• More than one in three (35%) Brits admit they have stopped being intimate with their partner because of their pet sleeping in the same bed 
• Over one in four (29%) pet owners say they don’t sit with their partner at home due to pets taking up room on the sofa
• Seven in 10 Britons (71%) set clear ground rules before getting a new pet, but 63% will end up breaking them

There is a lot of preparation and planning to be done before getting a pet and, as part of this, 71% of Brits set clear ground rules such as their furry friend won’t be allowed upstairs, on the bed or near the dining table when families eat.

But how long do these rules last and who really rules the roost at home once our pet walks through the door? 

New research has shown that, ahead of bringing their pet home, one in three (34%) pet owners vowed they would not let them sleep in their bed. However, a quarter (25%) disregarded this when their animal companion arrived home, stating that they would even give up room in their bed to ensure that their pet is comfy.

Staggeringly, more than one in three (35%) Brits admitted that their pet sleeping in the bed has stopped them being intimate with their partner, with more than one in four (29%) saying they don’t even sit together at home anymore because their pet is taking up room on the sofa.

The research, conducted by pet food brand Webbox, shows that 63% of those who set ground rules will eventually break them, with over a third letting pets upstairs (40%) and in the bedroom (36%) after saying they wouldn’t be allowed.

A third (35%) of those who broke their ‘no pets on the furniture’ rule have since had furniture ruined because of their furry friend’s claws, and over one in six (18%) Brits have had arguments over who is responsible for the pet at home.

Over a quarter (26%) of Brits that decided to put rules in place break them within one week, and one in eight (14%) disregard them on the very first day that their pet arrives home. One in five (22%) who disregarded ground rules went as far as to admit that their pet rules the roost and is in charge at home.

Men are more likely than women to set rules and stick to them, as 41% say they still follow all the rules set for their pet compared to 32% of women. Female owners are also more likely to give up room in their bed to make sure their beloved pet is comfy (33%) compared to male owners (19%).

Camille Ashforth, Senior Brand Manager at Webbox, advises: “Here in the UK we love our pets. We may all have good intentions about where they can and can’t go before they arrive home, but it’s clear for many Brits that once their beloved pet steps through the door, most of those rules go out of the window. This can often cause frustration for some family members and can also lead to poor behaviour in your pets.

“Even though your pet is part of the family, ensuring boundaries is very important. Your pet should have their own space in the house that they enjoy spending time in, even more than your bed and sofa! For dogs and cats in particular, establish a cosy part of the house just for them, make sure there is plenty of fresh drinking water and some of their favourite long-lasting treats to ensure they always associate this space with joy. Make sure it’s in a quieter part of the house so they can have time out when they need it. Never send your pet to this space as a punishment when they misbehave as this will just encourage negative connotations with this area. If you can’t get your pet out of bed or off the sofa, try putting yummy treats on the floor next to their bed, and, each day, move it a little closer towards their designated space.”

Read further tips on how to help enforce rules for your pet and stick to them here.