| Buddy probably wants to be on the sofa because it smells like you.
I use "off" for my dogs when I want them to move. But for me, the big issue was deciding whether or not I actually wanted them to be "off" the furniture all the time.
I used to enforce "off," years ago. But one day I had an epiphany, and I asked myself, "Why are you doing this? Bedding washes. Sofa cushions can be cleaned off. Why are you so hell bent on sticking to this rule?"
And the answer was, "It's not my rule. It's my parents' rule." I decided that my dogs were a part of my family and that since the rest of the family gets to be on the sofa, and on the bed, and on the chairs, my dogs should be allowed there too. If you're worried about odor, you could put a blanket over the sofa or the chair and remove it when guests come. Or you could take the attitude that I did - I don't bother with covering my furniture - I just live with the dog smell, and if others can't I don't care if they visit me.
When I need more space, they get off when I tell them to. But most of the time when I'm on the sofa, I have a doberman/boxer lying behind my knees. At night, my husband and I sleep (on a bigger bed we had to buy) with a doberman/boxer and a rottie. I wouldn't have it any other way.  |