Boundaries?

[ManidaMorrell]

Is it ok to allow your dog to sleep on the bed with you or sit on the couch next to you? Or does this confuse the leadership position

 

I have let Blue up on a couple of occasions and he doesn't seem to have changed that I can see (maybe in a subtle way that I don't see I don't know).

 

My mum let's her chihuahua on the couch, lap and bed and she seems to have changed in her reactions toward me (weather this is a result of this is my question) Sometimes she growls as I walk into the room, sometimes when she's on the bed and I go to pat her, growls and bites if you put your hand in her crate or basket the bites are firm don't draw blood. Mum and I think that maybe sometimes it could be that she was asleep (on bed or couch) and was frightened when woken. She never used to be this way. She's never been mistreated, we've had her since a pup.

 

It's very frustrating.

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hello Manida Morrell,

This is an excellent question! Warning--this may be long because it's not one of those things where a straight answer can be given. There is really no clear-cut answer to the general question of "is it OK to allow a dog to sleep on the bed" because whether it's a good choice or not, ultimately depends to a great extent on individual factors such as a dog's behavior history and temperament, how the dog owner relates and interacts with the dog etc.

 

There has been for some time an outrage of dog trainers making claims that letting a dog sleep on the bed will turn a dog into the "alpha" and that it will give rise to a plethora of issues with dominance being the most concerning. The belief likely stems from the outdated credence that dogs who are placed on high furniture, such as beds or couches, feel as if they are in control of the world (courtesy of the height advantage) and this puts humans on the lower end of the rank.

 

Trainers who adhere to these views are often those who believe in the old dominance theory, which is based on outdated wolf studies (Shenkel's studies on wolves in captivity) that have long since been discredited over the years courtesy of more recent research (David Mech's studies on wolves in a natural habitat).

 

On top of this, the Associations of Professional Dog Trainers Position Statement on dominance reminds us that dogs are not wolves, and that the practice of comparing dogs to wolves is ultimately comparable to relying on chimpanzee behavior to explain human behavior.

 

On top of being outdated, adherence to dominance theory has led to the belief that dog owners must “show the dog who’s boss” and engage in physical corrections to correct or prevent "dominance displays"and these often involve alpha rolls, scruff shakes etc. which risk paving the path to an adversarial relationship. Studies have shown that such practices often lead to potential fear, anxiety and /or aggressive behaviors from the dog.

 

APDT also reminds that when dogs behave the way they do, they don't do it out of a desire to be "alpha," but just because those behavior provide them with some form of reinforcement in some way. Reinforcement may be positive or negative. In positive reinforcement, behaviors that lead to a consequence the dog finds reinforcing, tend to strengthen and repeat.

 

For example, dogs who jump on people are not doing so to attain rank, but just because they can get closer, say hello and perhaps get some attention (reinforcement). Dogs who pull on the leash are not doing so because they want to be in charge of the walk, but just because it's reinforcing to sniff things and explore. All these dogs have in common the fact that they just haven't been given the opportunity to learn better manners.

 

When it comes to beds and couches, dogs who want to sleep on them do so, not because they have a desire to attain higher rank, but simply because they are comfy and it allows them to be closer to their family. Many dogs also enjoy being in bed or on the couch with their owners because that's when they are often pet and given attention.

 

Now, with dominance out of the way, does this mean it's always OK to allow dogs on bed? No, there are several dogs I wouldn't recommend that. Coming in the next post are a few examples.

Edited November 27, 2018 by Adrienne Farricelli

[Adrienne Farricelli]

What dogs would I not feel comfortable with them sleeping on the bed?

 

--Dogs who are pushy. Pushy dogs aren't "dominant" dogs, they just happen to be dogs whose behaviors have been (often inadvertently!) reinforced by their owners and have gotten out of hand. These dogs are quick to learn to bark, nudge hands, engage in pawing behaviors and get into peoples' faces for just a little bit of attention. It's easy for these dogs to therefore jump on the bed and engage in pushy behaviors. These dogs need to simply learn better manners and to respect a "that's enough" cue before allowing them the privilege of being invited on the bed and doling them out oodles of attention.

