Before we get this week’s discussion underway, I want to pass along a thank you to those who sent me a few more blog ideas to add to the file! As I was getting ready for bed last night, I looked over and saw Chase in his normal spot where my feet normally end up the next morning. He likes to start down at the end of the bed, then work his way back up toward the pillows next to me. It got me wondering how many of you allow your pets on the furniture. In hind site, I probably should have trained Chase to stay off some of mine. Here’s a photo from one of our recent HOT days. Chase didn’t want to get out of the lake!
Chase has free roam of almost anything in the house labeled furniture, except the kitchen and coffee tables. He takes full advantage of the couch in my living room to stare out the window, keeping me safe from those who happen to walk by out front. He sleeps on the love seat in that same room, or occasionally crashes on the corner of the couch in my family room. His dog bed sits positioned so he’s facing the window next to my front door, a great view to act as my live doorbell! Do your pets have a favorite piece of people furniture they like to claim? I’m sure Chase would be on my dining room table if I allowed it.
If you don’t allow your pets onto the furniture, how do you keep them off? I would imagine cats are harder to train, but maybe I’m wrong. I’ve heard that if you put tape or tinfoil on a surface, cats avoid it because of the feeling on their paws. Have any of you tried this before?
This is a photo I shot with my Verizon phone after a walk in the pouring rain. It was a warm rain, so walking without my raincoat’s hood up felt GREAT! Now I see how Chase feels after walking in the rain…
Until next week- Bryan & Chase ^..^
When my daughter was small we inherited a dog named Babe who was a lab/shepherd mix and she was allowed on furniture (why I don’t recall) – but in those days the furniture was not fancy or worried about. My favorite picture is of Dorothy in her footie jammies ‘reading’ to Babe who sits beside her on the loveseat!
As I got older and my furniture got ‘better’ I also got pickier about dogs climbing on it; but my husband was the one to lay down the law about NO DOGS ON THE FURNITURE for the simple fact that, being Rottwieilers, they would get very large and could do some damage to mere wood frames. That, and we agreed not everyone who came to visit might appreciate dog hair on their clothing. So from pups, we simply did not allow it – and I for one think that’s for the best way – it’s very difficult to ‘unlearn’ that one if it’s become a habit. Mine have always had their special floor-beds and as they aged and had difficulty getting up and down in general, I was always glad we didn’t have to worry about them getting up on something from which they could not get down again. Another favorite snapshot: Jim is reclined on the couch, and Abel, all 120 plus pounds of him is not really ‘on’ the couch, but is perched with his front paws on his dad’s legs, and leaning on the cushions…!!
Sadly both those photos were before cell phones and scanners!
Abel’s younger brother Bucc likes to wipe his face on the recliner every evening after his snack!
All the best!
N
Our dogs are not allowed to be on our furniture at all. They were trained from day one to stay off. Amber will get on our bed if she thinks she won’t be caught. She never tries it if I’m home but let me walk out the door and she makes a b-line for the bedroom. So when I’m at work, I shut the door. I HATE dog hair on furniture. She also makes herself at home on the sectional down in the family room because my son has allowed her on it. So I just shut the family room door so she can’t get down there when I’m gone.
As far as training is concerned, we just told them no and down everytime they attempted to get on the furniture. It took a lot of repitition but they learned. Now if I could just train my son to not let them up on the sectional that would be an accomplishment!
Bryan, I love the picture after the walk in the rain. It’s precious.
My two golden retrievers are only allowed on the outdoor furniture. They take full advantage of that privilege. They sit in the plastic lawn chairs and the metal lawn chairs. However their favorites are the swings with the cushions. If I am in one of the swings (we have two) I can count on the other seat having one of the two of them in it. The advantage for them is they have a cushion and get petted. If the petting stops here comes the paw. We have had some strange looks from people when the notice a dog sitting in the swing.
Everyone have a great weekend!!
Lyla
Lucca doesn’t shed so I don’t have to worry about hair which is wonderful. Besides the hair on the furniture, it helps my allergies.
Lucca has free run of the house when I’m home. In fact, I always say this is his house – I pay the mortgage and he lets me stay here.
