To couch, or not to couch, that is the question...

[TheVintageAngel]

Sorry, couldn't think of a better subject title...

We have an 11 week old White GSD pup....we started off not letting her on the couch, which wasn't a problem when she was really small and couldn't get up there. Just a few weeks later, she's getting big fast and can jump like a little bunny. She gets up there now...and the more we yell to get down, the more she jumps down only to jump up again as if it's a great game. I personally have always let my dogs rest on the couch if they don't chew on it....but my hubby thinks we should keep her off them. Is allowing them up on them going to cause future behavior issues?

Just so you know, this is what I'm dealing with...the conversation around this moment went something like...



Me: "Jemma, get down off that couch"
Jemma's thought bubble: "But why, you guys sit up here? Plus, if you don't let me, I'm gonna do my cute head tilt to get my way...here it goes..."
Me: "Oh all right, sheesh"

[Kittilicious]

I don't know how I could say no to that face....

As for your question - my dogs can sit on the couch as long as no human wants to and if they want to share the couch with a human, that's fine, but the human picks the space or chooses not to have the dog sit on it with them. This rule hold true for the cats, too, but the cats have taught the dogs this. And by that I mean, if the cat wants the couch, the cat gets the couch. So it's human's couch first, then the cats and the dogs get the leftovers.

I don't think allowing them on the couch will cause a behavior issue on its own, no.

[sharkey19]

I think its ok if you are careful with it. As kittilicious said, there needs to be rules. Dax is allowed on the couch when I tell him its ok for him to sit on it. And he must get off if I tell him to get off. If he ever stopped listening to me he wouldn't be allowed on. Also, if your dog ever starts showing aggression about it, or anything really, you shouldn't let her on the couch.

[Lilie]

It would be a personal decision to have your dog on the furniture or not. There isn't going to be a mental break down if you never allow her to get on the furniture, and she isn't going to take over your household, steal your credit cards and shop on ebay if you do.

But....since she really enjoys jumping up and down on the couch, use that to your advantage. Teach her "Load!" (or what ever word) and signal her to jump on the couch (reward big time!). Then teach her "Off" (or what ever word) and signal her to get back down (reward big time!).

Then she learns that she can only "load" on what ever you give her permission to. You can use the command to teach her to go into her kennel, get into your car, get on the scale at the vet's office etc. etc. "Off" would be the opposite. Get out of the car, out of the kennel, off of the scale etc. etc.

When she is older and bigger, you still have the capability to make the decision if you want her on your furniture (couch, bed, chair etc.) or not. Or if you want her up there for cuddle time and then want her off again. She'll learn it's a reward for her and might appreciate it more!

[Wolfiesmom]

I don't let Wolfie on the couch per my breeders instructions. Here's her reason..
If your dog sleeps in your bed and sits on the couch with you, they are then looking you eye to eye,
that can mean for some of the more dominant pups/dogs that they are equal to you and you are no
longer the alpha dog, if you don't believe this can happen than you can allow your dog to sleep in your
bed with you and sit on the couch with you, but don't call me when your dog starts growling at you
and begins pushing you around, I'll only say I told you so.
This behaviour doesn't happen with all dogs, but once in awhile it does, and it turns into a behavioral
problem that needs to be addressed>
DON'T SPOIL YOUR DOG, (too much food, too much coddling, too much babying, no discipline...)
TREAT YOUR DOG WITH RESPECT AND REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE A HUMAN
AND YOUR DOG IS A DOG, AND DON"T FEEL BAD, YOUR DOG LOVES BEING A DOG!!!

[TheVintageAngel]

I know one of my personal struggles with dogs has always been letting them get their way when they are sweet about it...and that face, ahhh

But in all seriousness...I don't want a full grown adult dog that thinks she can do whatever she pleases so I really like the idea of adding it into the training with a LOAD command then off with rewards for both. I find that, with other things, when we start making it a command type thing, she seems to lose interest in doing it while not being commanded to do so. It happened with our mulch...she would grab a piece and run, because she knew we'd tell her no (worried she would choke on it). I started taking a large piece and getting her to fetch and suddenly she lost interest in it. Same with digging in the sand box....just like a child...once they are allowed and asked to do it under certain circumstances, it seems to lose it's mystique...

[sharkey19]

Originally Posted by TheVintageAngel

I started taking a large piece and getting her to fetch and suddenly she lost interest in it. Same with digging in the sand box....just like a child...once they are allowed and asked to do it under certain circumstances, it seems to lose it's mystique...

So true, Dax is exactly the same way. They just want to get a rise out of you, naughty doggies!

[Emoore]

My dogs are all allowed on the couch. They also know to get off on command. Letting a dog on the couch doesn't automatically create any leadership or behavioral issues, so long as they know it's *your* couch and you just let them sit on it. That said, if it's a nice couch and you don't want dog fur on it, don't let your dog on the couch.

[Kittilicious]

Originally Posted by Wolfiesmom

I don't let Wolfie on the couch per my breeders instructions. Here's her reason..
If your dog sleeps in your bed and sits on the couch with you, they are then looking you eye to eye,
that can mean for some of the more dominant pups/dogs that they are equal to you and you are no
longer the alpha dog, if you don't believe this can happen than you can allow your dog to sleep in your
bed with you and sit on the couch with you, but don't call me when your dog starts growling at you
and begins pushing you around, I'll only say I told you so.
This behaviour doesn't happen with all dogs, but once in awhile it does, and it turns into a behavioral
problem that needs to be addressed>
DON'T SPOIL YOUR DOG, (too much food, too much coddling, too much babying, no discipline...)
TREAT YOUR DOG WITH RESPECT AND REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE A HUMAN
AND YOUR DOG IS A DOG, AND DON"T FEEL BAD, YOUR DOG LOVES BEING A DOG!!!

I'm not saying that this isn't logical thinking. It sort of is, but honestly the first thing that popped into my head was me laying in bed or on the couch and them walking up and looking me in the eye....

[Lilie]

Originally Posted by TheVintageAngel

I find that, with other things, when we start making it a command type thing, she seems to lose interest in doing it while not being commanded to do so. ..

What you did was took all of the fun out of it. With a pup you have to make everything fun. You'll hear the term "Throw a party!" That means make entirely too big of a deal out of it. "Whoo Hoo! Good girl! Hey! (treat, praise) Whoo Hoo!" Your pup's gonna think, I'm not sure what I did, but I'm sure as hec wanna do it again!"

Your family members, friends and neighbors are going to think you've lost your mind. But you pup is going to have a great time learning!