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Old March 29th, 2011, 02:35 PM
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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).
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Old March 29th, 2011, 02:37 PM
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I have a feeling I'm not gonna like the collective answer
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Old March 29th, 2011, 02:54 PM
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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.
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Old March 29th, 2011, 03:08 PM
Mirela Mirela is offline
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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?
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Old March 29th, 2011, 07:11 PM
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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...
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Old March 29th, 2011, 07:15 PM
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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
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Old March 29th, 2011, 07:23 PM
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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.
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Old March 29th, 2011, 07:34 PM
BenMax BenMax is offline
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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.
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Old March 29th, 2011, 07:51 PM
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If your couch can handle it, and you want the larger one up with you on it, by all means, invite him up - no sense having empty couch spaces.

However, if you decide that, as BenMax noted, the way of the household is the smaller one on couch only, they will still get along with no issues. Just don't forget to cuddle up with the large one on the floor on occasion.
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Old March 29th, 2011, 08:22 PM
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How big are your two huskies?
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Old March 29th, 2011, 08:49 PM
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Size really does not matter. Dallas was a 75 pound husky and Missie weighed 9 pounds. Dallas was aggressive but she learned she was not allowed on the couch and Missie was. Same with the bed, Missy slept with us and Dallas slept on the floor. It is all in the way you train them. If you are concerned, I would be talking to my Vet or a reputable dog trainer.
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Old March 29th, 2011, 09:27 PM
SamIam SamIam is offline
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In my experience as a dog trainer, the relative size of the two dogs does matter, but in the opposite way!

Last edited by SamIam; March 29th, 2011 at 09:43 PM. Reason: Inserting context, for clarity's sake, but go ahead and have a laugh if you must...
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Old March 29th, 2011, 09:38 PM
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That comment could be taken right out of context...
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Old March 29th, 2011, 09:48 PM
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Not laughing, with all the political correctness on the board lately, some people might have misunderstood your comment and would have been offended .
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Old March 29th, 2011, 10:05 PM
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I have a yellow lab and a shih tzu..shih tzu is allowed on the couches and bed. Lab isn't, but lab will come sit with us at the couch and will get petting and loving.
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Old March 29th, 2011, 10:12 PM
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Yep TQ you just give them different loving and special times. Dallas was a hoot, she would walk away with Missie hanging on her tail.(Canine equivalent to water skiing on hardwood) While she was highly aggressive with other dogs, she was well trained by a accredited trainer and was well mannered. She listened well and we worked to get her to stop being so aggressive. She died of colon cancer at 6. She was a wonderful dog.
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Old March 29th, 2011, 10:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shaykeija View Post
Not laughing, with all the political correctness on the board lately, some people might have misunderstood your comment and would have been offended .
Nah. It was in direct response to your comment:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shaykeija View Post
Size really does not matter.
Worst it would get me is a laugh.

Anyway, what I am trying to ask the OP is whether her two huskies are similar in size, or different enough to qualify as a small dog and a large dog.
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Old March 29th, 2011, 10:30 PM
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Would love to see pictures.... And are they neutered?
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Old March 29th, 2011, 11:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by akaJenT View Post
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).
How old are the dogs? Which one was there first? Has the big one been taught from the start that the couch is off limits or only once he got bigger? I would think all of these things are important.
In my house my larger lab has known from the start that she is not allowed on the couch. My 5 pound toy has always been allowed. There is not jealousy. They know what is expected of them.
Maybe when you are sitting on the couch and not cuddling with the other dog call the big guy over to you. Let him put his head on your lap while sitting on the floor and give him his attention that way. I would bet any jealousy, if there, goes out the window.
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Old March 30th, 2011, 12:07 PM
Longblades Longblades is offline
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We let the cats up on furniture the dog is not allowed on. Works fine for us. As a matter of fact one cat regularly takes over the dog's bed and keeps him off it and no controversy ensues because of it. He's not a meek, mild dog either.

But, in a previous time with another dog and cat it would definitely have been a problem for us. And was as we had to keep dog and cat separated, which we managed for 10 years.

So my suggestion is keep an eye out. I think if there is no problem now there won't be but none of us can read a dog's mind.
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Old April 2nd, 2011, 04:07 AM
reanne reanne is offline
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IMHO I would say that if your bigger dog is the first dog, and he USED to be allowed on the couch but is now too big, then allowing the smaller one on, but not allowing the bigger/older dog on, would indeed be undermining his place in the household, as you have "replaced" his desirable place on the couch with the smaller dog instead. If he was never allowed on the couch to begin with, then that might be a different story.

I have a 92lb dog and a 66lb dog and they are both allowed on the couch and the bed (with invitation). I'm a student and my place is pretty small so I don't have a huge couch LOL
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