apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Couch yes, bed no... he's a den dog, sleeps in his crate and in fact gets very upset if we dont "put him to bed" on time.

I'm not sure if Cesar would approve of it, but yes. They have access to every space in the house. It was a conscious decision too - if we couldn't put up with a bit of hair on our clothes and furniture then I guess it would be best not to get a dog at all.

Bed yes, couch no. It is easy to wash sheets and duvet covers clean of slobber, the occasional dirty paw marks and hair.

The couches are not as easy to keep clean and free of odor so my dog has been trained that these pieces are off limits.

Heck no!!! But of course this doesn't really matter once I've left the apartment. Actually, I just got a new sofa, so I have to lie something across it to keep my dog off whenever I'm gone. . . kind of a pain.

No-hell!

Couch and bed are both YES! Granted, my 2 doglets are only 18 lbs each and thanks to the Furminator they shed a lot less than they used to. I also keep a color-coordinated throw on the seat of the couch and I wash it weekly.

our dog is allowed up on furniture only when invited and not given the opportunity when unsupervised. fortunately for us, she prefers laying on her blanket which makes keeping the couch clean very easy.

our pup has "his spot" on the couch. there's always a blanket or sheet on it, so it's much easier clean-up.

Couch and bed are allowed, but we do have leather couches that are easy to dust off--no dog hair on guests!

Now, when we're out of the house, they stay in crates because they'd eat anything if unsupervised.

Herbie is to die for so beautiful!!!

My dog is a part of the family he can sit anywhere is likes. He sleeps in the bed under the covers. I cover the sofa with a quilt and wash it twice a week. He is a clean dog. I do take off the quilt when guest come over and my sofa is fur free.

I have no choice. Unless I constantly pick up my dog and put her on the floor, she's obsessed with being on the sofa. And the worst thing is...It's a pug, and they shed like crazy... and the little hairs dig into the fabric. It's not a good thing, but I've given up, I just vacuum the sofa (and everything else) very often.

Here we go again. I have a yorkie and he's my little man. Sleeps in bed with me and he's allowed on the sofa. He doesn't shed and a little febreeze does the trick. I also could wash the covers so who cares? I've had him since I was 20 and living on my own cause I wanted my own dog so he has been my roomate and buddy so how could I say no to him? He's family!

i would never let my dog on the couch! i don't have a dog yet, but we've talked about it a lot- no couch, no bed!

Owen is allowed pretty much everywhere, but he's not a big shedder. He has his own spot on top of one of the couch's back cushions -- he perches up there like a cat. I have to agree with aneta in that having a furry pet means dealing with fur. With regular cleaning, it's not a big deal.

I grew up w/ dogs on the furniture - and the ruined/covered furniture and dog hair everywhere drove me crazy.

Dogs are like children - they require discipline or they'll take advantage and ruin your home and life.

Our dog only gets occasional 'treats' of sofa time- it's leather, those nails are way too big for regular hang-time. The bed she's only allowed on when we 1st wake in the am, it was really hard to find a duvet dark enough to mask the occasional dusty paw mark, but worth it as it makes her the happiest dog in the land.

my dog goes whereever she wants. i just keep sheets on the furniture for easy clean up (and remove them when company's over).

We got cats and they get run of the house. Couch is slipcovered. We also have cat-friendly cushions on the floor which they use quite a bit. I try to wash stuff or at least shake it out before guests come, but the fact is we spend way more of our lives with our cats, and most of our friends are animal people anyway.

The only problem I have is keeping Callisto out of a wicker tray she has staked out. When I try to use it, she thinks it's a game, and sits with my breakfast.

I have a friend who has good luck with her chihuahua staying on 'her spot,' usually a pet bed placed on the bed or couch.

Yes to both. As long as people are around, though, he "asks" to be let on either by sitting on the floor and staring at you (tail wagging at all times). I've got a throw on the couch, which gets washed regularly. And I'm sure he spends his day on the couch or on my bed - when I come home, he's created warm little nests on both.

I also vacuum (using my Dyson Animal) at least twice a week. For an 18 lb guy, my dog sure sheds a lot!

