Am I harming pup's training?

[EmmaA]

My two are allowed on the sofa and their favourite spot is on the back of the one that is in the bay window. They can be a bit of a pain sometimes when guests come round because they are so bloomin persistant but really this is the only thing I find as a problem of letting them on the furniture. They are allowed to lie on the bed during the day but they sleep in their crates at night but this is more because I have a young child and am usually up several times during the night and it would unsettle them. Eric now cries if he isn't in his crate and sleepy times 

[turbobert]

Hey whatever works for you.  Some dogs do have a dominance issue if you let then in human's space eg on beds sofas etc - some dont.

I would have to say we dont let them on the sofa or chairs - they each have their own beds in our living room and are happy to lie there.  They are not allowed upstairs either so we dont have that problem. 

The reason is we live in the country and the dogs have a free run of our land for the most time.  This means they come in frequently filthy and/or carrying something indescribable.  It works for us and they are perfectly happy as they know their boundaries.

[cazza]

Bayley sleeps on the bed all night, Dou and Ollie and our houseguest Lucy all jump on around five in the morning for a snuggle.

Aww ...where does Alfie sleep 

On my head if he had the chance
Alfie has a crate at the bottom of the bed which he absolutley adores.
He will not settle at night if he does not get his bed time biccky in his den

I started to wonder where Alfie was sleeping too 

He is very much like Braan was, he wouldn't settle out of his crate at night either

since Fern is an only dog now (well for the time being) she has been spoilt rotton in that she doesn't sleep on the bed any more - she sleeps IN it  yep under the duvet between me and OH 

[Top Barks]

Hey whatever works for you.  Some dogs do have a dominance issue if you let then in human's space eg on beds sofas etc - some dont.

I would have to say we dont let them on the sofa or chairs - they each have their own beds in our living room and are happy to lie there.  They are not allowed upstairs either so we dont have that problem. 

The reason is we live in the country and the dogs have a free run of our land for the most time.  This means they come in frequently filthy and/or carrying something indescribable.  It works for us and they are perfectly happy as they know their boundaries.

Are you sure it is a dominance issue? could it be simply a training issue? Dominance is a label that gets confusing when referring to our relationships with dogs IMO, much misunderstood I'm afraid.
I have a dog who won't get out of his bed to pee at night, he is old and really can't be bothered. Does the fact I have to put his lead on and ensure he goes out make him dominant?
See what i mean, he's 14 bless him partially blind and a little hard of hearing and he's always been stubborn.
Is he dominant over me? well I get what I want in the end without confrontation so make your own mind up.

[Helen]

Hey whatever works for you.  Some dogs do have a dominance issue if you let then in human's space eg on beds sofas etc - some dont.

I would have to say we dont let them on the sofa or chairs - they each have their own beds in our living room and are happy to lie there.  They are not allowed upstairs either so we dont have that problem. 

The reason is we live in the country and the dogs have a free run of our land for the most time.  This means they come in frequently filthy and/or carrying something indescribable.  It works for us and they are perfectly happy as they know their boundaries.

Are you sure it is a dominance issue? could it be simply a training issue? Dominance is a label that gets confusing when referring to our relationships with dogs IMO much misunderstood I'm afraid.
I have a dog who won't get out of his bed to pee at night, he is old and really can't be bothered. Does the fact I have to put his lead on and ensure he goes out make him dominant?
See what i mean.

Agree with Mark - why is a dominance issue if they prefer a sofa or a bed?  Why does that make the human 'submissive' - and where is that 'dominance is old hat' article again 

[Top Barks]

People spout on about it and just don't get it really, Everything is down to dominance.
Sounds a little bit like a certain American (can I call him a trainer??) that I'm not getting into a debate about again honest.
I do believe some people let their dogs get away with murder though but this can be changed through training not imposing your will.
Dominance reeks of confrontation and that is not my way of doing business.

[Top Barks]

Bayley sleeps on the bed all night, Dou and Ollie and our houseguest Lucy all jump on around five in the morning for a snuggle.

Aww ...where does Alfie sleep 

On my head if he had the chance
Alfie has a crate at the bottom of the bed which he absolutley adores.
He will not settle at night if he does not get his bed time biccky in his den

since Fern is an only dog now (well for the time being) she has been spoilt rotton in that she doesn't sleep on the bed any more - she sleeps IN it  yep under the duvet between me and OH 

That spot is reserved for my Douglas he is our inbetweeny

[Mudmagnets]

He he!! mine don't sleep on the bed or sit on the sofas cos they are dominant - they do it cos they luv a cuddle with their mum!!

That's our story and we're sticking to it

[annG]

My home,my furniture, my dog.''when it suits me; hes on the sofa.
  I do not like him up stairs so hes sent down  if I get him up there.
  suit yourself,
 trainers have got the rules and guidelines. 
    Cocker's love to please you.
There no way naughty. just love to be loved,and played with.
 rule   
do not worrie love your dog.

[*Theresa*]

He he!! mine don't sleep on the bed or sit on the sofas cos they are dominant - they do it cos they luv a cuddle with their mum!!

That's our story and we're sticking to it

See I agree with this.....mine don't want to be over me..it's not a case of we're on the sofa and you on the floor. I sit on the floor in the hall when on the phone and Glen comes and sits between my legs there....he just has to be where we are.

In fact funnily enough I was on the floor in the hall yesterday being suffocated by two cockers as I had been on the phone but when I came off I just lay down and snuggled them...my oh complained he was lonely on the chair all by himself