does really is take her protection of the house very seriously and pull my blinds and nets down when offenders need to be growled or barked at for having the temerity to be in her line of sight.

hiredandsqueak · 21/08/2021 19:32

No Bella isn't allowed upstairs and never offers to go up. But ds caught her on my bed when I was on the school run and I suspect she's probably up there most mornings. She always ensures she is downstairs before I get home though. We have a spare bedroom downstairs and she's allowed in there but snubs the bed in favour of a couple of packs of loo rolls to sleep on.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 21/08/2021 19:39

We crate trained our dog initially for toilet training but she was always going to sleep in my bed-my dog has always slept with me since I was a child. obviously not the same dog
I love her there-such a comfort to me. She is only small though.

She also has a dog bed under DD's bed.

Catsrus · 21/08/2021 19:49

25 yrs of dogs sleeping downstairs, cats allowed up, until one little rescue got very upset and began to properly howl. I think he'd been much loved by an older male owner and probably been allowed on the bed. I gave in, and now have 3 on the bed with me, 4 when I dog sit a friend's dog.

I've got a friend coming to stay next week - I know she will leave her door open in the hope one of them will join her. I'm sure they will.

PilatesPeach · 21/08/2021 19:51

Yes, upstairs and comes in bed with me - I find my dog such a comfort and love him being close to me. He got me through all these lockdowns.

mooloop · 21/08/2021 19:59

Mine is allowed upstairs by invitation only, which basically means when DH is working nights Grin

bloodywhitecat · 21/08/2021 20:02

No, as a foster carer our LA ask that we have a 'no dogs upstairs' policy so we do.

TheVolturi · 21/08/2021 20:06

Our pup is almost 9 months old and we let him follow us upstairs. He sleeps downstairs though. If I go for a shower he sits at the bathroom door waiting ❤️, dh says he was a peeping Tom in another life 😂 (dpup, not dh!)

Primrosefields · 21/08/2021 20:34

Our dog doesn't go upstairs. He did once when he was younger, and got too scared to come back down. I had to try and coax him down. He is too big to carry by myself. Now he just waits at the bottom until I come back down. 2 steps is his limit. His choice.

MissDollyMix · 21/08/2021 20:37

Our dogs are not allowed upstairs.
So naturally they’re up there all the bloody time Grin

YanTanTethera123 · 21/08/2021 20:37

@NeverEatShreddedWheats

I've never know anyone who didn't allow their dog upstairs. It's weird to me to do so. They're a member of the family so why would I shut half of the house off to them?
No other member of my family rolls in unmentionable things, eats indigestible or disgusting objects or farts paint-stripping emissions 🤢 I’ve never allowed a dog upstairs in 43 years and I don’t intend to change 😄
SalsaLove · 21/08/2021 20:39

@IHateWasps

Some of you seem to regard your dog more like an inconvenience than a much loved pet.
Exactly! I wouldn’t dream of letting my dog or cat not having a free run of the house. They take great comfort from sleeping with us. Also, it’s their house! It’s their only place in the world.
SenecaFallsRedux · 21/08/2021 20:41

Our dog sleeps with us, so yes, she's allowed upstairs.

SummerSazz · 21/08/2021 20:45

Ours sleeps upstairs in her crate and takes herself there about 10pm (upside down house).

She will do any kind of stairs out and about and friends houses 🤨 but has never once tried to come downstairs to our bedroom 🤷‍♀️

userxx · 21/08/2021 20:47

Yes, he's got a bed in the bedroom but usually ends up on the bed 🙈

Tinkerbellfluffyboots79 · 21/08/2021 20:48

Nope our old boy never went upstairs and this dog isn’t, stairs aren’t good for them either so should be carried up and down whilst you can. I don’t want dog hair in my beds etc
He’s plenty room downstairs be doesn’t need to be upstairs. Currently have a gate but he knows nor to even attempt going upstairs if kids leave it open etc

OldTinHat · 21/08/2021 20:51

My ddog was cheeky. He was a rescue and was pts in April. My heart is still broken. He used to 'sneak' up onto my bed at night. He also used to tiptoe! He still does all of the above (and the dog flap he used has been locked off). My neighbour refused to believe he had gone because she said she kept hearing the dog flap go.

DoubleTweenQueen · 21/08/2021 20:54

No - mine not allowed upstairs from dsy1 so it's normal for her. She sleeps in the kitchen.
Hard floors and rugs downstairs but lovely wool carpets upstairs. I have to hoover at least every other day downstairs as it is. Would rather keep bedrooms dog-free.

It is personal preference but I would say star as you mean to go on.
When she was a pup I slept downstairs for a couple of weeks so she had me close when she woke/needed a toilet trip.

friggingnora · 21/08/2021 20:56

Yes, they go upstairs and they sleep on our bed. They are small, non-slobbery and don't drop hair though. I love us all being snuggled up together.