We have a 6 pound short-haired chihuahua who hardly sheds at all, so he gets to be on both. He has his own blanket that he lays on either way, so it's easy to just throw them in the wash. We started out with him in the crate at night, but I finally gave in when he was around 1 year old. It didn't seem right to have him crated up during the day AND all night, especially on those occasions when we weren't around for the evening.

oh DahliaCactus glad to see my dog isn't the only one who has a bedtime. He starts whinning if he doesn't get him pb snack in his crate by 10pm. Puppy is occasionally allowed snuggle time in the bed but he does not sleep with us every night. Even at only 25lbs he can be a total bed hog.
We are currently working on the no dog on the coach rule, he's catching pretty well. I'd like to get a new sofa and don't really want the fact that my dog would potentially ruin it to dictact my purchasing decision. We do have an older ikea armchair that I'll keep so he has his own chair to sit on. He's got a thing with being up high so I don't think he'd be happy on the floor.

My dog will normally not get up on the couch when I'm home, but not because I won't let him. When I'm out of the house it's usually a totally different story. I can tell he's been sleeping on the couch because the cushions are mysteriously scattered on the floor and covered with his fur. Recently, I came home early and caught him in the act...the look of surprise on his face was priceless!

'only when invited' is our rule...

Yes and yes. We used to have no bed rule, but we'd wake up in the morning and find him curled up on the bed by our feet. Now the rule is that he can't get on the bed until the light is off in the bedroom. *lol*

That's a cute story suzy8track. LOL

i don't let dogs in my house...nor do i allow smoking inside...

My bichon/cocker cross and pug both have access to bed and couch....My husband and I started out with no bed rules, but when we realized that our little puppy would sleep through the night in our bed, the madness began!

no one has ever told my sweet schatzi that she is, in fact, a dog...so yes & yes. she has her bed, and uses it sometimes, but MY bed has direct visual access to chipmunks scurrying outside between rocks so she is a fixture on-- and in-- my bed (tiny studio). weimaraners tend not to be big shedders, which is a plus, for sure.

I am actually allergic to dogs, so even my short haired, practically non shedding greyhound isn't allowed on the bed or couch.

I've made it up to her by having top of the line dog beds in every room. The things cost more than my bed or couch! (But it's worth it.)

Holden, my best bud, only gets on the couch or bed when supervised. He's just as happy on one of his two little pillow beds. I'm the one who desires his snuggly affection where I'm most comfortable. Sheets and quilt are washable. I pick upholstery with both looks and durability in mind. Life is short. Enjoy your fur people.

ps: my father has 2 dogs and is so tired of vacuuming every other day that he doesn't like to even let them inside anymore (cranky old man). if you aren't willing to put up with a little fur for all the love they give, you might consider acquiring a great *painting* of a dog instead.

No pets on furniture in my house. But it's not about getting the furniture dirty, it's about setting limits for my dog so she knows her place. If I give her even one inch, she walks all over me and acts like she owns the house!

It's as much my dog's home as mine. Living with dogs and loving them made me learn how to work around pet-issues. all of the soft furniture in the house is slip-covered and washable. All rugs are small enough or thin enough to go into wash machine. Hardwood floor is painted and has been chipped to perfection. Bulldog sleeps with me at night and on every couch during day time. Mastiff is the size of the couch- 260LB, he drags his blankie from corner to corner and occasionally sleeps on his dogie bed. (which is actually a single size mattress from IKEA's as-is section) it's fun, around here.

astrid, your place sounds like somewhere i'd be very comfy :) house full-o-fun.

My dog is allowed on the sofa. He's a non-shedding breed, so hair isn't an issue. As for the bed, we were firm about not letting him up when he was a puppy, but now that he's older we have cuddle time in the morning - from the time we wake until everyone is up for the day.

Couch yes--he matches the color and doesn't shed that much--bed, no way. I have an expensive bed w/Italian percale white sheets and no way is he getting up there. It is the only dog-free space in my apartment, and its sacred. He learned this lesson when he was just a few months old. Now he's 10 and wouldn't dream of even trying.

The couch is all his, though. He's a great foot warmer when I'm stretched out with a book.

