Hi everyone, Orion has a habit that my partner and I disagree over and I would like some other opinions about it please. Orion is not allowed on the furniture never has been and we have no intention of letting him be either, he is pretty good about it and generally the only time he will hop on the couch is if he gets an attack of the zoomies and turns the house into a race track in which case the couch becomes a launching pad  
The "issue" is our nighttime routine, Orion and I generally have half and hour of quiet time before bed - I sit on the couch with a hot chocolate and a book and he gets his favorite soft toy. In the last month or so Orion has developed a habit of including me in his toy time - he sits by my feet with his butt on the ground and his front paws and head in my lap with his toy. At first I thought he was giving me the toy to play but he isn't he just likes to be there. More often than not he will fall asleep with his toy in his mouth and me petting his head.
I think its really quite sweet that he seems to want cuddles and he is not on the couch he is on me with his butt still on the ground so I don't have an issue with it but my partner is convinced that it is dominant behavior and he is trying to be "alpha" by sitting on me.
I don't really buy into the whole dominance thing but what do you guys think should I stop him from doing it?

Awwww sounds to me like he's just being lovey! I don't see this as a negative behavior at all. He just wants to be close to you.

I don't see that as a dominant behavior at all (regardless of whether or not that theory is accurate or not). It sounds like he's respecting the boundaries you've set, but still wants to be included in what you're doing.

He sounds super sweet!

That sounds so sweet! I don't see that as dominant behavior at all.

Not at all. Very adorable.

Definitely not dominance. Karli likes to share her toys with us too, she will sit with her head on my husband's back chewing on a toy. He just wants to share.

cinnamonbits wrote:

Definitely not dominance. Karli likes to share her toys with us too, she will sit with her head on my husband's back chewing on a toy. He just wants to share.

Gahh so I'm not the only one with a dog that does this? Link is driving me nuts, he will come over to my arm and chew on a toy right next to me. Such a weird one..

I agree with everyone else, doesn't sound like dominance to me.

I see no dominance there, if he would try to be on the couch it would be a different sotry. But it has to be clear if it is ok tha the does this or not.

How does he fall asleep like that and not tip over? Really sounds like affection to me.

it sounds like he just wants some time with you.

Bode does this too! He will constantly bring his toys to my lap to chew on. It's cute until it's a hard bone that digs into me...lol

Hooray I gave this post to my partner and he has conceded that Orion is just being a lovebug! I've never had a dog who share like he does but I am glad it seems to be a husky thing

Oh and Hughie - he doesn't fall over because he sits like a bunny does when then clean their face so he's not resting on his feet but on his actual butt   he's kind of odd...

Thanks everyone

My Eska does this as well she has free run of the house and furniture when we are home but she will bring a toy/ bone on the couch and naw it while sitting with us at night on the couch. I love the fact that she wants to be with us . I dont think it is dominance either.

Ah Puppy Velcro syndrome is what I call this. Okami has done this for a while now. I decided it was Velcro because I would move my foot around and she will follow my foot, lay back down and start chewing on the toy again. It is cute and annoying all at the same time. I don't really feel like there is a cure to this accept leading your dog away until they get the idea that you don't want them there during book time.

But in my opinion this is not bad behavior at all as said above they are respecting your rules by staying on the floor but they want lovins too.

That sounds sweet :-) I wish Nanook was a cuddle bug but he only cuddles with my 12 year old daughter. Sometimes I think he doesn't care for me at all, until he wants fed or walked...then I am his best friend.