The Couch

In the not so distant past Himself and I decided it was time to buy a new couch. Our sons had moved out on their own, and it seemed that much of our furniture moved with them. We found ourselves with only 2 recliners to our names and no place for guests to sit when visiting but worse yet, no place for the dogs to be either. It was barbarism to have them lying on the floor for Pete's sake!

Buying a couch seems simply enough - go the the various furniture stores, find one you like, and buy it. Not so when you live with three large dogs! Because they are part of our family and live with us, they share space on our furniture as well. So we had to think about what type of couch, what fabric would suit them and be easily cleanable (for the slingers!), how high off the ground it sat to ensure that they would not have to jump up and possibly harm their joints or bones ... I could go on with our considerations, but I think you get the point. It wasn't a simply task after all.

After much investigation we decided to buy a leather couch. Leather is easily cleanable, their nails don't easily penetrate the softer leather, and it is cool to their skin. Aha! We had a plan for the couch!! Notice here that not once did we give consideration to our own tastes, the decor of our home, or our possible guests comfort -- it really was all about the dogs.

So, one special order and many weeks and dollars later, we had a beautiful new leather couch! Pru, Brin and Neo loved it- they pranced around it like they knew it was just for them, sniffing every inch and giving it a lick or two as well. Himself and I were so proud! We had made our dogs so very happy!!

And happy they were and are. So where's the story in that? Well, remember the reference to guests? That's where we have the problem. When we have guests, they naturally move to sit on 'the couch.' It is a natural behavior for humans to sit on couches - we have been trained to do so. But in our home, 'the couch' belongs to the dogs.

It goes something like this: The humans will sit on the couch and Pru, Brin and Neo become very confused. They begin to pace back and forth across the floor; they walk over to the humans to push on their legs as if to move them out of the way; they turn and look at Himself and I with eyes that say 'what's this all about?' Neo will try to climb up on the guests to find a spot for himself in the spaces between them - he's only 82 pounds after all. Brin will lay her huge head on any open spot and stare up at the human visitors and sigh. And Pru ... Well Pru is a bit more verbal. She will snort at the humans and then go over to lie on the floor and whine audibly. This whining is low, but drawn out and continues until the humans remove themselves from the couch.

The three lie in wait. Should one of the humans move from his/her spot on the couch
that spot is immediately filled by one of the dogs. Typically Pru is on it first, but I have seen Brin move very quickly in order to take the opportunity to reclaim her rightful throne. Neo at this point is typically on Himself's lap, so he rarely needs to run to the open space.

And there is no gaining back that spot for the human either. Guests take restroom breaks or get up for any reason, they have simply lost their spot. Pru and Brin will not relinquish that which they have conquered. Himself and I have ordered firmly, cajoled them softly and sweetly, and tried physically to move them, to no avail. They are firmly planted and planted they will stay! It is usually with very embarrassed and defeated faces that Himself and I lead our guests to the dining room table for the rest of the visit.

I know what you must be thinking- but these three dogs really are trained. They do obey us every single time they feel like it - and that is very consistent behavior from them. So, they do have really good control over us -lol.

The couch - such a simple piece of furniture. Unless you are owned by dogs...