sitting on the floor with puppy

[kelking]

hiya ive read quite a few posts saying you shouldnt sit on the floor with your puppy as it brings you down to his/her level

i get down on the floor with both my dogs 7yr female 9m male for a cuddle and have no problems
if my family and i are playing a game again we are all on the floor with the dogs laying watching us is this really a bad thing?
what are peoples thoughts on this?
or does it depend on the dog?

[SABELLESMOM]

Not sit on the floor with a puppy? How would the poor thing get any attention? How would you play with him/her? I've been on the floor. They've been on the couch, and sleep on my bed. If I want to stretch out on the couch, I tell them "Off, please."

They never get on couches when there is company, or at someone else's home. I'm a strong personality. I'm fair and kind. I never even raise my voice, but I allow no nonsense. Nieghbor's chuckle when They hear me say, "I don't recall giving either of you permission to bark. Please stop." There is no mistake in my dog's minds as to who's the boss.

I've heard of not "getting down on their level" if you have a dog who challenges your authotrity. Still that would be an older dog. It works better with children, too. Perhaps you could take the time to empower any children thru feeding tasks, and invloving them in the training process, too.

I think it depends on you. Your training and ability to assert yourself in a fair and equitable manner. Temperament? Yes that would be a factor, too. Some are well enough temperamented and balanced but more "unruly" shall we say? I've had those too, and I didn't have to stay off the floor.

[lblax]

get on the floor let them crawl on ya wrestlte with them play tug have fun there only a puppy a short while. any dog of proper tempoermant and that has been raised fairly will be fine regardless how you decide to play with it

[Weily4Life]

We get down on the floors with our Rotties when they are calm submissive. If there attitude changes for some reason we get up and ignore them. They know who the alpha is in our house - shared role with DH.

Also, for grooming purposes it is much easier to be on the floor with them.

[ck85abc3]

Continue to sit on the floor with the puppy, unless you notice it causes bad behavior.

[Zumie05]

I love getting on the floor with my puppy, especially if it's for a belly rub. He will be laying on his back with his full belly exposed making that cute bat face at me and I sit down with my legs stretched out so his head and body are cuddled in between my legs.

We enjoy it!

[kelking]

yeah boomer does the bat face also ha

[JaniceH]

I was on the floor with Teazle as a puppy and still am 4 1/2 years later !!!!!!!

[SABELLESMOM]

Originally Posted by JaniceH

I was on the floor with Teazle as a puppy and still am 4 1/2 years later !!!!!!!

Me too! Sable is going to be 7 and Rave will be 4! I still get on the floor with them. They enjoy it and so do I. I never had any undesirable behaviors. They were taught correctly when they were small.

[RottieGirl86]

imo - Alpha is a state of mind, not location.

wait until you get to the 'tug of war' question! Oiy! hehee.