Question for those who own a larger dog aswell
 

I am wondering about the rules you have set out for your dog(s). Do you have a different set of rules for your yorkie? Stormy was here first, and she has always been allowed on the couch and bed. I don't mind it at all because 1. she is so small and 2. she doesn't shed. I feel a little bit bad if I don't allow the other dog on the couch or bed. But my couch is just starting to look so bad. I can't stand the shedding as well! Am I mean to have two sets of rules? My hubby says they BOTH shouldn't be allowed on the bed AND couch because it's not fair for one and not the other. But I can't help to think my poor baby (Stormy) is used to being on the bed with me each night. We tried to not allow them both on the bed and the bullie got the hint but Stormy was finding ways of getting on the bed all night every time she sensed we were asleep.

I have 2 sets of rules, my yorkie and boston terrier are allowed on furniture and in my bed. The labs are not, we do have a couch in the family room they like to lay on though and I let that slide. I don't think it's totally fair but I still do it that way.

This is really hard for us too. We have a small 1.5 lb yorkie and an 80 lb collie/shepard mix. He is 12 years old and is starting to lose his bladder. It is hard to let it slide for one dog and then scold another for it. I am actually at my wits end and do not know what to do. Another instance is that the big dog goes to the bathroom at the back of the fence and we let the little one go right at the front porch because his poo isn't as large, so now our big dog thinks he can go right by the porch and im sure you can imagine the mess! lol so i guess im on the same page as you are!

It's so hard!! Our bigger dog is still a puppy, she's 8 months old so her listening span isn't that good yet. I just feel bad in a way but at the same time not. Maybe I am overreacting, I don't know, but my poor yorkie is so little and I feel she needs mama more lol.

My mom has a yorkie and a big 80 lb boxer. The boxer isn't allowed on the couches or bed. In the basement theres a couch that my mom does allow her on and she goes down there and lays on it often. The yorkie sleeps with my mom and goes on the couch. The boxer doesn't seem to mind it at all and it works out good for her. The boxer is about 8 yrs old and the yorkie is 10 months old.

I don't think I could enforce two sets of rules for two different dogs... I'd feel too bad. I think it should be equal!

But then again, it's kind of the same thing with children.... if you have a 17 year old, she's going to be allowed to do a lot more than a 10 year old, for example, so if you look at it that way, it's kind of the same. I dunno.

This is just the dilemma I faced when I got another dog recently - a mastiff called Kaddie. She's a week younger than Wicket, but already weighs in at 25kilos:eek: I've never let Twinkle onto our bed, so that isn't a problem, but I was a bit worried about how to deal with the sofa situation:confused:

Twinkle has only ever been allowed on the sofa when invited up (usually in the evening), and now Wicket too, the reason being that if the children are up there the dogs like to try and steal their toys/food:rolleyes: We bought a huge squishy bed for the living room, which is a 'communal' area for all three dogs to lay during the day, and Kaddie is more than happy laying there in the evenings while Twinkle and Wicket have some 'sofa' time.

I did feel a bit mean the first few times, but kaddie hasn't tried to get on the sofa, so she obviously doesn't mind, and there haven't been any dominance issues because Twinkle and Wicket are alllowed 'higher up'. Also, it would be impractical to allow them all up on the sofa......me and DH would end up sitting on the floor!:D They know they are all loved equally! xxx xxx

All of my dogs have the same set a rules.. to me they are like having kids.. you have to be fair to all of them. I dont have a super big dog, but I couldnt tell one they could be on the couch and not the other.

i understand what you mean...my boyfriend wants a dog of his own and thats fine BUT I dont want a huge shedding dog in my apartment..he has a house with a yard but stays with me most of the time...as we all know there are not many "manly"nonshedding dogs lol..he wants a larger one but isnt exactly a goldendoodle type of guy lol...with that said we have both decided when he does get one it will not be allowed to on the couch and bed like bailee...we figure if we start out like that he wont know any difference...it may not sound completely fair but im a complete neat freak,germaphobic and I simply am not going to have hair all over my house

