Should A Dog Be Allowed On The Couch?

Dogs require a certain level of freedom in the household so they can live a happy life but one topic that varies between dog owners is should a dog be allowed on the couch? Here, we will consider this question and factor in all the necessary facts and help you make the final decision in the best interest of you and your beloved pets (and your furniture!). Read on for a refreshing perspective on how to manage this age-old conundrum.

Where to Begin?

So, to create a sense of the discussion, let us visit a VERY familiar scenario that all dog owners will have experienced. You are sitting comfortably on your couch, having a sandwich, and WHOP! Your animal-friend suddenly jumps onto the sofa!

Now, there are two ways that you can react to this sudden series of events, on one hand, you could let it slip and let your pup lounge comfortably on the sofa where you can cuddle and pet them, or, you could take the road of a disciplinarian and lay out some ground rules for the pup by having them get off the sofa.

What choice should you make?

Ultimately, no reaction is particularly right or wrong. It is completely your decision with your pup, but for the sake of the argument, let us consider the following:

Your Couch/Sofa

Is there a chance that letting your pup onto the sofa could cause considerable wear and tear and damage the fabric of your couch? If yes, then is it your priority to preserve the integrity of the sofa? If the answer to both of these questions from your side is a YES, then it would be wise to consider keeping your dog(s) away from the couch and training them to instead lie on the dog bed you have picked out for them.

If the couch is not that important, and you don’t mind having a bit of fur on your furniture then it is completely fine to let your dog rest on the warm and comfy sofa, where you can spend some quality time bonding with your pup while watching your favourite movies. The good news is you can always use a couch cover to create some protection for your lounging space.

Discipline and Training

What if you have some guests over, and your pup jumps up on the sofa right next to them? Have you given your pup the right training to help them understand when it is okay and when it is not okay for them to sit on the sofa? Making sure that you create a good discipline with your pup is a good idea to prepare for situations like these. If you would like your furry friend to be able to rest on the sofa, but only when you allow it, then you should spend some time and develop the proper discipline and training with your dog regarding this fact. Make training your dog easier and more effective by using treats like our all-Australian range of Hypro Premium Tasty Chews available in Duck and Kangaroo flavours.

In the end, the whole matter can be settled very easily by simply doing what you feel is best for you and your pup. By engaging in some constructive training, you can make it easy and simple for your dog to understand when it is okay to sit on the sofa and when they should rather use their comfortable dog bed instead.