His favorite spot is the love seat in the living room. It is right in front of the living room window, so he can survey the entire neighborhood and alert me when even the smallest bird decides to wander into my yard. His other favorite place is my lap when he is tired and wants to cuddle. He’ll curl up on my lap or at the foot of the recliner and sleep. He’s all of 12 lbs. so it isn’t an issue.
This humidity stinks, but I guess we should be used to it since it is Iowa in the summer. Keep and eye on those little four legged loved ones.
I guess I am the odd one out here cause both our dogs are allowed to go anywhere and lay on anything in the house. Wiggles favorite spot is the far end of the couch and if someone is sitting in her spot she will stand there and stare at you. Sam loves my recliner and is in it most of the day when I am gone to work. Both dogs are allowed on the bed with us at night but by morning they are usually on the floor. Another of Sam’s favorite spots is in the recliner with me. This is not an easy task as Sam is an 80 pound dog. But we make it work. I guess my theory is if you don’t like my dogs or their fur don’t come to my house. I do vacuum every other day though since I have a husky mix and a long haired mutt that are shedding really badly right now. So fur isn’t a big problem in the house. My dogs are part of my family and I figure they can go where I go. I am a big softie though when they look at me with those big brown eyes they can get just about anything.
Pam D , You are like we are , our 4 footed furry childern have the run of the house . Most of our friends have furry friends also so the hair is not an issue . Our problem is keeping the cat off the kitchen counters . He knows that the top of the counter is off limits because if we walk into the kitchen and he is on the counter he jumps off with out a word from one of us . We have been lucky with the dog she does not beg at the table , she will lay under it and wait for something to hit the floor .
Watch the furry family members this week the heat will get to them .
Stay safe all .
Judy
The cats…sigh. The cats are “allowed” on the furniture and the desk in the den (stopping that is hard) and the steamer trunk in the living room. They also are given rights to the bedside table in the spare room since it looks out on the bird feeder. They are not allowed on either dining table or kitchen table, also not on the counters. Water spritzer works well to get the point.
Sadie is allowed on our sofa and the bed in the spare room. She has her dog bed and she does use it but the cats like it too.
The funny thing is with Sadie is that at my mom’s house, she has different rules. She is NOT allowed on any of the furniture. AT ALL. We take her day bed with us and she does alright. But she knows that she isn’t allowed at “Grandma’s”
Funny story. We had taken Sadie down to my mom’s and then had Mom watch her for an overnight when we went to a B&B a few hours away. Sadie LOVES my mom. And after a while of looking out the window, she wandered over to where Mom was curled up on the couch reading. Sadie jumped up on the end behind my mom’s feet. Suddenly stopped and looked at Mom with an “Oh, crap!” on her face and jumped down. Mom said it was the funniest thing she had ever seen, so only scolded her a little bit.
Our house is paid for by us, and owned by our animals.
Cats and dogs both have the run of the house. We don’t allow them on tables, counters, or on the couch when we have any food, except for the cats that ‘ninja’ their way onto the back of the couch, and ‘ninja Okie’ who will quietly sneak onto the couch, and lay down while we’re eating, and we won’t even notice. Quite a feat for a near 40# dog. But easy for the 6# black 16 year old cat that taught her how as a puppy.
They all know about begging when we’re eating. They know there is a one foot rule. If we can reach them with our feet, they are too close! and active begging, whining etc, gets met with the squirt bottle.
I find I often have a back rest in bed before morning. Okie
up by my shoulders, Shippo by my hips or knees, and Sango down by me feet, keeping them warm. Neko the newest cat, crawls up our bodies in the night across my head or pillows, then to the cubbie hole on the head board, on the towel, and purr me to sleep.
I don’t know if I could ever not let them on the couch, because that is the best place for cuddling and skritches.
I do have a friend that is allergic to dog dander, and when we visit, I will do my best to restrict them from jumping on
the furniture. Also when he comes to visit, I put clean pet dander free sheets on the couch, and tell them to stay off, but give them treats, carrots, to keep them busy and off the couch. Amazing how a couple of full size carrots can keep them busy for a while.
Stay cool and check the water for all the animals, even the outside wild ones. Our bird baths are full, thanks to mother nature, but I make sure there is a bowl of fresh water out by the trees for the squirrels, despite the problems they make teasing the dogs and cats.
Thank you to the creator of AC!
