Edited above to reflect the original posting source. ;-)

Chairs, sofas, tables, bathroom sinks...they can be everywhere : )

Situation is similar to the photo. The dog, who weighs 65 lbs, is not allowed on the furniture. The cats pretty much do what they want, except when the adults are eating at the table.

If my animals aren't comfortable, I'm not comfortable. If they want to mummify me in the bed at night so be it. They're always doing something funny. They're half the reason I smile every day. This is Yoohoo (male dog) and Valentine (female cat). I was adding streamers to the flag and V decided it would be the perfect place to sleep. I didn't have the heart to move her.

Many of my clients feel their pets are part of the family - I do, too! so we simply recommend pet friendly furnishings! Everyone is happy! Also, I once had a dog trainer tell me that the dogs can have one piece of furniture to lay on - it doesn't mean they can lay on everything. I've found this to be true - my own dogs know which is their "spot" and what is off limits. They seem to enjoy having a special spot!

No. I love my dog, but furniture is off limits.

So many of my clients have pets and they are like children to them. Instead of fighting the issue I use pet friendly, acrylic fabric that is almost indestructible and carpet tiles that can be taken up where the dirt or boo boo is and hosed off! www.judydixoninteriors.com

Many prefer to keep dogs and cats off furniture to protect the longevity of the investment. We suggest purchasing a pet bed that actually looks like a piece of furniture.

My Irish Wolfhound mentioned in a comment above (August 22, 2015) is now 180 pounds, 36 inches at the shoulder (this means his shoulder is the height of your kitchen counter). King bed is for husband and me between 1am and 7am only. The sofa we had "died" and he still won't use the Big Barker bed we bought. We still love him.

People do not sit on furniture with their bare bottoms. Dogs do. The idea of sitting on furniture that is covered with traces of dog feces is not only unappealing and disrespectful to the friends and family you wish to have over; it is unhealthy. Dog feces has about twenty times the pathogens and parasites of human feces. I do not look forward to visiting friends who let their dogs sit on their furniture. I think of their homes as a large sheet of canine toilet paper.

Yes they are.

Of course they are allowed if you don't allow them, then don't have pets, simple as that

please note this is a 2 year old poll. now on to the fun! lol wait for it...... wait for it.....

Mine is!!! She's a miniature schnauzer!

A family member of mine currently has this hanging in their house. I think it sums this up nicely.

Of course they use the furniture, they live here. To not allow pets on your furniture just seems nuts to me. I have Great Danes and they have their own sofas but they can also share mine. They used to sleep in the bed with me when I had a king size but now they sleep on their own beds because I downsized to a queen. My cats have a lot of their own furniture but are also allowed on mine. The only place they are not allowed is on kitchen counters. Pets deserve to live in your house and share it with you or else you should just have livestock or no animals at all.

ok, i try to be good, but now the nay sayers really have me interested, so this expiring mind wishes to know. do you think you get all of the 6-8"% of the food that has no bug bits in it? you have managed to never have a fly, mosquito or other bug in your home? you do not wash your dogs private parts? your home never becomes dusty? you make your own water? you never smell anything bad? all these things involve, bits of dirt, living things, germs etc.

so the question remains, is it that you know who is doing it? or the size of the one doing it? if so, you do realize that the entire universe passes through your home at some point. imagine, you may be breathing in alien butt matter! lol

ok, iwas truly not trying to pick every one or be mean, i truly wish to know! am i the only who thinks all the other stuff is the elephant in the room?

I've been reading a bunch of these, "Are pets allowed on the furniture" polls, and it's really saddening when an inanimate object becomes more important than a sentient being.

Come on, people. What's more important? Your pretty white couch or that cute puppy dog face that loves you more than life itself? Remember, you are your dogs entire world, but they are only a part of yours. Treat them better.

And I don't want to read any nonsense about alpha aggressive behavior simply because you let your dog on the couch or bed. If your dog has aggression issues, it's your fault, and it has nothing to do with allowing him to cuddle with you. I have twelve books on the subject.

Remember, aggression just breeds aggression.

Are you talking theory or practice?

I wish I would have trained my dog to stay off the couch. As a puppy she refused to sleep on her dog bed and I gave in... Now 5 years later I have to replace my custom sofa. Im ok with her sleeping on the foot of my bed, but I think there should be boundaries.

There are an abundance of gorgeous, heavy duty fabric selections to choose from these days! With the use of these fabrics on upholstered furniture, pets and children alike can be themselves without ruining anything! We are happy to share our textile knowledge with anyone that is anxious to learn more!

Only my 7lb poodle and only because she doesn't shed and only because she waits to be put up or down, she is very polite :-). Never ever would I let a shedding dog on my furniture!

skoosh (above), rah-rah! I couldn't agree MORE, and your clarity is applauded. "...it's really saddening when an inanimate object becomes more important than a sentient being."

The grim reality is, this is yet another 'reason,' in the innumerable lists of 'reasons' (i.e. excuses) that rescue orgs, shelters & others in animal welfare continually hear, about why so many animals are abandoned, returned or otherwise "gotten rid of," or even worse (beaten, tortured, killed, etc.). Sorry folks, but those are the hard, gruesome facts.

With such 'reasoning,' anyone who for whatever reason is losing their hair, or leaves their oily residue on furniture or bedclothes, or is incontinent, or what-have-you, should also be made to sit on the floor instead, or not be allowed in a bed. Like certain spouses, aging folks, or those who are ill, for instance...

