Here goes...daft question 1

Think its personal choice,my pup will be coming home end of july so not got him yet but ive already decided he wont be allowed on the sofa (which cost more then my car!)
Ive brought a dog bed which will go next to sofa,hope it works and i can resist the temptation!

Liz it really is up to you; I have leather couches in the lounge and we vowed Iz would not be allowed up. However, good intentions, I love to cuddle her and watch the TV and I don't want to sit on the floor so we have bought throws to cover the sofas. In the breakfast room she has her own sofa (spoilt dog!). Some people sleep with their dogs - we don't allow her in the bedrooms. They are so cuddly, hard to resist! She knows I am the pack leader but still tries it on all the time!

Dexter is allowed up on everything- leather sofas, beds etc. He is as good as gold on them as he knows if he's not he gets chucked off!

In training theory, I'm sure your trainer is telling you the technically correct way to treat your dog. It depends if you have the motivation and will to do it that way. Personally, I think that some very challenging dogs may need to be treated by the book to behave well, but others will be fine without all that. We spoil Dylan something rotten - more than any other dog I've owned. He is allowed everywhere, including cuddles in bed for an hour or so in the morning, and it has caused no behaviour problems at all. He is not dominant in any way, totally looks up to us and is a really well-behaved dog (apart from the barking). So for him I don't think that sort of training would have been necessary, but if you want to really train correctly then you could give it a go and see if it suits you. If it's not what you want, you could look around for a trainer who is more in tune with your instincts. Trouble is, cockapoos are so easy to spoil, and they do love being spoilt

Cara made a very valid point about buying throws.

This could be helpful in part of training - it's fine to have a dog bed in the sitting room and in it you could have a throw - then when you fancied a cuddle on the settee - allow your dog to sit on it's throw beside you ! This then gives access to the settee (when YOU want it and allow it) and does not let the dog know it has permanent access !

Try it - and be consistent - if you allow the dog up sometimes but not all times then you are giving out strange signals - if you use a throw - your dog will be able to identify when it's OK x

Stephen xx

Dylansmum said:

Trouble is, cockapoos are so easy to spoil, and they do love being spoilt

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Soooo true!

We let Lolly on the sofa There was no way I was going to be able to stop my 12 year old daughter cuddling her when she was just 8 weeks on the sofa. We didn't really want to have to sit on the floor to cuddle her and she's a member of the family so we're happy to share our sofa with her. She's not allowed on the beds though.

Yes just as Cara and Stephen said Dexter often lies on his own fleecy blanket/comforter (which is always sweet- smelling as I wash it a lot) when he sleeps on beds and sofas- just incase his paws are a bit wet or muddy. He is good at keeping on it.

Definitely allowed up on the sofa. My husbands rule of 'not on the sofa' lasted all of 10 mins, then even he gave in. Millie is way to cuddly and friendly, she's not top dog and shows no sign of wanting to be.

JD like the idea of using a throw to denote when it is acceptable and when its not. I'll give it a go. Maybe a bit now however

I personally do let our house dogs on the sofa however if we are eating on our laps, I demand the dogs sit on the floor. They accept that because it's our rules and body language and we are consistent. If you are the BOSS and have their respect then there are quite complex house rules that they will totally get and accept.

A trainer is trying to give you a formula that works. What I would suggest is that you develop a language with your dog that works......repetition , consistency and determination is the key along with good humour, allowing for errors and learning hick-ups but be strong and focused.

Julia x

Totally agree about no dogs on the sofa if you are eating (yes eating on the sofa bad habit I know ) - Dexter would not be able to resist putting his nose in my plate!

I agree with Tessy and Jukee Doodles - we let Beau on our leather sofas but when we have food she is made to sit on the floor. My daughter likes to cuddle up with Beau when watching tv

Thank you so much all of you, I will teach her the throw thing

Operation throw commenced - I feel much happier with this and Holly will learn by the medium of throw :laugh:

I used to be in the "not on the sofa camp". But i was taught a lesson in a dogs ability to bend the rules.
Jess my springer had been trained with all the good manners and rules of the house, that was until she became deaf. I had my suspicions that she was sleeping on the sofa when we were out but I had never caught her in the act.
I came home one day and she must have been in a deep sleep and not heard me, she was lying on the sofa and the game was up. God only knows how long she had been doing this and then jumping down and lying on her bed. Over time we found other things she was doing when we were out, like drinking from the toilet, opening a cupboard to steal apples.
We do have a meal time rule that they go into the crate, and Rosie is just following Poppy into it. And rule 2 - not allowed upstairs.
So now its me that sits on the floor, but they do know who is boss, and its not me.

Sofa ! but like JD's not if we're eating on our laps, they know its not acceptable !
I do find when its hot weather they want to lie on the laminate floor as its cooler but have always allowed them up for cuddles and they both like to sit on laps

Similar to alot of people really.. started off no sofas, wont be allowed upstairs.... not long before that changed. Its more they want to sit AS close to you as possible which happens to be sofa/chair, when Mable was spayed I was camped on the floor and they were happy to sit there also, can notice like you Frances as the weather warms that they want to be on the cool floor. And follow me to the toilet and lie beside the bath......

There do seem to be quite a few people here who agree that indulging their cockapoo is thoroughly rewarding and more of a positive than negative experience! I think that we are very lucky that we seem to be able to largely get away with it without dreadful behaviour problems. Just a testimony to what a fantastic breed they are :ilmc:

Flo loves to have a cuddle on the sofa and doesn't 'take advantage' at all. She only gets up on the sofa if one of us sits there as she just wants a hug. If we are not on the sofa she'll just lie on the floor or curl up in one of her beanbags. We do only have a cheap Harveys leather sofa and I suppose I might feel differently if I had a lovely designer sofa though, in that case, I think having a throw as a cue for the dog to get up is a brill idea.