Where your dog sleeps is the least interesting thing about them

“Ooh you’re not going to like this, but we let the dogs on the couch” the client admits sheepishly, expecting a scolding.

Hey, I’m not judging! My current dogs are allowed on the furniture. One sleeps on the bed each night.

“Oh he’s an outside dog…”

Previously I’ve also had dogs who weren’t allowed on the furniture. I’ve had dogs who were outside kennelled dogs only. And dogs who were only crated indoors overnight and outside the rest of the time. All of them were happy, healthy, fulfilled and loved.

Different rules suit different dogs, owners & living situations. As a trainer, I don’t generally care where your dog sleeps provided they are getting their needs met to be happy and healthy - appropriate shelter, interaction, exercise etc.

That said, there are a handful of times where being on the furniture might be something we put on hold until things are more settled.

- Is the dog guarding the furniture, or unable to hop off when asked? Maybe some more structure around household rules is required as we work on this.

- Are they damaging themselves or the furniture by being on it? Let’s give them somewhere else to be.

- Are they struggling to settle and using it as a platform for reactive or otherwise problematic behaviours? Let’s come up with a plan to correct that, which will likely include more structure around furniture access.

Otherwise? You do what works for you and your dog. Beyond meeting their needs on all fronts, where the dog sleeps or relax is the least interesting thing about your relationship.