Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Dog training - dog behavior

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old March 29th, 2011, 02:35 PM
akaJenT's Avatar
akaJenT akaJenT is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: california
Posts: 31
Jealousy and acceptance question

I have a HUGE MONSTER male husky and a sweet cuddle bug smaller husky that seems to crave affection more than the beast (though I cuddle him tons too) My question is, is it all right to allow the small one on the couch while the monster one that clearly wishes he was smaller, not to be?

It's so nice to cuddle with the little one and my heart goes out to her cause she has to fend for herself all day. The monster play fights with her a lot and he would never hurt her on purpose but it is a lot for her to deal with just the same, always being outweighed, so when she wants affection it's hard to resist.

But the monster is WAY TOO HUGE to get on the couch, he would take up the whole thing. But he's incredibly smart and I'm not sure he can just accept it or will hold it against the smaller one. Am I setting her up for his jealousy? Or do you think he can get used to it and sorta not notice...(wince).
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old March 29th, 2011, 02:37 PM
akaJenT's Avatar
akaJenT akaJenT is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: california
Posts: 31
I have a feeling I'm not gonna like the collective answer
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old March 29th, 2011, 02:54 PM
rainbow's Avatar
rainbow rainbow is offline
-
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Beautiful BC's Kootenay Country
Posts: 34,757
I have a rather pushy siberian husky and a 100 lb woosy lab that are both allowed on the couch. The lab is a total suck that loves to cuddle and the sibe is rather aloof and only cuddles on his terms. Even though he knows he can come on the couch, he very seldom does so.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old March 29th, 2011, 07:15 PM
akaJenT's Avatar
akaJenT akaJenT is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: california
Posts: 31
Quote:
Originally Posted by rainbow View Post
I have a rather pushy siberian husky and a 100 lb woosy lab that are both allowed on the couch. The lab is a total suck that loves to cuddle and the sibe is rather aloof and only cuddles on his terms. Even though he knows he can come on the couch, he very seldom does so.
You must have a HUGE couch!!!

Plus the large one is obsessed with digging up moles in the back yard, he carries 5x the dirt that the little one does. He's more independent but I can tell he still wishes he was the size he used to be, to be cuddled like he was when he was a pup...about the size of just his HEAD now.

poor pup
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old March 29th, 2011, 07:23 PM
SamIam SamIam is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 447
If the male is the more dominant dog, the one who usually comes out on top in the play-fights, promoting her to couch-privilege and leaving him on the floor will cause confusion between the two and encourage him to challenge her more often out there where he wins. Might be better to give them equal couch privileges, both off or both on.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old March 29th, 2011, 07:34 PM
BenMax BenMax is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 10,187
Well I am going to disagree. I have 2 large, 1 XLarge, 1 small, 1 tiny. All dogs know that there is a difference based on their sizes. The small ones are allowed on the couch and the beds, and the big ones are not. There is an understanding and there is never any debates nor jealousy.
We treat all our dogs relatively the same, but this is one exception. Is it right? It's the way of this household and we have no issues with the dogs argueing over who gets to sit or sleep where. It's accepted and they find their relevant spots to lay.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old March 29th, 2011, 03:08 PM
Mirela Mirela is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 224
Quote:
Originally Posted by akaJenT View Post
I have a feeling I'm not gonna like the collective answer

You mean the one where we advise you to buy a bigger couch???
Or the one about how to get a big pillow and sit on the floor with them?
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old March 29th, 2011, 07:11 PM
akaJenT's Avatar
akaJenT akaJenT is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: california
Posts: 31
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirela View Post
You mean the one where we advise you to buy a bigger couch???
Or the one about how to get a big pillow and sit on the floor with them?
thanks (whew) I thought I'd get chewed out...
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:01 AM.