What are your house rules for pets?
Do you have pets in your home? Then you probably also have a few rules you teach them (or try to teach them) to adhere to. For example, it could be no jumping on the sofa unless invited – or is it no jumping on the sofa at all? Or perhaps pets are only allowed into one part of the house? Or at the other extreme, perhaps they sleep in your bedroom... or on your bed? Do they wee in your garden, in just one part of it or not at all?
And what kind of pet is it? Share your house rules and – if you'd like to – a photo of your pet, too.
Comments (62)
Jane Bateman
6 years ago
Danielle H
6 years agoThis is my little rescue dog Harry. I customised an Ikea dolls bed for him but he still insists on sleeping on my bed. I ended up bringing his bed downstairs and he will use it but much prefers sitting on the sofa with me. He is a bit of a velcro dog! Other than his need to be close to me he is no trouble and I can't complain as he takes up no space at all... and is like a little hot water bottle in winter!
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Comments (10)Decent sized bedrooms are good at any age - as younger children size is useful to accommodate toys and as teenagers they’re more likely to spend more time in their rooms so perhaps making them large enough for a small seating area as well would be good. Similarly, a separate ‘living’ space downstairs is also useful as a play room when they’re younger & somewhere for relaxing / games room when they’re older. We’re not keen on our children having the x box in their rooms do having an extra space downstairs for that is useful. A laundry room or utility is useful for all the extra washing children create to avoid having it all around the house on wet days. Garden size possibly depends on amenities close to you (parks, etc) but personally feel that as large a garden as possible really helps with primary age children. We chose our current house partly because of the garden size & style - plenty of lawned area. Our last garden was tiered with decks & patios - great for adult socialising but nowhere big enough to kick a ball. Bathrooms - a bath in at least one with shower over (or shower attachment) for hosing children down if necessary!...See More
D Jacobs
6 years agoWell my Lili gets to sleep on the bed because the wife insists (although it's not been great for our sex life that's for sure). We still have expensive velvet light grey sofas, but we put a throw on for her as you can see and she loves snoozing there. When we need to get formal or have guests over, we simply quickly hide the throw under the sofa. The biggest issue is we always wanted light white carpets, but as she sometimes brings in mud from the garden we bought a carpet made from polypropylene (carpet technology has matured in last five years considerably nowadays so it looks similar to silk) bought just because of the dog. It's easy to look after now, all it needs is a quick steam clean monthly. Can even be part bleached cleaned if need be but had no need yet. We actually pay a guy to come round once a month for £30 a time (discounted due to regular job) and carpet looks brand new every time.
Jan Price
6 years agoThis is Ralph. My darling cockapoo. He isn't allowed on the bed but loves to sleep in it. He is allowed anywhere in the house. He's family.
Jan Price
6 years agoCouldn't resist another pic of Ralph. Here he is chilling on the sofa. I don't think he's allowed on there either. There are no rules in Ralph's world. He doesn't like them. He's a brilliant dog though and makes me laugh every day. Every home should have one.
jojones484
6 years agojojones484
6 years agojojones484
6 years agoDanielle H
6 years agojojones484
6 years agojojones484
6 years agoDanielle H
6 years ago
tezz4
6 years ago
rachelmidlands
6 years agoOur 2 yr old Dyson, so called because he used lick all the food crumbs when he was a pup. You won't find any food crumbs in our house, plenty of dog hair but no crumbs. He has free reign in the house and will happily sit in your seat if you move to get a cuppa. You need a crowbar to shift him if he's in your seat, he can be stubborn as a mule and as heavy as one as well. Black leather sofas essential for black dog! Tries to sleep on our bed but has accepted the fact that he's not the size of a chihuahua so he sleeps on his own bed next to ours. Should have called him shadow, he follows me everywhere. Could we do without him? Never! He's part of the family. Just wish he'd stop chasing our rather senile old cat Benny.
PROJulie Sinclair Interiors
6 years agoMonty and Gus have the run of the house as they're indoor cats. They're well behaved so no rules except they're not allowed on kitchen counters (sometimes cheekily ignored by Monty!) and they SERIOUSLY need to stop using the stair carpet as a scratch post.
Stephen Edwards
6 years agoI have rules for the dogs, the problem is that they don't always play by the rules. They are not allowed in bedrooms or on beds, I do enforce this rule, but they do try to sneak in rooms if the doors aren't locked.
The, not allowed on sofa, rule is consistently ignored
well it is by three of them.
