Yup - that "barrier" worked just right. Mmmhm ....

My Sheba dog (first dog, raised me) was always allowed on the furniture - my parents wouldn;t have it any other way. Well, when my grandmother came to live with us, she was having to adjust to many things, but she just could NOT abide a dog on the living room couch. She scolded Sheba once.

From then on, by the time Grandma *entered* the living room, Sheba would be "asleep" on the floor. There would inevitably be a warm, German Shepherd-sized spot on the couch with small black dog hairs in it, but she never caught her on the couch again. Everyone knew what was happening, but that way Grandma could pretend as well!