The dogs are not allowed on the furniture. Never. Not under any circumstances. Especially when still damp from a walk in pouring rain. Our eight year old German Shepherd knows the rules, but Tia, our “rescue dog”, who has now been with us for 3 months, hasn’t quite the hang of it. Or maybe she knows exactly what she is doing. She comes to join me in my study or “den”, and pretends to fall asleep at my feet. As soon I am engrossed with something, she very quietly and surreptitiously sneaks up onto the sofa, and stays there until I turn round and see her. She does have the grace to look guilty.