We do not have 2 sets of rules heck to think of it we really don't have rules! Such a bad mommy I am...hehehe Both are allowed to do as they please with the furniture or the bed it is just as much their house as it is mine. However we did purchase an ottoman especially for them that sits by our bed Malleri (yorkie) will have nothing to do with it Bailey(boxer) prefers sleeping there during the night because she isn't so squished between the rest of us in the bed (even though it is king size)

I don't have two dogs, however, I have a large Yorkie and his rules
are more strick than most of the other Yorkie owner's.
It's cute to see a little one jump up on you to say hi and to put his
butt in the air and growl or to see a little one want to attack a
larger dog while being walked. The little ones can get away with
so much but I can't let that happen with Buddy.
To me being Buddy's owner is no different than owning any other
large dog. The rules would be the same in the way of training.
He's an Alpa male and at 16lbs is corrected each and every time
he does something he is not suppose too. I am on him like butter
on bread. However, he is treated like a Yorkie and allowed on all
the furniture, has lot's of clothes he dosen't like and get's groomed
every 4wks and is spoiled rotten:p

well i have 2 sets of rules aswell. i own a germanshepard, she is large and hairy so i don't allow her on the coach and bed but Ruby and Sky my chihuahua are allowed on the furniture because they are so small and don't shred.

I will be watching this thread closely as I was wondering the same thing. We have a 5 pound yorkie and a 100 pound yellow lab. The big dog is not allowed on any furnature except out bed an one couch and one loveseat, which I bought some surefit slipcovers for (these are slipcovers that stretch and really do not look at all like slipcovers and are washable) The yorkie is allowed everywhere. It seems to be working ok, and I don't feel bad about it because after all the yorkie has to have a lot more baths than the lab...so it evens out. The biggest challenge I am having is with training because the big dog knows all of the tricks and runs over and starts doing them so I feel bad that he has to wait for the little dog to do it before anyone gets a treat.

I have my sons big dog here and it seems the dog isn't going anywhere soon. He's a sweet heart but he's a lab/husky mix. You talk about shedding, yikes. I'm done with dog hair all over my stuff and my house. The big dog stays outside and Roxie is in of course. It's just the way it is and dogs really don't care that much. They pretty much do what the pack leader says. Besides if I let the big dog come in he'll shred and chew up all of Roxie's toys. It works fine in the winter because our garage is heated and it's nice and cool in the summer with plenty of access to fresh water and food. We also have a fan going out there. He can go in and out of the garage all day as he wishes. He doesn't seem to mind it and still loves us as much as Roxie loves us. They even play with each other like buds. Besides it's a pecking order thing too. Even siblings don't get to do all of the same things. One might be too old, too young, too big or too small. What's sometimes fair in our minds is not always the same in a dogs mind. Now in their minds if you give one a treat and not the other...that's not fair lol! This is just my opinion on the subject maybe everyone doesn't agree.

It drives me bonkers about my couch, I bought it two years ago and it is starting to look like hell, it's suede and I even had it sprayed specially but that seems to have worn off now since I am always cleaning it it up from the bone residue they leave on it when they want to chew THEIR bones on MY couch lolol. Stormy is so small so she usually likes to lounge on the pillows so she's up even higher and the other dog likes to try laying on the couch as well but it gets cramped. I thought I would at least put a blanket down and give them a "spot". But I think I will go ahead and get a big comfy bed for the corner of the room next to the couch so maybe the other dog can lay on there. She likes to spread out alot and sure takes up space!

I joke about the bed that we will need a king size because sometimes my daughter sneaks in and I am running out of room with a big man next to me, a yorkie on my pillow and a bullie at my feet AND a toddler laying side ways just isn't that comfortable some nights :p

We are replacing all the carpets as we speak so it's easier to maintain with two dogs and I just washed all the couch cushions and dreading putting them on tonight.

Itis funny that you say that because we are in the same boat and will be upgrading to a King within the month...all because of the dogs!

