| Deciding whether your dog can get on your furniture | | | | shot. Next, enforce the "Off" command, expect |
| is a big decision, bigger if you have a big dog. | | | | more resistance. Give him an attractive alternative, a |
| Furniture access can be inconvenient and for the dog, | | | | dog bed of towels and pillows, or a real dog bed. If |
| it relates to dominance. Your furniture, in particular | | | | there is no immediate response keep pointing, |
| your bed is your turf. It is a big point if your dog has | | | | maintaining eye contact. If after 30 seconds there is |
| access, and it is not two-way (Do you snuggle in | | | | still no response, slide your hand, palm-down, under |
| your dogs bed?) So if you choose to allow it, be | | | | his rear and slowly raise his bottom up by a few |
| extra-stringent in other ways to exert | | | | degrees. He will feel uncomfortable and leap off the |
| alpha-dominance, or your dog will have an inflated | | | | couch. He chose to get off, and you showed him |
| sense of self-importance. | | | | who is boss in this house. |
| Ideally, a dog should not have furniture access until | | | | What you must not do is to let your dog or puppy |
| he is five or six months old. As a puppy, his basis of | | | | sleep on the couch or let them sleep on the bed as |
| appropriate behavior is formed. He learns his | | | | once you do this once you will have big problems in |
| household rank,if he can leap on beds, couches, and | | | | the future as your pet will not sleep where you |
| armchairs from day one, he will see this as his right. | | | | would like them to sleep. |
| For you, that is not good. He needs to know you are | | | | If your puppy or dog thinks that they are able to |
| the boss. To prevent attitude problems in | | | | sleep anywhere in your house then this will lead to |
| adolescence, keep your puppy humble - let him | | | | other problems. Your pet will then try and become |
| appreciate being allowed up 'on your level', and be | | | | the dominant one within the family as they feel that |
| consistent. | | | | you are not strong enough to tell them NO. A dog |
| If you do allow furniture access, impose limits. He | | | | can easily pick up your weakness so you must be |
| must wait for an invitation, pat the seat next to you | | | | strong in your conviction. |
| and cheerfully say, "Up". Most dogs will be up like a | | | | |