Do you let your dog on the couch? Some dog parents are more than happy to let their dog jump and lie all over the couch, whereas others prefer their pups to keep off – it’s a matter of personal preference.
Sometimes, pup parents ban their dogs from the couch because of well-meaning but outdated advice, but if you simply don’t want your dog on the couch, that’s okay too! Or, maybe your pup prefers to spend time in the best dog bed anyway, leaving your couch in peace.
If you’d rather your dog stays off the couch, professional trainers Ella Camps-Linney and Alistair Mackenzie – who own Kirby Dog Training – have some advice to share in a recent Instagram post.
“Your dog isn’t trying to dominate you if they like to be on the sofa too,” begin Camps-Linney and Mackenzie. “The dominance theory has been debunked. The scientists involved in the original studies have since agreed their conclusions were invalid.”
They explain that your dog may want to spend time on the couch because they simply see it as somewhere comfy to relax, or want to be someplace that’s close to you.
However, if you’d rather your dog keep off the couch, there are things that you can do to keep them happy – and make your life easier!
It’s a good idea to give your dog some great alternatives to the couch. This could be their bed, of course (here are 10 types of dog beds explained!), or what about an old chair with comfy cushions, if you have the space? It’s important to ensure that their bed – or any other comfortable spaces for them – have plenty of value to them, so be sure to give them lots of tasty rewards when they’re in it!
If you’re happy for your dog to be on the couch sometimes but not all the time, perhaps if you have visitors over, it’s easy to provide a visual or blanket cue to let them know whether or not they’re allowed on.
However, any blanket you use should only be utilized for this purpose, otherwise it could get confusing. Be sure to use the same blanket, too, because it’ll better help your dog understand what that specific blanket means.
And, if you have children, teach them to leave your dog alone when they’re resting or snoozing, either on or off the couch. It’s important that all family members and visitors are consistent, to help your dog learn.
If you want to make sure that your pup doesn’t go on the couch, here’s how to keep dogs off the couch and keep your furniture fresh.