I have a husky as well and just for her (and for me too) I bought a leather couch (from the Ikea "Kramfors" line).
The hair doesn`t stick and I can just wipe it off with a dry cloth and if I didn`t catch a dirty paw, I can just wife it off with a camp cloth too.
There is nothing better than a nap with a dog next to you.
She is not allowed in bed though.

The dog in the photo is just beautiful, adds to the decor!

We have a 17 month old, 72 lb mutt. She's great about the sofa and is great in general when we're home, not so great when we're gone. First thing she does is jump on the bed, and she tore up a duvet about 2 weeks ago (looked like she went on a shooting spree against a flock of geese!!). So we just got the TattleTale, which makes a terrible sound and vibrates when it senses movement. 2 days in now, and no torn up sheets!

Yes but only when invited.

Carmen is allowed on the sofa only if I've got a sheet covering it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spins_lps/2731281713/

a Carmen movie. make sure you have the sound on.

I'm with Annieo - life's too short to not enjoy my time with the doggy! My Belgian Malinois mix is allowed on both couch and bed. She is welcome to sleep with me or on her own bed, it doesn't matter. She's trained to a T as well, so I consider the whole idea of them walking all over their humans a fallacy. I do like rubbing her belly while she sleeps in my bed as I watch late night telly. It's so comforting for both me and her.

my two small pups are allowed on both, they're my babies. but i close off the bedrooms when i'm gone. they know when I say "let's go night-night" that it's time for bed. juno, my terrier mix sleeps right by my head and ruby, my poodle/italian greyhound likes being by my feet or will curl in the small of my back. it's relaxing having them sleeping with me and they always let me know when they hear something. they both get groomed once a month and since they are small, i can bathe them as much as i want. i really don't notice a big fur problem, which i experienced when i had 4 cats, but i do have a dyson animal.. and that helps on my couches!! they're family, but they also know i'm the ruler of the house!

Of course Trooper, my 8 lb. Silky Terrier has full run of the house. If guests object to any dog hair (Silkies shed like humans, they have no undercoat), then they need to remember that Trooper was here first and THEY are just interlopers.

Love me, love my dog.

yes, our dog gets access to the couch and the bed as well. but he's small.

No dog yet, just a devil cat and she has free reign over the couch and is allowed on my bed (no sleeping there though; I don't like waking up to kitty tongue). My big issue is countertops and tables. I want my food prep and serving areas stay as clean as possible.

We have two big dogs--one gets invited on the bed, the other prefers the ground. No on the couches, though. When I had a chihuahua, the little guy ruled the house, slept under the covers. I'd try to have better limits next time. But I would probably cave.

I have a white dog (American Eskimo) and a dark brown couch, so that's a definite no on the couch. But I can't bear to have him be alone all day while I'm at work and not be allowed in bed at night. He usually just sleeps at my feet anyways, where it's safer for dirty paws to be.

You all make me so sad I cannot have a dog yet (still renting, every place I've lived in has a no-dog policy) My 3 kitties sleep with us tho, I would never get out of bed if it weren't for my living alarm clocks

When I first got Bruiser (puggle) as a puppy, I tried the no bed thing but when I found he would sleep throughout the night even at 10 weeks old IF in my bed, that was it. He is welcome anywhere and everywhere. I Dyson and my Swiffer are my second best friends as he's part pug so he sheds a lot. He loves to snuggle so he's often in bed or on the couch.

They were allowed until we got a new couch, at which time we decided we were tired of sitting on the floor while they lounged on the couch so they were banished. They were sad so we bought them a giant sectional for the sunroom that we all sit on. Not the most beautiful piece of furniture, but it serves it's purpose. Now they are either on the sectional or one of the eight dog beds in our house. No, we don't have a huge house that requires eight beds for 2 dogs, I just make dog beds for a living.

We have a four paws on the floor policy. Dawg's own bed is actually his favorite spot ( I made it out of an old quilt and a few old lumpy pillows in an envelope stitch). He just loves it there.

I even let mine use the car!


:::OK I'll leave now...:::

Fur in the bed? No thank you.