 

-Dogs who tend to resource guard beds and couches or who resource guard a particular person who is sleeping in bed (there are plenty of stories of dogs who won't allow a spouse to sleep in their beds because these dogs are protective of a particular person.) These dogs therefore bark, growl and show their pearly whites when they are laying on the bed or couch. These are distance-increasing behaviors meant to send the person away. But why do these dogs not want people or other dogs near the couch or bed? Most likely things go along the these lines.

 

Dogs and humans are in a vulnerable situation during sleep. A sleeping place is ultimately a place where people and animals go to when they are in need of restorative sleep. Sleep plays a vital role in health and wellbeing and, therefore, these places are valuable and should be as stress- free as possible. Dogs who are protective of sleeping areas are not wanting to be "alpha," but are simply dogs who are not comfortable and have trust issues with certain people coming near them when they are in place where they feel safe. These dogs often need to learn to trust and relax when around the people they are guarding against.

 

-Another category of dogs who shouldn't be allowed on beds are some dogs that may not resource guard the bed per se', but may turn snappy when they are touched or pushed off the bed (or any other surface) for various reasons (they are touch intolerant or are reactive when startled during sleep or just prior to sleep).

 

Cases as such require an “off the bed” policy until the bed or couch guarding behavior can be modified (if feasible) with the help of a dog behavior professional using humane behavior modification techniques. Seeking the aid of a professional is important for correct implementation of behavior modification also considering that, when working with dogs with behavior problems, there are substantial risks of getting bitten.

 

-Also, as a general rule of thumb, I also don't encourage owners of dogs who have separation anxiety or who may appear to be close to developing a dysfunctional attachment, to have their dogs share the bed with them. The reason is simple: we want these dogs to develop as much independence as possible.

Edited November 27, 2018 by Adrienne Farricelli

[Adrienne Farricelli]

My mum let's her chihuahua on the couch, lap and bed and she seems to have changed in her reactions toward me (weather this is a result of this is my question) Sometimes she growls as I walk into the room, sometimes when she's on the bed and I go to pat her, growls and bites if you put your hand in her crate or basket the bites are firm don't draw blood. Mum and I think that maybe sometimes it could be that she was asleep (on bed or couch) and was frightened when woken. She never used to be this way. She's never been mistreated, we've had her since a pup. It's very frustrating.

 

It is difficult to exactly pinpoint the underlying cause for your mom's Chihuahua recent behavior changes. We can only make assumptions. Resource guarding the bed or couch is usually a form of location guarding, that is, it takes place contextually when the dog is in these locations. The aggressive display occurs therefore in these exact contexts ( being on the bed, being on the couch). The fact she's also reactive when you walk in the room may be suggestive of fear-based behaviors that have generalized to several locations or you may be perhaps dealing with multiple forms of different behavior challenges.

 

Worthy of investigating is whether there have been any recent changes in this dog's life. New place? New noises? Stress triggers? Anything different? New pets? Have you been bringing Blue over mom's house? Sometimes other dogs wreck havoc to a dog's established life even if just limited to brief visits. How long has mom been allowing her on the bed/couch? A veterinary visit may be in order if these behavior changes are recent and she never used to this way before and there are no potential causes/changes to explain the behavior.

Edited November 27, 2018 by Adrienne Farricelli

[ManidaMorrell]

Wow, that was long but great! This gives me a lot to think about and to talk with mum about. I think we will have to retrace our steps to see if something has happened to cause it.

Thanks

[Adrienne Farricelli]

You're very welcome! And if you cannot pinpoint an exact trigger, and the vet gives a clear bill of health, consider that in any case, most likely treatment remains the same: behavior modification with the help of a professional using some type of desensitization and counterconditioning program as outlined in these samples here:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/overprotective-of-furniture/

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/dog-barking-someone-enters-room/