Jumping on and off couch?
 

My guy is almost a year old and he is 4 1/2 pounds. He has started jumping on and off the couch. I don't mind it at all, but I don't want to let him do it if maybe it might cause some joint problems down the line. We also live in a condo on the third floor and he goes up and down the stairs no problem. Is this all good for him? Any opinions would be appreciated!

I couldn't say without a doubt, but I think it's perfectly fine. He's a dog!!! I couldn't keep my yorkie from jumping up and down from the couch if I tried! If you're that concerned about it you could always get a ramp or doggie steps.

yeah, I agree. I have a small yorkie too. He's 1 1/2 yrs and also just 4.5 lbs. I live on the second floor and he always runs up and down the stairs at least 3 times a day, and he jumps on every soft piece of furniture in the house. he even jumps off our bed which is really high (that's the only think i worry about cause i don't want him to break anything if he lands wrong). But as far as just jumping on and off the couch, i don't think that will affect him until he gets much older, and as they age, their bones get weak reguardless how playful they were when they were young. to sum it up, I don't think you have anything to worry about! :animal36

yeah, I agree. I have a small yorkie too. He's 1 1/2 yrs and also just 4.5 lbs. I live on the second floor and he always runs up and down the stairs at least 3 times a day, and he jumps on every soft piece of furniture in the house. he even jumps off our bed which is really high (that's the only think i worry about cause i don't want him to break anything if he lands wrong). But as far as just jumping on and off the couch, i don't think that will affect him until he gets much older, and as they age, their bones get weak reguardless how playful they were when they were young. to sum it up, I don't think you have anything to worry about! :animal36

well i think i disagree... i think that all the jumping over the years will lead to injury. We have a lazy boy couch and we put the kicker out... if we put it out slowly it will stay halfway up and layla uses them as a ramp.. the stairs on the other hand. i woudln't worry about those... it is SO hard keeping these little guys still!!

The jumping down all the time can put stress on the joints that can cause arthritis over time. It's best to just put those little stairs by the couch. Someone posted a site that has two sets of steps for only $19.00.

Does anyone know what site that is? Thanks.

I stack a couple of pillows beside the couch for Hannah to use. She only weighs 2.8 lbs and is 4 1/2 months old. I don't know what else to do, if I don't have the pillows there she will jump off onto the floor and I am afraid she will hurt herself.

Lola doesn't get on the couch, and I hope it stays that way. Mia, my chihuahua, spends most of her day there though and jumps off all the time. It bothers me because we have wood floors, so I know it's not a soft landing. I thought about the steps, but then I would have to get a set for every chair and couch we have. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that Lola never figures it out. ;)

We have 3 sets of steps for Rex & Rowdy - one at our bed, one at the couch and one at the recliner where my hubby sits.

Do they ALWAYS use them - no - but they do use them alot, so it is helping some to combat the wear and tear on their legs.

Also, Rowdy has a bad habit of jumping off the arm of the couch - he sits up there to watch outside and when he sees somthing he jumps down to run outside (we have a doggy door). So, I put a pillow on the floor where he jumps so he has something soft to land on because short of moving the couch - I can't stop him.

Thanks for the responses!!:)

Id have to agree! They ARE dogs!! :D much as we don't admit it! :D My boys jump off or on EVERYTHING they can! My bigger one jumps off the BAcK of the couch (about 3ft from the TILE floor) ALL THE TIME!!! I mean 20x a day sometimes! I tried & tried & tried EVERYTHING to get him to stop... he won't!! I worry about him landing wrong and breaking something, but I can't stop him from doing it. As for the stairs, they go up & down stairs 50x a day! no problems at all. My little guy is 4.5lbs... he jumps on & off the bed which is high, sometimes he'll use the bench at the end of of the bed which is lower, but sometimes not. He goes up & down stairs all day long following me and we have no problems! He usually does not jump off the back of the couch, but once in a blue moon he does! I just am there to watch all the time. They do not have free run of the house when Im not home. So they only do the jumping in my presense... so if anything (god forbid) does happen I can take them to the vet immediately! I wish they would not jump off the back of the couch, but I can't worry about it all the time, they wont stop, over a year Ive tried stairs, ramps made from pillows, Ive tried rerouting him mid-air so its from the front of the couch (1ft off the floor vs 3 ft) but nothing works! ive scolded, given treats when he does the right way... but he wants to jump! so I just now pray and hope that nothing happens to his legs!

positive thinking on my part I guess... if I dont worry about it too much, nothing bad will happen! :xfingers: :xfingers: :xfingers: