The number one complaint from owners attending my behavior classes, next to barking, is house manners. A dog with house manners, is a dog that doesn’t chew on things other than it’s own toys, a dog that sits quietly while it’s owners are watching TV or eating dinner without pestering them, and it is a dog that greets people calmly when they first walk into the house. It is also a dog that stays off of furniture, and never goes to the bathroom in the house.
Owners often ognore the manners of small dogs. They don’t usually consider the fact that the little dog is on the couch, jumping on people, or chewing on things to be all that annoying. Little dogs are even allowed to go to the bathroom in the house, and while most owners realize this is a problem, they don't consider it a really big problem. A small dog may get a bye on manners, but a large dog definitely won't. A Great Dane that jumps on the couch, paws people, chews furniture, and potties in the house, is a big problem!
The fact is it doesn't matter what size your dog is, your guests won't like being jumped on. Small dog claws run hose just as easily as large dog claws. Guests won't like having to brush dog hair off of their pants after they sit on your chairs, and they definitely won't like smelling dog feces or urine. You may have forgotten what a clean carpet smells like, but your guests haven't. If you don't instill some manners in your dog, you may find your friends making frequent excuses not to come to your house.
--Brianna