[Travelinglady]

If your cat or dog is sitting in a chair and you want to sit there, do you call the pet down or pick it up and move it? Or do you just sit somewhere else?

When I go to my sister's house, my bro-in-law doesn't like me sitting in the dog's place. (He also wanted me to leave the den and go to bed because it was the dog's bed time.)

How accommodating are you? It seems like Caroline my cat and I are battling over MY lazy-girl-recliner.

[Nammu]

My cat isn't allowed on the furniture. Sure he sleeps in it when we're not around but when we're around he stays off. It's my mums rule and as its her house what she says goes. I think it's a bit too much telling a guest to go to bed cause the dogs bedtime. Dogs do best with an alpha runs the house not them.

[Skeezyks]

We don't usually have this problem. We have a couch we generally sit on. My wife on one end, me on the other. In the middle we have a dog blanket. And so when our pooch lays on the couch, he pretty-much always just lays on the dog bed whether we're sitting there or not. On the off chance that he was sitting where I wanted to sit, though, I would pick him up (he only weighs about 15 1/2 pounds), kiss him on tip of his cute little head, & move him over. He doesn't like to lay on laps. But he likes to snuggle up beside you against your thigh. He does also sleep in our bed with us at night. Sometimes he takes up a bit more space than he really needs. So then we just move him over.

[lizardlady]

BG, the dog, is not allowed on the furniture. That's mainly because he is so big, plus he lives on a farm. That means he gets nasty smelling stuff on him. I don't want nasty smelling stuff on the furniture.

The cats are a whole different story. There are times I've done all of the choices you listed - move them, make them get down or sit somewhere else myself. Depends on where they are and how badly I want to sit there. They sleep with me. I'll confess I can have trouble falling asleep if there isn't at least one cat in bed with me.

As for asking a guest to go to bed because it was the dog's bedtime.... WTF?!?!? Not something I would ever do. Though I will warn guests they might want to close their bedroom door if they don't want a cat joining them at night.

[happysobercrafter]

When Smudge was on my recliner, I trained him to get down and then back up onto my lap. He would curl up and snooze while I watched TV or crocheted.

[bluekoi]

If your cat or dog is sitting in a chair and you want to sit there, do you call the pet down or pick it up and move it? Or do you just sit somewhere else?

Our dogs are not allowed on the furniture. Dogs always need a human alpha. If the cat is sitting in a chair and I want to sit there; I pick the cat up, sit down and place the cat on my lap. If he doesn't like it, he can go somewhere else.

When I go to my sister's house, my bro-in-law doesn't like me sitting in the dog's place. (He also wanted me to leave the den and go to bed because it was the dog's bed time.)

Is the dog really old or ill?

[Travelinglady]

No, the dog was in good health. My sis and bro-in-law say their pets are their children, so especially my bro-in-law gets carried away. It seems like the dog sits wherever she pleases. I finally asked, "Where are the people chairs?!"

[piggy momma]

The pets in my house (dog, cat, pig) are allowed anywhere they want. The pig and I both like the same spot on my bed, but she always gets it and I contort myself to sleep differently lol. And the cat HAS to sleep on my chest. Drives me crazy but part of me loves that she’s so affectionate.

I’ve always had animals and growing up they were allowed anywhere and everywhere in the house. I see them as my family (no husband or kids) and can’t think of any good reason they shouldn’t be allowed anywhere they want. So they are.

[happysobercrafter]

@piggy momma

How did you potty break your pig?

[sarahsweets]

No offense to anyone because I adore my dogs and they are integral to our family but dogs are not the same as children. I understand that some people who do not have kids or even want kids might feel differently but ultimately they are animals. My dogs are allowed up on the furniture only if we say so. They each have a dog bed thats sort of in the same area of the living room as where we congregate and so they feel a part of the pack. Sometimes they will come up to someone in the recliner and wag their tails and get called up but they are down at the feet. When we go our they most likely sleep on the furniture but they are always down looking like I do not know what they were doing when we walk in.

My cat gets the run of the house. But he has the guest bedroom. He seems to understand that this room is HIS room and my room is mine. He literally does not come into my bedroom after I get into bed and doesn't come in until I wake up. (though he makes so much noise I might get up at 7 am)

[piggy momma]

Originally Posted by HappyCrafter

@piggy momma

How did you potty break your pig?

Same as a dog - took her outside regularly as a young piglet and rewarded her for going. Now when she wants to go out she bangs on the blinds on the back door and we let her out.

[happysobercrafter]

@piggy momma

WOW!

[SlumberKitty]

Sometimes I move my pets if I want to sit where they are, or lay down where they are, or sometimes I let them stay. However, if I had friends over or family over, I would move the pet so that the human could sit down. Usually the only time it is a problem is bed time and the kitties are looking at me from the bed, and I have to move them to get into the bed, but then we all adjust and everyone is happy. Kit

[Travelinglady]

I saw a tee shirt today that said cats over your hearts, then they take over your sofa and your bed!

[bluekoi]

Trav, My two year old cat sleeps under the covers nestled into my side.

[seesaw]

Um, dogs do not need an alpha. That's VERY OLD DEBUNKED theory created from a study about wolves in captivity. No reputable animal behavioralist will tell you that. If you're watching Cesar Milan and believing what he says then I feel bad for your pets, since he's entirely uneducated and often harms animals more than helps them. Hence why EVERY animal group in the U.S. has denounced his methods.

Regarding the OP's question: my dogs live here. You don't. My dogs provide my unconditional love and support. You don't. Find somewhere else to sit. (That said, my dogs are pretty amiable and will move if you tell them to scoot over.)