Daily Dog Question #26 11/2/07?

Question

So I just got new furniture in my house. We decided that with the new couch we were going to have a new rule, NO DOGS ON THE NEW COUCH!

I'm not trying to be a mean mom. They have giant dog beds that I drag from room to room so they aren't on the floor. In our old house, they weren't all allowed on the couch all the time anyway, we only let them up when we watched tv and we invited them (1 or 2 at a time).

This got me to thinking. What's the furniture rule in your house? Is it a free for all? Are they allowed on the furniture? Are they banned from all furniture? At one point we had a Dog Love Seat (we got rid of it because it was was falling apart and smelled doggy). Where do your dogs sit? Do you drag your dog beds from room to room like me or am I a nut? Or do you have dog beds in every room?

Please share your furniture stories with the group. I'm sure I'm not the only one who had a dog love seat and is now saying no dogs on the new couch... =)

Oh Radio - When you paid what I did for my couch - you'll think twice before you let dogs on it. It's MY house, MY rules. Ok? They aren't mistreated, far from it. And btw, MY rules aren't stupid. Everyone else here gets it. Be nice or don't answer my question.

Howlarious - that's how it is for us. New house, new furniture. First time in my life. I've never had new stuff before. I'd like it to stay nice. They can go be wild indians in the yard. The couch is mine. I'm the Alpha it's MY couch. =)

Answer 1

Free for all.

If I'm lucky they let ME sit on the furniture.

Seriously, though, they can sit/sleep anywhere they like, but they have to move if I want that spot. Pack leader's perogative.

EDIT: "NEW" furniture? What's that?

Answer 2

My chihuahua and small dogs are allowed onto my bed and thats it, the big dogs are allowed onto furniture only if and when invited. I am saving for new furniture now and I will also be getting those throws and furniture covers for animal households so I can save my new furniture! I have a cat who thinks it is her duty to throw up on every piece of furniture in this house (we had her vet tested and she was allergic to her food so we switched) and another cat who thinks couches are better claw sharpeners than the $100 furniture I got them :) weirdo's! I dont blame you for keeping the dogs off, as long as they have somewhere nice for them, my biggest 2 have a few beds each specificaly made for big dogs, I dont drag them around though but I think that makes you a good mom!

Answer 3

My dogs aren't allowed on the furniture partly because of habit and partly because of neccessity. When my husband and I got married, I had a chow mix that would take a mile if given an inch of slack in the rules as she seemed to think that she could get a promotion in the family/pack if she was allowed on the furniture. However as long as it was clear the furniture was off limits to all who weren't people, she was fine. Then wegot my dalmation so we taught her the same rules, our daughter was born and evenutally my chow mix passed away. By the time, we got our youngest two dogs, we habitually banned them from the furniture as it had became a respite from the dogs for my daughter. However, our dogs have comfy beds in their crates in the livingroom, and each dog has a couple of extra couch cushions with a custom made slipcover on them all over the house.

Answer 4

My first dog had free access to all my furniture. 17 cushions, 4 pillows, 2 duvets and 1 sofa later, I changed the rules. My second dog has never been allowed on the couch. The only time she gets up there is to throw herself at the old fella. She will occasionally sneak onto my bed, but jumps off when she hears me coming. I have a crate and a dog bed downstairs, a dog bed upstairs. There's also a couple of drag around pillows. And one smelly old futon that they are allowed to sleep on. Thing is, I'll need it at Christmas for visitors. Whoops.

Answer 5

Two dogs- one black, one blonde, both spaniel mixes- They're allowed on the bed, but not on the other furniture, i.e. couch. If we let them up there there wouldn't be a safe place in our house to escape the shedding. I don't drag dog beds around, but I do have beds for them in just about every room. Some of these are just old pillows that I put a nice cover over.

Answer 6

I have two couches in my living room. I have to, it looks empty otherwise. Now, one cost quite a bit, but, it was given to me by my ex landlord and I took it when I left. It realy "smelled" like the landlord.. which was pretty ewww so, I fabreezed it down, put a nice cover over it and let my dogs use it. The other I do not, not because Im a meanie, but.. how can they use it, when my butt is usually on it?? lol. I lay on it a lot.

My pets are not allowed on my bed, but that is because there are three of them, and even when I just had the one, I already had things planned out. I knew there would be more and they wouldnt all be able to fit. Its not fair to allow one and not the others. Plus I must sleep somewhere.

So after all my rambles, my answer is yes and no. No for good reasons though.

There is nothing wrong with your choice to not allow your dogs on a new couch, hell it took forever for ME to even want to sit on my brand new couch, nevermind the dogs.

Now please, stop "mistreating" those poor dogs by not allowing them on your couch, thats the worst thing you could ever do as a pet owner and human being in general!. Im reporting you to peta, animal control, animal cruelty, the police and every other emergency number on my fridge.!

lol

Answer 7

My dogs are small and I let them go any where they want because they are family but they know they come last if all the furniture is filled up with people They also get bathed once a week and I vacuum a lot so I don't se any problem. They live in the house so they should have full access to it. On the other hand if they were big like my sisters 3 boxers they would live outside in a nice dog house. She has gone through sooo much furniture and her house stinks! Ultimately its up to you

Answer 8

The little dogs can go on anything. The big dogs are allowed on the old couch/chair in the basement TV area, but not on the newer beds or furniture in the living area of the house. It's just a shedding issue.

Answer 9

My dogs are allowed on the sofa, but the love seat and chair are generally off limits. They all have large drag-able beds (like yours) so it's rare they use the sofa. The usually jump up there only if I'm laying down (According to the dogs, me+couch+blanket=cuddle party!) Otherwise, they stay off the furniture completely. As far as the 'doggy' smell goes, I wipe them all down with chamomile pet wipes every few days ( they're grass rollers) and I keep a steady supply of fabreeze, so the dog smell is never really a problem.

Answer 10

My dogs are not allowed on any of the furnitures, but they have the access of the whole house. They have doggie beds in the living room. Sometimes they sleep on the floors (my living room is carpet). The only time they are on the couch is when we bring them up. Usually couple minutes later, they jump off the couch. I remembered one time when my youngest one stood up on her rear and front legs were on the couch, my oldest one knocked her off. For me, I think she's telling the youngest one that she's not allowed to do so.

Answer 11

My dogs are allowed on the couch as they please. They know better than to dig on or scratch the furniture. They are really well behaved and are pretty small in size. One is a chihuahua and the other is a black lab mix weighing only 55 pounds. I understand why some people have rules but in my house it is not necessary to keep the dogs off the couch.