What does one do when one's German Shepherd wants to be a Shih-Tzu in one's lap?

[Stinky The Clown]

Our GSD is a size XXL. Most GSDs are 75, maybe 80 lbs. Last weigh-in, ours was 99, tall and thin. She is just plain BIG - hence her nickname.

Our Shih-Tzu spends a great deal of her day on the sofa or in a lap. The GSD is nothing if not observant. She has figured out that the Shih-Tzu now owns Sparkly's lap, and more to the point, life in a human lap is a good thing. Ear scratches, hair combing, and coo-cooing baby talk.

For the first time in her life, the GSD is attempting to crawl up on my lap. The funny thing is, she has no idea how to do it. What I get, instead of her whole self, is her head. She stands next to me while I'm sitting and lays her head in my lap.

"Awwwwww. How cute!" says Sparkly, her Living Lap Blanket in place, as she observes Big, head in my lap, making a low moaning sound.

But the thing is, her head isn't just on my lap, the dog is PRESSING it into my lap. Her head feels like it weighs 50 lbs. Every now and then she also puts her paw in my lap, by her head.

I know damned well she's working up to her whole big self in my lap.

I know it.

[jtuck004]

1. Let her.

Our Anatolian (130 lbs or so) decided, after watching the 60 lb terrier mix fly into my lap that she deserved as much of the good life as well, and one day she dang near killed us both.

So now I make sure things are clear and make it easy for her to get up there. There is only room for her head, but as she lays there her belly becomes magically exposed for additional scritches.

[ginnyinWI]

2. Is she cold and trying to soak in some body heat?

That's when my cats seem to all want to be on my lap at once...

[Stinky The Clown]

5. No, quite the opposite, really.

All three of our dogs like the cold. The Border Collie will lay out on a cold, rainy day, in the rain, luxuriating as if it were a sunny day at the beach. The Shih-Tzu and the GSD also love cold weather. The GSD is especially fond of burrowing in snow and laying, all covered, beneath the surface.

All three get lethargic in really hot weather.

[TorchTheWitch]

3. be glad it isn't her butt, haha!

You know that's next though, eh? Clever tricksters they are.

[99Forever]

4. Nakita has too..

.. good of manners to try the lap thing, at 92lbs I'm glad. She just gets up close next to me, sometimes lays her head in my lap. Very pleasant. Sadie Mae, at 64lbs, is already longer and taller (and growing even more every day) but isn't so much of a "snugly" GSD. It may change as she matures, I guess we'll see.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

6. You can only hope that she doesn't decide that the best way to get on your lap

is by jumping up on it. Maybe she can be convinced that lying next to you on the couch, head in your lap, is better.

[Irishonly]

7. LOL Your dog must know ours

Ranger is 110 pounds and is lean. He likes putting his head on your lap or standing over you when you sit.

[get the red out]

9. I wish I could get my 30 lb dog on my lap

She will lay beside me for scratches and belly rubs, but doesn't want to be in my lap .

Now my friend's GSD tries to get his big self on my lap when I'm over there (it doesn't work well, LOL), then my little BC or Aussie Mix (whatever she is mutt) will get sick of rolling around with him and get on my lap, at long last!

[Zoigal]

10. Lucky You

Skye, the hundred pound hound, just lies on the couch with her
head in my lap (occasionally). Just baby sat daughter's Aussie for a couple of weeks and he loved to get into my lap (well, as much of him that would fit). All three of my hounds have had somewhat different personalities. Razz loved to stand beside me and lean; Belle's favourite was snuggling as close as she could while i was in bed, and Skye is quite reserved, period. She spent most of her early life in a kennel unfortunately. Enjoy those cuddles....z

[Stinky The Clown]

11. There is a significant back story on our GSD . . . .

She was gotten as a puppy as soon as it was proper to take her from her mother. StinkyJr2 rode with his friend to get her. She was the friend and his wife's dog, but rode in my son's lap on that trip. Given they were all close friends, he saw the dog often and the bond of that trip remained.

At her new home, she became the wife's pet. Sadly, the wife got a virulent cancer at age 24. It eventually killed her. In her worst times, sick from chemo and radiation, she got enormous comfort from laying on the couch during the day with the dog.

After she died, her husband went off the deep end, with drugs and alcohol. Really deep end. Very tragic story. Ultimately, he couldn't keep the dog any longer. My son and his wife took her. She lived there until they left to move to another area and had to get an apartment instead of their own house as they had here.

They broke the dog quickly of her propensity to jump up in greeting and to get on furniture.

When we took her in, she was a "floor" dog with almost no transgressions. Now she's back to wanting to get up again.

Between you, me, and the lamppost, I would be happy to have her up on the couch with me. She's a sweet, gentle, loving soul. Sparkly, on the other hand, is happy with her doggie double standards.

The downside is that if we let her up, then the alpha, our Border Collie, will be up there, too. She has a history of such actions and is often getting busted on one bed or another.

Lastly, the Shih-Tzu doesn't shed. The BC sheds normally. GSDs are like fur grenades!

[Sera_Bellum]

12. GSD's rule!

I can relate Stinky. Our GSD will be 7 months in a couple of days. When she first came home, we said "NO MORE DOGS ON THE BED"! The pom and chihuahua take up enough room already ty. She was built a pedestal next to the bed with pillows, and more pillows. (no pea yet)

About 2 months ago, we started waking up to a huge, black waggy tail in our faces. No turning back now, need to get a double-king.

After a bad beginning, your girl sounds as though she has her forever home. We can only give a fraction of what our dog-friends give to us.

A question to any GSD parents. At about 7 months of age was your GSD able to jump fairly high?

[99Forever]

14. At 7 months (now 8 months) Sadie Mae was...

.. putting "nose goobers" all the way to the top of our sliding glass door to the deck, without hardly trying. That's 7 feet. I think she's exceptionally long and lean though.

[Sera_Bellum]

15. Just a tad concerned,

our pup use to easily jump on the bed. Last few days she needs assistance. HD will not be uttered in this house! She comes from great West German stock but....

I'm sure she's ok. Thank you for responding.

[Progressive dog]

13. No dogs on furniture but heads on laps ok

She won't fit. Our GSD went from head and paw to chest but couldn't get back feet off from floor. Usually in one jump when I wasn't looking. Then he'd push his body against me. Usually let him stay for a while, but he'd exit when I told him enough and gently pushed him off.
Now he only stays for a minute and then jumps off to get a toy.
Anyhow, you have to decide how to handle it. She obviously loves your attention.

[wildeyed]

16. Hahaha!

My BC puts his head in my lap. Then he adds the front paws. Then, ever so stealthily, he pulls one of his back paws onto the couch. And finally, so slowly I don't even notice, the last paw is up and he is completely on the couch. There is a no dogs on the couch rule, but he is too cute sometimes and I become inconsistent.