Leah Rumble
6 years agorosebud1969
6 years agoDon't climb on the chaise and scratch the sill in my bedroom is constantly ignored! Being a Welsh Border Collie, Honey is a fidget pants and obsessed with playing with a ball. Pretty obedient unless there are kids playing with a football in the park. She 'joins in' with their game and usually scores or saves a goal - which stops the kids being mad at her for sabotaging their game!
cavgirl
6 years agoI’ve just lost my older dog (Holly, the black & tan) but the younger is adjusting and I think having the same routines/rules helps. For both of us!
She’s got the run of the kitchen now it’s impossible for her to get on the worktop. She comes into the living room by invitation and my leather sofa is covered with fleeces and a soft bed/mat. She’s not allowed upstairs and sleeps in her crate which is locked at night. Beyond that she’s spoilt rotten!
Norren Bird
6 years ago
glendevon
6 years agoThe only rule is that Lucy the toy poodle is part of everything we do, here enjoying sitting on the garden furniture for a BBQ.
patoliver9
6 years agoMolly is a member of our family. She is well behaved at the table, no begging or whining and is never fed (well hardly ever) from the table. She does, howeverl, have the run of the house and can often be found sleeping on our bed, having made a nest of the pillows.
Her job is to catch rats (we also live in the country) and is a treasure.
Maddy
6 years ago
The rules are the usual.
1. Cats decide the rules
2. Humans adhere to rules
3. If in doubt always apply rule 1....
Tani H-S
6 years agoThese two trouble makers aren't allowed upstairs (or in our beds!) and have the run of the dining kitchen only. They are allowed in the lounge at night for sofa time with us (which is shut off in the day anyway) but the moulting , it just gets everywhere. Plus with the Pug's eye boogers, I just can't face having twice as much house to clean if I have them free reign
PROAmber Jeavons Ltd
6 years agoThere's Bob,
She's 18... She leaves hair, the occasional flea, hair balls, sicky, she's taken to pooing in the flat (in a litter tray) it's no dump here you know! ... She sleeps on the bed, my pillow, the sofa, the floor, the chairs.. the garden... She sits at the table and taps you repeatedly (at intervals) on the arm to let you know your dinner is more exciting than hers...Pfffff! She has tuna, chicken, chorizo, cod, beef, smoked trout, scrambled eggs, cheese, yogurt and she loves several bits of pain aux rasin or croissant for breakfast...........Or toast and marmite...... Kippers.... Sardines.............................. Mackerel.... : ) )
Jan Albers
6 years ago
Sharon Daly
6 years agoNo dogs on sofas or beds - ever! they have their own beds in our kitchen and if they are given a biscuit/chew they take them to separate beds. Most of the time they curl up together on one bed but at night always separate beds. They have a huge outdoor kennel and Rafa (the boss) wouldn't let Louis in at night so we had to buy a separate kennel for him. They come into the lounge with us in the evening but only if they are clean! When outside though - Rafa loves his bench! Louis has never, ever tried to get on there!
Jan Albers
6 years agojackiebremner
6 years agoI have 3 Jack Russell's. It's as much their home as mine. they go to their beds when we are eating. the brand new velour chesterfield is constantly covered (Not a sensible purchase with three dogs).
Patrina
6 years ago
Sara Foster
6 years agoThis is ted the cockatoo and there are no rules really. He's one of the family and we love him to bits !
Sara Foster
6 years ago
PROFusion interior design
6 years ago
PROAndrea Sartori Ltd
6 years ago- PRO
Andrea Sartori Ltd
6 years ago sam_sherrard
6 years agoMy greyhound doesn't like going on sofas for some reason, so the only rule for her is to stay away from the table when we are eating.
Tim Summers
6 years agoDog sofa in the conservatory is the only one that she can go on, the ones in the living room are out of bounds. Other than that, there are no rules really apart from no jumping up when people come through the door.
Michelle S
6 years agoChrista Taylor
3 years agoKerry Brunton
3 years agoI’ve never managed to keep my two dogs off the sofa but they aren’t allowed on the beds. Then they sleep downstairs in the kitchen at night, get fed after all the family has finished eating and I don’t allow them into the kids bedrooms.
Mary Ketchley
3 years agoOh dear. We have very few rules. I think the only one is that the dog can’t sleep on my bed when I’m sleeping in it. I just think of him as being one of the family, like a very hairy toddler 😂.
Jane Robertson
3 years agoHouse rules for my Jack Russell, keep off the bed, sofa too, oh and don’t wee on the rotary.
Richard L
3 years agoG M
3 years ago
Sonia
3 years ago
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