system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5 Why do dogs act unable to jump up on a piece of furniture and refuse to jump up on it until you pat/tap on the furniture to call them up?

My dogs are familiar with the furniture, they get up without me, and they know they are allowed on the furniture. However, when I'm sitting on my couch or bed, they will not jump up unless I pat/tap on the furniture to call them up.

It's not just my dogs being strange though, I've asked family members and friends and heard their dogs do the same thing.

What's the deal with this? Some sort of evolutionary trait?
gpt
Dogs are a pack animal with a hierarchy mentality.  If they require your permission to leap onto the couch that you're sitting, then they most likely view you as the alpha.

If the dog is jumping onto the couch without permission, it would be their basically challenging you for the alpha spot.  By waiting for your permission before jumping up, they are proving their submissiveness.