Harvey was my first ever dog and I let him snuggle up on the sofa with me from day one........then came along Alfie. My cream leather sofa is still looking ok but under close examination, there is ingrained muck on the seats. The dogs only come into the lounge in the evening (as do we - we tend to live in the kitchen during the daytime) Every morning I give the sofa's a quick spray and wipe with a leather clean and feed which is needed because it is always full of black Alfie hair and brown gunk which Alfie seems to store around his jowels and I clean his mouth daily. When we are home as a family, I don't particularly mind the dogs coming up but it is a real pain when we have visitors as the dogs won't settle and constantly jump up and  try to squeeze in between people on the sofa's which isn't always acceptable if visitors are not 'doggy' people.
As we are in the process of decorating, It has been on my mind to have a change around of furniture in the lounge and get a large corner group sofa - we have two, two seaters at the moment which doesn't give us much room when we are all together watching tv now that the human children are growing up and I've never liked the fact that we cant lie down on the sofa. I have been looking to get a corner group which will seat 8-9 people but it would mean a change around and moving the TV and ariel socket to the other side of the room etc so if we are going to go ahead and get one, I want to do it now whilst decorating. The only thing stopping me is the dogs - I feel it would be unfair to not allow them on a new sofa when they have previously always been aloud but I wouldn't want them climbing all over a new one. I assume it would it be possible to train the boys to stay down on the ground but I suppose I'm looking for opinions as to whether it would be cruel to take the privilage away from them? What would you do?

My dogs used to be allowed on the sofa before I had children, but now they are not allowed due to one time my 9stone dog sat on my 8 month old baby on the sofa!

The thing is, you are in control so I would stop them now, before your new sofa arrives, it is not being cruel, it is being in control, you could place their blanket beside the sofa so they can lay on the floor next to you.

Mine were allowed on my leather sofa but when we bought a second home I wanted to only buy a fabric one so decided they would not be allowed.  It did not take many refusals to allow them jump up for them to get the message and they managed to cope with the difference between the two houses with out any problems.  Now I have just the one old dog I no longer let her up on the leather sofa because I don't think it is good for her to be jumping now and she has adapted to that very well too and does not seem to hold it against me :-)

i don't allow mine on the sofa either incase the fall or jump of and hurt themselves (one of mine actually jumped of the sofa before and hurt her leg quite badly)

Dogs learn what we teach them, they soon get to know where they can and can not go and also when they are allowed to do things.

My girl and other family dogs are allowed in the family day room and conservatory and can sit on the sofa's and chairs in both rooms, however if humans are on the sofa they are told Off! and don't even contemplate trying to get on with us unless asked, it is at the stage now where they do not even need to be told, if there are a group of us in there having coffee or chatting the dogs just automatically sit on the rugs or wander off somewhere else. If you teach your dog the OFF! command when you have vistiors you can control him that way.

My best room which is really where I take visitors they are just not allowed in.

So you can either teach him not to go on the sofa at all, though IMO if a dog has been used to being on a sofa with the family it would feel as though he were now being punished, or just get going with the OFF command, give him a treat when he does it to get the command started and then he will just be on it when you want him to. :-)

My dogs are quite adaptable as far as the furniture goes. I never used to allow them on the furniture at all but my daughter will let them on her bed and allowed them on the sofa in the kitchen. They don't try and get onto my bed nor the sofa in the living room but will try their luck in the kitchen and daughter's bedroom if I am out.

Just because they do so in some places doesn't mean they will do it everywhere - rather like Cooper's recall :-)

> I no longer let her up on the leather sofa because I don't think it is good for her to be jumping now and she has adapted to that very well too and does not seem to hold it against me

Our last dog was always allowed on the sofa untill it started looking like it might be a hazard for him (not so strong on his legs with age and I worried he would hurt himself jumping on/off), for the first time since we had him we got him his own dog bed. After only 1 evening of training he never again attempted to go on the sofa and was very happy with his own bed, so much easier for his old bones to get in & out of, bless him :)

Our current dog is allowed on the sofa but if there are people on it he waits for an invitation (he sits on the floor looking completely pitifull in the hope somebody will let him on, LOL). I have throw-overs on the sofa as I find that much easier to keep the sofas clean that way, the sofa just gets a daily vacuum and the throw-overs can be put in the wash as & when.