My little pooches are everywhere. A couple years ago I considered a new sofa... errrr... glorified dog bed. So opted to slipcover in a washable linen and forget about spending major $$ on a dog bed. Now the bed is a bit more challenging yes, they sleep with me. I have an extra flat sheets to cover the duvet which is washed weekly, more often if offensive spots appear. I tell myself the extra sheet protects the lovely down. They can be bed hogs but I will just push them if I want possession of their little spots. I groom them regularly so hair isn't a huge issue but I NEVER sit at home in my work clothes - change into dog friendly garments when I enter the door. :)

Herbie is ADORABLE!

I have friends whose home I hate to visit and one of the main reasons is because they let their dog sit on the sofa. Hell, there's dog fur everywhere in their house and car. Whenever we have DVD-watching functions within my circle of friends their place is the last resort.

However if their skeevy dog was even *1/5th* as cute as the one in the picture, I'd let him sit on my lap every visit! :-) SO Adorable!

dogs not allowed on our sofa nor the bed. Dogs not allowed in the bathroom either. I. hate. pet. fur.
And really, even though our dog gets a bath every other week she creates grimey smudges on our bedskirt and the baseboards next to the areas that she curls up. yuck. I don't want that to be what my face comes next to.

I stayed at a classmate's house for a week once and they had a mini pack of dogs that had no boundaries. Their fur created a layer of fur on the sofa that I was supposed to sleep on. It was the grossest thing ever.

yes to both, only difference is I put a sheet onto the sofa in case their paws are very dirty.

Our three dogs have full run of the house. They sleep in the bed with us and lie on the sofa with their dad. Of course, all three are tiny and only one sheds.

My couch is slipcovered.. and my bed has multiple duvet covers. Therefore my dog is welcome to go anywhere he likes. This has equated to him being 100% spoiled.

I also have hardwood floors throughout my house and it is sooooo much nicer knowing that I get up any pet dander and it isn't stuck in the carpet.

Baxter pretty much has free reign of the house when we're home (we crate him while we're gone). And yes, he sleeps with us, too.

We just got a new puppy a few days ago, and she'll sleep in her crate until she's housebroken and big enough to get up and down from the bed. Then I guess we'll have two little furballs in bed with us.

PS: Neither of ours shed, either. That was a prerequisite.

My sis has a dog that my mom lets on her couches, but I don't think he sheds and the couches are leather, so it doesn't bother me.

It is kinda gross when I go to my friends' houses and there is dog hair on every square inch of the furniture. It makes me not want to sit down because I know there's going to be dog hair all over me. But I have kind of a germaphobe thing about dogs, so maybe that's just me.

I've got a 90lb black lab. He's never allowed on the furniture, and isn't allowed onto the top floor where the bedrooms are. And... he's such a good boy that I've never found hair on the couches or upstairs even though he's go free reign all day. I'm very lucky. Except he sheds like a sonofabitch. Roomba runs every day trying to keep up.

Dont have a dog now- I rent and life is just too busy right now. But the same will be true in the future as it was in the past. No to the bed and no to the couch.

In my old house, my last dog had a room that was ostensibly his and he had an old chair that my brother had from his college days. That was the only chair in the house my dog was allowed to sit on. And he was so proud of it.

Given apartment living I doubt this would happen again, though.

YEWS YES YES---some dogs are cleaner then the owners of said dogs!!!
This must be a toy stuffed dog your showing in the photo! How cute is it! How could you say no to it!

my dog is my constant companion when i'm home. i couldn't imagine him not being on the couch beside me, or sleeping by my legs at night. the quality of life for both of us would be greatly diminished if he were relegated to life on the floor. keeping the sofa and bed clothes covered and laundered is a small price to pay.

My Collie mix and Husky mix are allowed on the old couch in the tv room but not on the couch in the sitting room. When they want on, they approach the couch and wait for someone to pat the seat to invite them up. Similarly, I'll invite them on the bed to hang out, but not at night while I sleep. They prefer the floor anyway, they just come on the furniture to be near the people.

