[laurlitt]

This will be a hard habit to break... But here is a suggestion of something I've 'heard' about.

You know the plastic mat that is used underneath rolling desk chairs (the mat you need when the room is carpeted and the wheels won't roll on carpet). This plastic material has plastic spikes on the under side that pokes into the carpet to keep it from moving. If you buy (at office supply store) a strip of that (about 5 feet long) and put it on your couch (upside down) the dog will not be able to jump on the couch while you are not there... I imagine this sensation is not comfortable on their feet or bodies...

Now I've only heard this being done... it's seems like a decent deterent method (but can't guarantee anything)...