This is really difficult! We are in the lounge now and I brought a big fleece blanket in which is at my feet - Harvey is lying down on it sulking and Alfie is sulking on the rug  :-(  They are both really restless and keep coming up to me attempting to jump up. I feel so mean, almost as though I'm punishing them. Its got to be all or nothing, I don't want to use throws and allow them up but then when we have visitors stop them.

> Harvey is lying down on it sulking and Alfie is sulking on the rug

Ahh bless 'em.
I think if you want them to stay off the sofa from now on, your better off not letting yourslef feel guilty/bad about it, Hhve the attitude that it's your sofa and they simply aren't allowed on it anymore. It's much easier for them to follow your commands (ie, OFF) if you feel positive about it. Remember it wont hurt them to not be on the sofa and our dogs are great at putting on those soppy faces that make us give in - be strong and ignore the cute, sad faces and they'll soon give up trying to melt you with thier looks :)

They will get used to it.  They don't mind that you don't allow them to sit on the dining table do they :-)

We're about to buy a new sofa for the lounge and the old one will be moved into the kitchen diner and become a dog sofa :-D

Thing is I'm trying to keep the lounge 'posh' well as posh as it can be with 6 pooches, up to now the smalls (Shelties) have regularly got on the sofa and the bigs (GR and BC) will get on it when it's free from everybody else.

I think we should start training all of them not to get on the furniture before the new stuff arrives but OH says 'but they're used to it and it's not fair', I'm happy to read that it can be done and the girls won't 'get upset' as OH says, I thought it was me that was dog dopey but I have my doubts. :-p

My OH is definately knitting with only one needle!!

> but OH says 'but they're used to it and it's not fair',

> I thought it was me that was dog dopey but I have my doubts

This is the problem here tonight, Hubs & I are barely speaking because he says that I'm just being plain mean. I have both dogs sat in front of me at the moment looking at me with those spaniel eyes, they just wont settle but I'm not giving in.

It will only take a few days of you being strong, my shnauzer slept on the sofa till i got my next dog then i thought i don't want another dog taking up room so i stopped it, now in the evening they get a big cushion put on the lounge  floor and they curl up on that.
It was a battle of the wills for a few days and i still get an odd time when i catch her on the sofa but she jumps straight off when i come in the room. My bitch is 4yrs old so they can change their ways.
give them a real nice bed to lie on and i'm sure they'll  be quite happy and after all your the boss not them.   

This is a question I've been pondering recently as we are about to get dog no.3 where are we humans going to sit in the evening?:-) As it is I have to send my 15 yr old to bed earlier than he would like to accomodate the dogs needs. I really don't want to make poor aging bony greyhound
sleep on the floor so is it fair to make the other two sleep on floor plus there is only a limited amount of floor to put dog beds on. Puppy will have crate to start with. Hopefully this will give me enough time to :- a) move to a bigger house
                               b) knock through the lounge/ dining room
                               c) buy extra settee
Think option c is probably cheaper than 3 new decent dog beds!

My OH made me promise no lap dogs!! So we have two lap dogs now instead of one!! When we moved the sofa the state of the walls - where they sleep behind the sofa and play tagg each night. I cant do posh with these two, when OH works late I curl up withy my dog and he wakes me up when he gets home.
He sits with his BC on the best leather sof as well, so its a lot different what OH says to what he means.
The only change I will make is wooden floors the lounge has been carpeted once after house training and once again and Im not doing it a third time, I cant keep them in the kitchen when we are in the lounge, so its real wood next time so they dont slip on laminate.

