Hi,

Dylan is now almost 15 weeks old. For the last couple of weeks he has started putting his front paws up onto the sofa. We have two sofas, and I'm usually sitting on the other one at the time. He just puts his front paws up and then rests his head on them. He doesn't try to climb totally onto the sofa. I get up and remove him, commanding him 'off'.
Why is he doing this? Is he after attention (as I have to get up to remove him), or is he trying to get higher up and challenge me, or something else? And am I dealing with it the right way?

Thanks,

Sarah

Hi Sarah,
I would think he's trying to climb up, not so much to 'challenge' you as to copy you - as the 'top banana' obviously everywhere you go is a good place to be, just as everything you eat has got to be tasty! If he was 'challenging' you (I do hate that term - it's so aggressive - it's like looking for trouble where none exists) he would surely be getting up on the sofa that you're on? You're doing the right thing, telling him to get "off" - he'll learn (but be prepared for him to sneak up when you're not in the room!)
:)

Probably doing it for a combination of reasons :) He wants to be where you are and also he wants to be at the same level as you, as someone higher up is dominant. You are doing the right thing making him get down, he will learn eventually. Then it is up to you if you give him permission to come up and sit with you or if you prefer him to always stay on the floor. My dogs know that they musn't just jump up. The older one is sometimes allowed up for a cuddle, but the pup (13 months) isn't allowed on the furniture at all :)

Keep it up - it will be worth it in the end.

Daisy

Edited - when our pup sat on the floor by the sofa, we made a fuss of her so she learnt to come and sit next to us nicely.

All mine tried this one on when puppies and have taught them that they only come up when invited ! They are sometimes found in a Labrador mountain on the sofa when we have been up stairs and they think they can get away with it ! :)They usually get off when they hear the sound of footsteps and sit on the floor trying to look all innocent ! :)

Lucy

lucy
my lab gang do exactly the same thing and now amber at 10 weeks is always on the sofa when i come downstairs, but there's no guilty looks on my lots faces!!!

Theres always the comfort reasons why he wants to get up there too . :)
If you are sure you dont want him up there dont make the mistake of sometimes allowing him up for a cuddle and other times keeping him off as he will get confused .
Gus is allowed on our sofa and can often be found stretched out asleep :)
Lel

Labradors looking innocent should always ring alarm bells :D

Mine are allowed up, and usually sit on the sofas at meal times whilst we are at the table. Then they are in no-ones way

Julia & hooligans