Yep. Rufus has full use of the couch (covered with a blanket which we wash frequently). He can't get on the bed by himself because it's too tall, so at 5:30-6 a.m. every morning, he puts his little paws on the edge so I can hoist him up for morning snoozing. I'd like to note, though, that I bathe him every week.

I have four dogs, two of which like to sleep under the covers, so YES! Furniture is replaceable. My sofa doesn't make me happy, my dogs do.

I'm with Laurie M.

I love my furniture but my dog is awesome. I can always find another vintage whatever somewhere else...but I like hanging out with my dog/friend. It also helps to have a small steam cleaner. I clean my sofa every so often. It probably should be done with or without having a pet.

I used to let Burger sleep in the bed with me and on the couch and everything, but when he started shedding, I thought maybe I should bring the no-furniture policy back.

I was amazed at how much better his behavior was as soon as the rule went into effect, it seemed somehow like he needed that extra authority from me. So after shedding season, the rule stayed.

My dog sleeps on the back of the couch like a cat.

My cat sleeps everywhere in my place. Let it be our bed, our couch, the bookshelfs- the cat and esp. fur is everywhere.

So I found myself washing the sheets and my sofa's slipcover all the time, but: Furniture is replaceable. My sofa doesn't make me happy, my cat do, to quote Laurie M.

Big furry Ralph (retriever/chow mix)was an adult when we rescued him 10 years ago. He never got on the furniture til my darling son taught him how. Now I can't sleep unless he's curled up on my bed and the old sofa can get replaced someday.

I think the only thing Bichon's shed is tail hair, so until her legs got too bad to jump, Lily was allowed anywhere. She liked the back of the couch in the living room to look out the window, and she liked laying beside us on the couch as we petted her and she licked our arms (when do you guys TOUCH your dogs if they're not allowed to be near you when you're relaxing?! seems so sad).

She used to jump up onto my parents bed before bed time but when mom turned out the lights she'd jump down and get in her crate.

Once during a thunderstorm she managed to jump into my lap AT the computer (keyboard tray and all) and sit and quiver while I surfed.

And she loves laying in bathrooms, but tends to pee on the shower rug just for the fun of it, so we block her out of one.

But then again, we have a breed that doesn't shed, so...

Wolsey's allowed everywhere. He's a big (not fat, but 30 lb) Cairn terrier. I love the sight of him when I wake up in the morning---a fat tangle of wheaten fur with 4 little legs splayed in the air, and the loud snores telling me which end is his head, not his tail. I also feed him tidbits when I eat. So sue me. He's a dog, and I love his dogginess. He's not spoiled, humanized, infantalized, or ever, ever dressed up. But he's part of the family. I wouldn't have a dog otherwise.

Absolutely wrong, in my opinion. Dogs are not equals. They need to know their place in the pecking order - humans come first, dogs second. They don't get to be at the same level as people - on the couch or the bed. The floor is fine for them and it's better for training.

my dog is allowed on the couch when he wants for the most part. although more and more he prefers to lay in his dog bed and look out the window. when i first got him i would let him sleep in bed with me. now that i live with my boyfriend the dog sleeps in his crate at night (except for really cold winter nights!)

If you can't handle pet hair, don't have pets. What crazy logic!!

My 3 dogs aren't allowed on the couch (light grey dog hair = bad idea!), but they are allowed in bed if we invite them up. I use my furminator and vacume everyday, and there's barely any hair.

I can always replace the couch (as I've replaced the area rug, and the dog beds), but I can never replace their friendship and love.

"If you can't handle pet hair, don't have pets. What crazy logic."

Your reductionist logic is really more insane. Many people have pets and deal with pet hair just fine. So what if they deal with it differently than you? I don't want my future dog on the couch or bed, I don't believe it's healthy for the dog or the humans in my household. And that's my right and there's nothing wrong with it.

Thank god I could care less for other peoples opinions regarding my dog cause I totally think Monkeyme is saying hogwash. Yes they're dogs but they're more loyal than some people. Bleh!

Yes to couch, no to bed. He's learned where he is in the pack, and that means in his bed, not ours. Fortunately. he's a non-shedding breed.