Mason has his own sofa lol. Covered in a large throw, he knows it is his and will sleep there during the day. However at night he will happily curl up in his bed beside it! Strange Lad. I think because i was too soft to crate train him he has adopted the old sofa as his 'safe spot' not daring to Jump up on the 'nice one'!

taken from the net

"THE HOUND RULES!

1. The hound is not allowed in the house.
2. OK, the hound is allowed in the house, but only in certain rooms.
3. The hound is allowed in all rooms, but has to stay off the furniture.
4. The hound can get on the old furniture only.
5. Fine, the hound is allowed on all the furniture, but is not allowed to sleep with the humans on the bed.
6. OK, the hound is allowed on the bed, but only by invitation.
7. The hound can sleep on the bed whenever he wants, but not under the covers.
8. The hound can sleep under the covers by invitation only.
9. The hound can sleep under the covers every night.
10. Humans must ask permission to sleep under the covers with the hound."

Sounds just like my house ;-)

I have a chair that I sit on. It's called the computer chair :-D Any other chair (or sofa) is for the dogs, unless I need a seat. Then I may be allowed to make a claim for one of the chairs. But only until I get shoved off LOL!

Actually I have a small Living Room and there isn't room for the dogs on the floor if I want to be able to walk across the room so they are allowed on the furniture. I do kick them off the seat I want to sit on, but if I get up there is usually a queue to see who can nick my seat. Don't know why they do it as they getted told to get off again as soon as I return. All I need now is to find a way of stopping the covers from slipping off the leather suite.....

Hehe did make me chuckle. Love it. It makes me think of my clever clever boy who knows where he is allowed and where not, but.....

My bed - on top the duvet cover only. Pushes his luck by trying to sneak under the cover then does so as soon as i fall asleep :-)
Nanny&Grandads bed - allowed under the cover only when Nanny gets out. Pushes his luck by sneaking in when Nannys there. Grandad tells nanny its fine. Fred lays under the cover:-)
My sofa - allowed on one side only. Pushes his luck by slowly edging over in the hope i wont notice. Finally ends up in his best postition right beside me squashing me into a space the size of a small postage stamp :-)
Nanny & Grandads sofa - Allowed to sit wherever he likes (they are soft with him) :-)
Boyfriends sofa - off limits - leather sofa...so bf puts down his cushions 'to make the floor more comfortable' :-)
Little Nan (my nan) gives him typical grandchild privillages (even though he's a dog) and lets him sit where he want when he want on what he wants :-)

> Actually I have a small Living Room and there isn't room for the dogs on the floor if I want to be able to walk across the room so they are allowed on the furniture

We also have a tiny lounge, it's just big enough for a reasonable sized 2 seater and a coffee table, with 6 dogs that leaves very little free floor space if you want to get out of the lounge without breaking your neck or standing on noses, paws and tails.

The sofa can just about cope with OH, myself and 2 of the smalls, if 3rd small wants to join us then the heating has to go down as they create a total fur rug, if one of the bigs wants to get up as well then somebody is starved of oxygen :)

We have decided there is only one way around this situation and we must move to a larger kennel :-D

The sofa can just about cope with OH, myself and 2 of the smalls, if 3rd small wants to join us then the heating has to go down as they create a total fur rug, if one of the bigs wants to get up as well then somebody is starved of oxygen

**********

LOL brilliant description.

I have two rules for this.  Alfie is allowed on the sofa if he wants although he rarely does as he gets too hot (and thank god he doesnt as he completely blocks the view of the tv)  Indy isnt allowed on the furniture unless on the rare occasion, she is invited.  Reasons for rules are that Alfie is a very laid back character whereas Indy is very dominant and if you let her do things like this, she becomes dominant in other ways and becomes a problem. She took only days to learn this and even when your not in the room, she will lay on the floor and not try and creep up on the sofa anymore.  Indy absolutely loves her home comforts so its not that she doesnt want to sneak up there bless her :-)

Lisa

Wounderful, my mate shares her bed with a RS and her daughter aged 3 she oftens moves to the sofa!

