Over the decades, the practice of dog ownership has changed; from a time when most dogs were used for work to a time when they are mostly pets. With this shift, came anthropomorphism; that is, to attribute human characteristics to the animals. While some of you may be saying, “So, isn't that a good thing?” Well, the answer is “No.” Although I agree that dogs should not be thought of as disposable and should not be kept outside, isolated and sleeping in a doghouse, I do think that they need to be treated like dogs and not humans. Dogs live by a different set of rules. They are very aware of the body language of another dog and they have a hierarchy within their group. Most humans can’t translate dog language, and body language humans exhibit is not viewed the same way by dogs. This creates confusion for dogs and humans. Hugging is a sign of affection from human to human, for example, but to a dog, it is a threatening and challenging gesture. For some dogs, it's no big deal. They accept it, even if they don't like it. But for some, a turn of the head, a growl or a snap is the reaction. In doggie language, a hug from another dog is like you receiving a shove from another human. Carrying little dogs everywhere is another behavior that should be nipped in the bud; they are not babies. You can pick your dog up occasionally, but he really should be walking on his own legs most of the time. Another “allowance” is letting dogs on the furniture. This is a huge no-no. An unbelievable number of bites result from allowing dogs on furniture because being on the furniture gives the dog status, the throne of the home. I don't know about you, but in my house the dogs are not running the show. For some dogs, this is never an issue. It all depends upon the dog’s personality. I find that most people cannot differentiate which dogs won’t have a problem and which ones will. But dogs do not need to be on furniture anyway. They are perfectly happy in a nice dog bed … on the floor. The dogs don't care.
If they are used to laying on your bed or couch, it will take a little while for them to get the picture, but you can stop it. The problem with extending the invitation is that they will sneak up there when you're not around or sit there in front of you and stare at you until you allow them up, defeating the purpose. If your dog growls or snaps when you sit next to him or try to get him off, then the dog should not be allowed on the furniture at all.
People who have small kids should never let the dog on furniture. All it takes is for the kid to sit next to a dog while it's napping to get a snap, even though the dog may not do it with adults.
Little dogs very often are excused for inappropriate behavior because people think it’s cute or assume that the dog bites won't do any real damage. Dogs can administer five bites per second and, while a 60-pound dog inflicts a more damaging bite, a 12- pound Lhasa Apso can certainly do plenty of damage. What happens with the little guys is that the people dismiss it and it gets worse until they can’t handle the little monster they’ve created. Do not let the size of the dog dictate your tolerance for bad behavior. One way to train the dog is have the dog wear a light short leash and whenever he gets on the couch tell him “Off,” point to the floor and lead him off with the leash. Once all four paws are on the ground, you can reward him with a treat, then lead him to his sleeping area or dog bed. Once he lays down on it, reward him again. After a few minutes he will attempt to get on the couch again, so it may take a few repetitions for the dog to get it, depending on how bright or how pushy he is but even the dimmer bulbs and the bossy ones will get it. Even with dogs that do not exhibit aggression, it's easier to keep them off. My dogs are housedogs but they have nice dog beds on the floor, and they are perfectly happy with that.
