Have you crossed the line? - Page 1

huh?

Yep. But for some reason it seems to happen only with the ladies. Go figure.

 sorry, that was a mistake,

I was wondering how many of you get on the same level as your dog? I mean, getting on ground level and "play" with the dog or allow dogs on the bed or furniture with you? 

Are you a working dog person?  schutzhund?  pet?  SAR? something else?

Why  do you allow or not allow this?

How do you feel this affects their training or performance?  if at all.

Dogs have freedom everywhere but living and dining rooms. Laundry becomes a bitch as four dogs of varying ages dirty a lot of blankets on couches and beds. Sch 3 and no problems as dogs know the difference between work and house manners. Field is do it because I carry both the reward and the other and house is do it in somewhat a timely manner or I will take your cookies and eat them.

today while laying on my back on the floor , I had one dog licking me in one ear and another on the other side.  So yes I guess I go down to their level.  They just love that kind of play.   They are pets of course.

Hi,

 SAR dogs here. With a new/young pup or newely acquired dog they are tethered to me around the house. My dogs are not allowed on the furniture at all.

I never go down to their level to wrestle. I am not  their litter mate nor are they my equal. Once the dog is a bit older and realizes I am incharge they are allowed in my bed at night. They are not allowed in the kitchen when we are eating. this is done with a down , or go away.

Sounds very structured yes! I love my dogs, they get lots of hugs and kisses.and play....

How does this affect their training? I believe we have fewer bumps in the road because I am the alpha.ALWAYS>>>>It is called respect through structure

I allow Trigger on the bed but have to be careful not to lay on my back when he is around or he will lay across my stomach. Even when I'm on my side he will sometimes give me a strange look and I throw him off the bed. Luckily he doesn't jump on the bed too often as he prefers to sleep in his crate. Probably shouldn't allow him on the bed at all as it is the only time he doesn't listen very well. Not exactly comfy to have a 109 lb dog laying across your stomach. Trigger is mostly a pet, but have been doing some training with him.

No boundaries here, unless I get tired of them monkeying around and say so (in which case they stop). Otherwise, they're allowed on the bed, on furniture, they're allowed to step on me and sleep on me and I sit beside them on the floor. I play with them doggishly if I feel like it. Possible exception is the pup, but the adult dogs have more freedom. I train in Schutzhund. I do not find it affects training at all. The very basic rules I have is nobody steals food from someone is eating (they understand this, it seems a very basic dog law in itself), and whatever I say, is obeyed. So if I decide I'm sick of you on the bed, then you get off without complaint.

I think people overthink things regarding this stuff. We humans seem to have different ways of showing who's boss. My most 'dominant' dog lies on his back and lets the others chew away, while the dog I know has the lowest rank is constantly growling and trying to bully everyone, etc.. The dominant dog gets his way whenever he wants it, he doesn't overdo it.

sometimes i invite nenz up to the couch for a quick pat, but he wants to go back down right away. then he sneaks on the couch when i am gone or out of the room. sometimes i sit on the floor so spunky can crawl into (well, park her front half on) my lap, and she goes wild with happy whines and face-licking. when she was a baby i used to have her sleep on the couch with me but after i got her crate she made it clear that was where she preferred to sleep and still does. i have never had a dog, other than a young puppy, that liked sleeping in bed with me. nenz is my mostly retired service dog and spunky is my service dog in training. being occasionally affectionate on their level seems to have no effect on their overall training other than making them exuberantly happy and extremely vocal, with some loud moans, groans, whines and yowls voicing their extreme pleasure at my attentions. i am not usually very affectionate with my dogs so they just love it when i am.