Does anyone have to turn the tv up during dog play time? when the kids were younger OH would get huffy it they interupted his tv, dogs cause mayhem and he just turns the tv up to just below deafening.

> Does anyone have to turn the tv up during dog play time?

LOL I used to, now I just put the subtitles on because it was in danger of becoming deafening to neighbours streets away :-D

My mob always like their 'zoomies' of an evening, especially during the types of dramas that require intense listening because the actors have perfected a naturally husky whisper (why is that anyway?????)  It goes on nightly and in regular lengthy bursts between 7-30 and 10-00pm (bless 'em, toooo cute!) so subtitles are our saviours on the rare occasion we want to watch something that needs a bit of concentration :-p

Typing this with 2 Cavaliers curled up peacefully on the sofa. It wasn't going to be allowed, but they look so pretty there I couldn't tell them off. Then we were only going to have them on the sofa with covers on, but that soon changed too! I must admit it does get difficult to read or type on the laptop when they insist on taking up most of the space! Hubby gets cross about the dog hair, but I love having them curled up next to me! They also sleep on the bed when hubby is away!

> Does anyone have to turn the tv up during dog play time?

I have to turn up the TV because of the dog snoring, it's like a train going through the house

Pinky we trained our Cav not to get on the sofa anymore when we bought our new sofas last year - we have 2 'dog sofas' that she is allowed to go on, one upstairs and one in the snug - she is really good and learnt quickly which ones she is allowed on and which she isn't. Its funny as my OH said exactly the same as yours that she would be upset as she couldn't go on anymore! I bought her an expensive suede effect bed (in a colour to match the sofas of course :-D) that she goes on instead.

> Does anyone have to turn the tv up during dog play time?

We find it impossible to watch TV if any dog or animal comes on...our Cav goes mad and launches herself at the TV...her fave at the moment is 'Compare the Meerkat' !! :-O

> We find it impossible to watch TV if any dog or animal comes on

My Shelties are avid telly watchers when there are animals on, they don't like agressive sounds so the wildlife programmes with lions and the like roaring is out, the BC is a fan of the radio but it must be opera, then she will sing along to her hearts content, the GR well unless something is worth sleeping on or eating it doesn't warrant a lot of attention. :-p

Yes, yes we spend the time laughing out loud, Jake smiles from ear to ear Whistler does the hysterical barking bacuaes Jake (as his breeding) just looks at him and Whistler does not do tension. Then Jake pounces and bounds away behind the chairs. Its sooo funny, but tv listening is off.

I never allowed dogs on the furniture before I had Cavaliers! - my first cav used to pull the cushions down onto the floor and curl up on them looking reproachful if I tried to insist.  I have big throws over the sofas which go in the wasing machine every couple of days, and get taken off when guests come.  I also have a child gate between the kitchen and the sitting room - if I have non-doggy guests the dogs stay in the kitchen - where they are with me most of the time anyway.  Only in on the sofa in the evening (me too!).  I also have two 2 seaters; I sit on one and the Cavs pile on, and gradually edge me off it, so I take my book and glass of wine to the other LOL - it takes them 20 mins or so to wake up and start coming over to repeat the process, so I move back and forth across the room 3 or 4 times each night, bless 'em!

Ah so they encourage exercise as well, clever Cavaliers

Our girls have learnt from 8weeks old that the sofa and chairs are out of bounds,they both would not even think of getting on them.

Now our bed is another thing,they have been allowed on that,but only in the morning to say hello.
They have their beds and we have ours furniture and it works fine for all of us.
If i was bringing in a dog that had been used to getting on furniture, then i would attempt to teach him otherwise if possible.