As far as behavior rules all 4-legged creatures in my house are subject to the same regulations. :D

Because of the size difference between my Dobe and my Yorkies, for their safety, I do not allow them to run together. Play is fine but my Dobe knows that he is not allowed to run around with them so he will lay down and play that way.

When we go to the park, the Dobe gets to run off leash first with the Yorkies in my arms and then after he is on leash the little ones get their turn.

With a bigger dog all it takes is one mis-step to cause a potentially life-threatening injury to the little guys. Keeping this rule keeps everyone safe.

I know its a bit different from what the OP set out to find but just thought I'd share it with all of you that have major size differences between pets. Hope this helps!

I personally know reputable breeders that breed yorkies as well as dobes, though not together. A story was told to me by one such breeder about when her yorkie puppies had got out of their playing area, which created a major noise explosion at her house. What was to her amazement is that dobes kept them safely cornered so, that she could put the pups back in their safe zone. It's all in how you train and handle them.

That's funny about the floors because we are doing the same thing. No more carpet in my house with animals. All hard wood and tile. Easy to clean and less allergies! I've already ripped up all of the carpet and waiting for my new floors to be done. Taking DH a long time to get this job started!! :(

I love this story!

Dobes are amazing animals--beauty and brains all in one package. I am confident I will always be a Yorkie/Dobe household.

It really is all about how you raise them :)

Our "big" dog is still a pup so I am anal about play, because of the size difference it just takes one step or "play" bite to cause injury and I am a huge worry wart when it comes to Stormy after all that has went on with her. They play pretty good so far. As far as rules go they have the same ones but about the furniture is what I am having a difficulty with. lol I'm going to try some of the suggestions I've read and hopefully we can come to something both myself and hubby are comfortable with. The bullie is "his baby" and Stormy is my baby so we are both bumping heads when it comes to the comfort of our babies lol

We allow the little ones on the furniture by "invitation only" where we will pick them up to get up on/off of the couch to snuggle. For the Dobe, he gets a nice comfy doggie couch that he doesnt have to share with anyone--I think he prefers it that way. :D

This sites a bit pricey but it gives you an idea of the doggy luxuries out there (not to mention saves your couches from the assault of saliva, hair, mud and all other things dog :) Paisley Cedar Microvelvet Double Donut Dog Bed | Dog Couches | Orthopedic Dog Beds

I have a 110 pounder and two little ones. The little babies are allowed on the furniture, but Garrett is not. Lucky for us Garrett is sooo furry he doesn't want to be on the furniture as he gets too hot. He loves to come get hugs and pets from us when we are all relaxing on the couch. Some times we will sit on the floor with him too. He seems to get a kick out of that. But we do every thing for Garrett first, food, walks, in and out the door. This way the little ones don't get to thinking they are favored over him.

Congrats on the new dog. I missed the thread where you added him/her. I recall that you all were considering it. Glad all is going well.

I have a 40 lb English Cocker and Yorkies. The only different rule I have is Mazie, the English Cocker Spaniel, cannot sit on the Yorkies. Otherwise they sleep in the same spot on my bed, they all snuggle together on the couch, and they 'share' the dog food and water bowls.

I have to say that with all the dogs here, from 4# to 90# and everything in between: they all have the same rules. I could not have different rules for some and not the others. Sorry..that does seem unfair.

They seem to take turns on the bed with me. I never know which one I will wake up with. (or how many!) :D

Hummmmm, I've never thought of it as rules - it just seems that everyone - 2 and 4 legged alike have their own place. Boo the Boxer has more freedom than the Yorkies because she is allowed to come and go outside as she wishes -- we don't have a fence and Boo doesn't leave the yard. She is allowed on the white leather couches and recliner and in her younger day she slept with whomever she wanted to - now she sleeps with Earl or on the couch. At her advanced age (she is 13) he has to help her up and down.

Boo has always been better manenred and more polite than the Yorkie kids :D she has been the best baby sitter ever.


This is Chizzie's favorite sleeping place - and Boo's too but only one will fit at a time :D Attachment 279803

Boo at work babysitting Attachment 279804