Your dog has lots of energy and he has been anticipating your return all day. Seeing you sit on the couch and stare at a talking box (the TV) can make him feel like he's not acknowledged. His muscles are full of energy, and his mind is eager to do something.
When you allow your dog on your sofa or bed, instinct tells them they are equal or above their humans in the pack hierarchy. For some dogs, this can lead to territorial behavior. In fact, many pet owners encounter dogs that growl and snap when they're moved off the sofa.
Sitting in your spot when you get up shows your dog's affection for you, but the chosen spot comes back to the master with no unwanted behavior. Your dog may also feel the need to protect you and sitting in your spot gives him the edge over the other animals in the household.
Generally, this behavior is a result of your dog trying to get attention or another need met. If your dog is barking at you excessively, ignore your dog's barking and reward what you do want – the quiet moments between barking, engaging with toys etc. When your dog stops barking, praise and reward your dog.
Guarding people, places and things is normal for dogs (and for most people!) and growling is a dog's way of giving a warning. The aggressive display may stop with a growl (especially if the perceived threat goes away) or it may be a precursor to snapping and biting.
Best case scenario if you growl at your dog — you'll get his attention because you've made a novel noise. Worst case scenario – you'll get bitten in the face. I used another example to illustrate the fact that growling at your dog is not only silly, but dangerous advice.
Your dog's barking when you sit on the couch can be because he is trying to tell you that he is hungry or his water bowl is empty, or maybe he needs to be taken outside to potty. It could also be that your dog is bored and understimulated, which brings us to the next type of barking.
A popular method of curtailing excessive barking is teaching the “quiet” command. Use a calm, firm voice to tell your dog to be “quiet” and positively reinforce correct behavior with treats and affection.
As People Magazine reports: Based on the numbers gathered from Furbo users, Samoyed dogs bark the most, often up 52.8 times every day. The second chattiest canine, the Yorkshire Terrier, doesn't come close to the Samoyed's record… the little dogs bark about 23.6 times a day.
Although dogs can't identify themselves in the mirror, they still have some level of self-awareness and ace other self-recognition tests. They can recognize their own odor, and recall memories of specific events, Earth.com reports.
They know the places in and around the house you use often. Sitting in your spot is a way of protecting your territory, as well. Think of this behavior as your dog saving your place so that you can come back to it later.
If you are trying to get your dog to face you when approaching and it turns slightly away from you or seems to ignore you as it approaches, your dog may be communicating strong discomfort with you. A dog facing you head on and making eye contact with you is a display of dominance, especially if teeth are bared.
In general, letting your dog on the furniture is unlikely to cause problems, behavioral or otherwise. Dogs love to curl up on the sofa, the bed, and anywhere else that's nice and soft. They also like to spend time in their humans' favorite spots.
For a dog who is acting out of fear or frustration (for example, a dog who is barking and lunging on leash), using the word 'no' to stop the behavior without helping to alleviate their fear or frustration will often lead to an escalation in behavior, such as growling, air snapping, or biting.
Dogs love to be in places where they feel safe, comfortable, and loved. They also love to be where their owners are. Dogs know that the couch and all furniture are reserved for humans and they also know that humans find those items sacred and comfortable.
A dog whistle can be used in a variety of different ways. It is most commonly paired with recall training, as it is more distinct and discreet than a human's voice. However, the dog whistle can be used to stop barking, train basic obedience, or even modify specific behaviors.
Leaving Your Dog Alone Is Not The Answer
A common myth surrounding separation anxiety is that by somehow ignoring your dog, or by forcing them to be alone for long periods of time, they simply will get used to it, and the disruptive behavior will stop. This couldn't be further from the truth.
Don't Encourage Excitement
He'll learn that being excited gets a reward, so he'll keep doing it. The best way to react to an excited dog is to ignore her. Use no touch, no talk, no eye contact. If she tries to jump on you, turn the other way or push her back down.
Reed says, “When a dog respects you, they will respect your space, listen and respond when you ask them to do something.” This also means they aren't constantly pestering you for attention. Respectful behaviors include: Coming when called (and not jumping up on you) Relaxing when you are otherwise occupied.
If the aggression is motivated by fear, punishment will only make the dog more fearful, and therefore more aggressive. Attempting to punish a pushy or controlling dog is likely to make his behavior even worse. In either case, the dog and owner end up in a vicious cycle of escalating aggression.