Dog Health Questions: About the "No Free Lunch" dog training...?

I've become more and more interested in this method as I have an unruly boston terrier who I'd like to work through the program with. She's an older rescue (6 years but acts 1 year old), but the program seems to work equally well for older and younger dogs.

My question is this...how serious do I need to be about the 'no high places' rule. She loves to lie on the back of the couch and sun herself to sleep. This occurs when I'm not on the couch so it isn't as if she's trying to disrupt my sitting arrangement. It's just a fave perch for her. If told to 'off' she moves with out problem. Should I make her give up this spot, or is this referring only to dominance posturing on furniture?

If anyone's interested the main reason I want to work with her through the program is her insistence to play when SHE wants to. I want to be able to ask her to play when I want to throw the ball, not when she whines and asks to play. Also, she tends to greet people in an inappropriate way (jumps and wants to lick). I know she's a hyper boston, but I'm not OK with her jumping and licking. My other dog does not get to do that so neither should she.

I have a feeling she was pretty much able to do whatever she wanted at her old house, so we have our work cut out for us. I was using conventional training when I came across this method. She already knows sit, stay, off and come. I've had her for 2 months now.

Thanks for your advice.

Train Your Dog - Don't Let Your Dog Train You

Recommended Answer:
The spot on the couch won't make that much difference. What you are after, is the overall attitude that this program instills. Just tell her it is OK to get on the couch back, or pick her up and put her there, so she knows she is doing it with your blessing, rather than stealing the opportunity .

The whole idea of the program, is that your dog sees YOU as the source of all happiness. You can allow your dog on the couch, and still be the 'source'

Find Out How To Choose The Best Dog Training Program For Your Dog

• IMO, if she gets off with no problems whatsoever when you tell her to, she's not being pushy in any way when she's up there, then there's no problem letting her sun herself on the couch. Think of it as a reward for her for learning to behave more appropriately.
  
  You haven't had her very long, and this really doesn't sound like a dominant dog, simply an untrained one, and you're turning that around. NILIF (nothing in life is free) doesn't mean the dog doesn't get anything it wants, just on your terms.


• It takes time... Be patient.bl