Having our dogs live in our houses with us can be a fun and often daily adventure! Many clients ask me whether or not it's a bad idea to have their dogs sit on the couch with them or sleep on the bed with them. My simple answer is this: which behaviors do you want your dog to display and which behaviors do you not want your dog to display?
If you don't want your dog to be dominant and pushy, then the answer is simple. By creating spaces in our houses that are exclusive to us, what we are communicating to our dogs is that we are in control of the space, and they are not. Instead of allowing our dogs up on our furniture, why not get them their own furniture? A dog bed in the room(s) where you most frequently relax lets them know that you expect them to relax, too, just in their own space.
Teaching your dog to relax when you do can be one of the most powerful things you teach them. Whenever I work with dogs who are especially "in people's faces", I teach the owner that while this may not bother them, they have no control over it bothering their friends and acquaintances. In my experience, it's better to have a spatially respectful dog than an in-your-face dog. Giving your dog their own spaces can also be part of a training regimen in teaching them to "go to a target", which in turn can be a fun and rewarding exercise for both dog and owner.