Kim and clan
the pets rule the house..3 cats and a chocolate lab lets just say you get used to pet hair. we have leather furniture now which is awsome cause the hair doesn’t stick!! the bed is another story. usually there is one cat in the middle of us another laying by my husbands head and the lab at the bottom of the bed sprawled out on her back…she sleeps this way looks kinda freaky & funny at the same time. we have never had the no furniture rule. my sister’s dogs are the same way they are loungers of the furniture.
It’s so dangerously hot out now. make sure to keep an eye out for all fur babies
~Hillary
My fur kids can get on anything but the tables and Karmey and Fiona know that. There is a foot stool by the coffee table and both of them sit there with their head propped up on it if there is food or one their treats on it giving me those sad puppy dog eyes.
When it comes to their bed I’m just lucky I get half of it sometimes. Fiona sleeps on the pillows at the end of the bed but usually ends up sliding down so that she is in the middle of the bed. Karmey sleeps under the covers crosswise in the middle. I do have to remind them from time to time that I do get half.
Then there is Cappuccino my wild child, she is a 7 month old kitten that I rescued from the barn when the rest of her litter mates went missing. Sometime I think there has to be at least 3 of her becaus she flies around the house so fast over everything. One of her favorite spots to view the world is on the railing of the loft in the kitchen that is about 12 feet off of the ground.
Stay cool
Marlo
Our cats (all 7 of them) have full run of the house. The older cats love the big bay window in the living room. They can watch the birds in the lilac bushes and chatter at them. The little ones (only 10 weeks) are learning to get up there, so it won’t be long before the older cats have no safe haven from them. The older 3 all sleep with us on the bed & when the little ones get older & able to make the climb, they probably will too. My husband & I are just too soft-hearted to not let them have the run of the house.
Some of you may remember that my little ones are the same ones that were in a “Chattin’n With Chase”. Lucky was the kitten I revived on Easter when they were born. All 4 of the kttens are running around the house like crazy. All are healthy & happy. Was going to find homes for the other 3 and just keep Lucky, but we’ve grown very attached. Will probably keep them all.
I have heard that one way of training a cat to stay off counters or not to run out the door is to take the clear runners with the nubs on the backside and place them nub side up. The cats don’t like the feel of the nubs and soon learn to stay away.
I use a spray bottle to train my cats on what is off-limits. Usually using it to make them stop chewing on my plants!
we have 2 dogs, 1 10lb shitzsuh and 80 lb yellow lab. they both have free run of the house. sassie, the little one, gets on the furniture but we dont allow tobi, mainly because we have leather furniture and we are afraid his nails will slice the furniture. tobi has receintly started shedding really bad, so it was suggested to me to buy this comb for dogs called the furminator on extremelypets.com and it is wonderful. the first time i used it i got a walmart size bag full of dog hair and he loves to be brushed. so we dont have the hair problem we use to. my sassie when we are home lays on the love seat arm staring out the windows so she can make sure the farm cats dont come anywhere near the house. the only problem i have is with tobi he loves to roll around in anything smelly. he even found out what skunks do if you try to play with them. tobi also loves to play in the crick that runs thru the farm. but they are my babies.
stay cool.
chrissy
Cali is allowed on the furniture.. mostly she is allowed on the loveseat where she watches what goes on out the windows and she is allowed to sprawl out on it and sleep when she wants .. My husband and i sit on the couch usually so she just sticks to her own lil loveseat (shes spoiled) the bed is another story.. bc she is so big and tends to hog the bed we do not allow her to sleep in bed with us, she is allowed in there if one of us is not there, usually im the one in bed first and she will sleep on my husbands side until he comes in and then she knows to get down. Once in a great while i will wake up bc she has snuck up there
I live with my 4 yr old, 65#, Bassett Hound, Otis & more than 1 kitty. I haven’t found that Otis doesn’t shed much & yes, he is allowed on the furniture including my bed & takes up more than his share of it. However for what he doesn’t shed my kitties have made up for. Otis also still thinks he is a lap dog & when I sit in the recliner I usually have this very long, quite heavy “lap dog” sitting/laying on me from my knees to my chest. My critters pretty well rule the roost & I wouldn’t have it any other way. They are always there for me in good times or in bad & will love me regardless & they could care less how I’m dressed. If we are having a family get-together or whatever we just do a little extra ‘defurring’. There is truly no friend like a fur-friend.