Monkeymeme---your attitude's just fine---for you. Yes, a dog is a dog, not a human, and I agree that thinking and acting otherwise is a mistake, and no kindness to a dog, either. Yet I somehow manage to be total alpha bitch and still delight in my dog's wuzzy nuttiness on couch and bed and while I eat--with him. Your stance is perfect for big alpha dogs who do best with a guy with a pickup truck and shotgun, no kidding. And, by the way, I don't think dogs are automatically programmed to think "Ah-ha! Couch, bed, I'm el Jefe around here. . . .

One dog sleeps on bed year round, other dog only on cold winter nights. Neither is allowed on the couch-though they keep trying. They are 45 and 65 lbs. each and think they are lap dogs. Pop crates have to be put on seats of couch so they don't get up on it while no humans are home. By the way Febreeze supposedly has some chemical in it that can be harmful for pets to breathe.

people who have dog's that never see the inside of their house make me question WHY on earth they'd bother to have them. if you can't embrace a pet as a member of your household, then maybe you shouldn't have them. dogs are clearly not human. (thank god!) however, that does not mean they need to be relegated to life outdoors or given sharp rules and boundries where they can be just to "know their place". a dog sleeping in bed, or wanting to be on the sofa has little to do with tring to rule you and make you feel less important, or some intentional insult to your ego. that's about as absurd and saying your children sitting on the sofa would be an attempt at all out anarchy! do you make your children stay outside and sit on the floor so they'll know their place?dogs are pack animals, and in owning one you are making them a member of your pack, your family. they are just going with their nature to want to be WITH you and beside you. dogs are intelligent, feeling, compassionate beings. sometimes more so than some humans. i would gladly give up my sofa to have twice as many years with my loving dog by my side.

Not only can my dogs get up on the furniture, but we redecorated the house with them in mind.

- Leather replaced microfiber upholstery; all other furniture was chosen based on readily available slipcovers. i.e., duvet covers, dining room chairs from Ikea, etc.;

- East-west sliding fabric panels solved the window covering issue. Some portions of the panels can be open so the dogs can look out while other parts remain closed for privacy;

- The dog door insert for the sliding door was replaced with 2 dog doors: one cut into a wall into the garage and then another one cut into the garage door to the yard. That that really cut down on the amount of yard fodder that was being dragged in. It is also hidden providing improved security.

- Since we didn't need the slider for a dog door, it was replaced by a set of single light french doors. That was for us, more than the dogs! And no more dog nose prints on that glass, since the new entrance is easier for them.

- Custom covers were made for their beds that coordinate with the interior. These can go right in the washer (and the size was designed for 3 king size pillows for easy replacement.)

- The floor solution is the best thing. It had to be easy to clean, scratch resistant and impervious to wet or dirty footprints. No grout for us. We acid washed the floors in three different colors. It turned out better I could have imagined and looks like a vast area of mottled marble in greens and tans. It is so organically soothing - and easy to keep clean. It also helps the house stay cooler in the hot summer months in Palm Springs.

- Area rugs and runners were changed to sisal. They were easy to drag into the driveway; scrub, hose down and then sun dry. Once potty training was complete, we brought back the Orientals and wool area rugs.

- The Roomba runs once a day, real vacuuming/Floormate action is only needed once a month.

So yeah, my dogs can get up on the furniture! They can go out anytime they want and we even have fans set up at floor level for them in the summer.

Hi everyone! Great topic!

My boyfriend and i are getting ready to renovate our apartment and throw all the old college stuff away (thank God). I'm an interior designer so my boyfriend is letting me be creative in our new place together and I need to make sure it comes out flawless. The problem is, or was, what to do for our little girl Lucy. I mean we dont want her to get up on our new furniture, but we also don't want her to sleep on the floor. I was doing some research and found www.petloungestudios.com. Their Bambu Collection rocks! If your going or gone green check their stuff out. Their Bambu Lounger is made out of solid bamboo and has a freaking memory foam mattress. I dont even have a memory foam mattress .... sorta make me a little jealous to tell you the truth. But then again, they're making my decision that much easier.

I'm sold, now I just need to convince my boyfriend.



LucyLove