Seating arrangement mishap

We have an established routine. I sit on the left side of the couch, Lloyd sits on the right side of the couch, and Dieter gets the middle. It's sort of like how on the "Big Bang Theory" Sheldon has to sit in his designated spot and he gets upset if someone takes his place.

The middle of the couch is Dieter's sleeping spot, too--he loves to hop up on the couch and settle in for his Zzzs.



Dieter also likes to leap over me onto the middle of the couch--I think because he knows it almost gives me a grabber every time 80 pounds of dog flies by my face. The flying leaps usually take place when Lloyd starts heading over to his part of the couch. In Dieter's mind, it's "oh boy, the pack's together!"

The other evening I had poured myself a nice glass of iced tea, and just as I raised the glass to take a sip, Der Fliegende Deutscher Hund reprised his patented "leap over mom and land on the middle of the couch" move. Except, we both ended up wearing the iced tea, as did the couch, and the wall behind the couch. He knew he was in trouble, but I was too stunned to holler. And that confused the hund even more.

A Facebook friend wondered whether Dieter's love of the middle of the couch is an alpha issue or whether it's just because he's a spoiled, big puppy. I typically run dog behavior questions by my cousin--she's had many German Shepherds over the years and currently has one who is Dieter's cousin. They both share an exuberance for life and nonstop energy.

Her verdict. She said, "it doesn't sound like alpha issues to me. He is just one happy dog!  Of course he is the center of attention (when the cats allow it) because he is so big and you both love him." 

The final verdict then is Dieter is our big, spoiled, furry son. I just need to be more careful with my tasty beverages.