I suppose, so much for the supposed ingenuity or creativity of humans to rise to the occasion and learn what they need to, or use or invent ways of keeping things clean, or commit to the happiness and well-being of those who should be nonhuman FAMILY members!

There is nothing I wouldn't give to be able to once again be able to snuggle my dearly departed (feline) furkids throughout the day or night, or see to THEIR comfort, wherever I might be situated...in what was OUR collective Home. True bliss, and our furniture was just a means to irreplaceable moments. I will forever MISS finding their fur here and there...

Always allowed on furniture at our home and also my parents home. I was raised in a home where dogs and cats we're considered to be more our siblings than they were our pets. We all feel that they are our children, we love them just as much.

Photo taken at my parents summer house. The Golden Retriever is my parents fur baby, and the Maltese is ours, the headless man is my husband.

Like the sign says,

"Dogs Welcome, People Tolerated" ...

love the sign artsy.

I would like to interject one thing. I am in the group where my fur babies are more important than stuff, but i was raised where dogs and cats stayed out of doors until my mom got a really tiny one under 10 lbs. and the same was true of most if not all neighbors and friends. My husband and son and I used to bring home abandoned dogs, cats seemed to find their own way. Then we would find them homes, or their owner would find us. There were a couple times i would have to remind them that if the people clearly missed them and the dog or cat clearly love their owner, then they went home, even if their home was not our standards, like barn cats, etc. I believe that our adoption agencies often over protect pets too. they would rather put them to sleep than have them go to a less than perfect home. so whereas, I do not get your points, I applaud your willingness to adopt. I am sure that you love your pet in a way that is suitable to you. thank you all who open their homes.

More signs I like,

"My dog is not a pet, My dog is Family."

"The more people I meet, the more I love my Dog."

"A house is not a home without a dog."

"What a beautiful world it would be if people had hearts like dogs."

"Those who teach humanity are not always humans."

"if our dog doesn't like you we probably won't either."

"Never trust a person who doesn't love dogs."

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of ones soul remains awakened."

Of course they are, it"s awesome!

To artsyphartsy's list I would add, "God, make me the kind of person my dog thinks I am."

Good one detailaddict!

I forgot to add that one but know it well!

detail, i think i would like to be better than that person.

I love my pets but I dont let them on the furniture. Of course, with cats, you cant keep them on the ground when you leave home but they know not to do it in front of us. They're family but they're also stinky

.

I am a huge animal lover and have had dogs all my life. However, they do not wipe their asses. I wouldn't allow a human to sit on my couch naked after a poop, so my dog can't either.

I think here is the thing, and i hate thinking this deep about this topic. I know pretty much everything that goes in that mouth and out that butt. This is something i do not know about the average human- you are taking a wild chance that they did not eat live roaches and hiv tea for lunch and that they actually have washed their hands in the last decade, etc, etc. after that? sharing my couch for my overgrown fuzzy baby, does not seem so big?

sarahmac98, call me crazy but I wipe my Malteses butt after he poops {he is my fur baby after all}, we have 'Tushie Wipes' from the pet store just for that. I also keep them in my bag when we go out somewhere with him too so he is always clean. He is so tiny and so is his _ _ _, that it's very easy to do that once a day. So there are no 'skid marks' on our furniture lol!

every night i cuddle with my rottwheiler on my bed( I clean the sheets and covers a little more often but she isn't that dirty) however she's not allowed on the couch because we don't have room for a dining table to eat at...

I find this article interesting and am posting it because, in my experience as a mother and teacher, I find it right on. Children who live in a house with either a dog or cat are healthier than children who do not have a pet.

What you allow, after giving a home to a sweet animal, is up to you. Right now I would relish my rescue to jump up with me and watch t v. But, he is still learning to trust. We love him! Isn’t he adorable? He is “the devil in disguise”.

I can say that neither my pup or kitty ever spilled red wine or dripped cheese dip on the sofa (although Ollie did chew on the sofa leg).

http://healthland.time.com/2012/07/09/study-why-dogs-and-cats-make-babies-healthier/

artsyphartsy_home_maker…baby wipes will work, too. Get the ones that are flushable.

adorbs and congrats JudyG!

How could I not with that face?! :-)

my lab puppy turns out to be quite the snuggler

I voted No. But the answer is no, it's not a free for all. We have a special blanket that we use and he is allowed to come up when that blanket is laid out. He always waits for his invitation before jumping up. We started this when the kids were young and it's worked really well for us.

JudyG Designs, Thanks for the suggestion about the baby wipes! Those are probably much cheaper than the pet ones that we use on our fur baby & I'd be happy to save some penny's if possible. I make sure there are no oils, or fragrance, chemicals or other irritants in whatever I will use on him.

Hysterical! I love this poll! YES YES - I have loved dogs my whole life and they make my life whole... we just started remodeling and have them in mind every step of the way. Here is Angelina spreading out on the sectional and Baci snuggling with Daddy under the blanket!

My dog is welcome on the bed, but knows to wait for me to spread the 'dogsheet' over it before jumping up... It keeps the bedding clean and hair-free. Now, the brand new cream colored couch is another matter... Not sure how she knows she's not allowed on the couch- we've never had a discussion about that- but she knows!

Judi M --I love your photos! The second one is hilarious! That is one loved pooch, I can tell!

I am allergic to many things, i use baby wipes for many things, i even take 2 cover my swiffer and wet wipe my floors.

@artsyphartsy_home_maker Thank you so, so much!!!! :-D