My new couch!

[Rottnmommy]

Hi there
We got a new livingroom set for our formal livingroom. Our Rotties (male, 3 yo, and female 4 1/2 yo) are allowed on the couch in the family room, and on our bed, however I would like to keep them off this couch. Any suggestions? Am I being unrealistic, being that we let them on the other furniture? When they do go on it, I make them get off, and say BAD, and they put their ears back, and butt down, breaks my heart, the look on their face! But, I don't know another way to get it through their heads. Any ideas?

[ptremaine]

Yeah, read that other thread in this forum that deals with the exact problem.

BTW, I'd ignore those looks. Mine does that too - like she's being sent to death row, looking like she lost her best friend. It's all calculated to get you to cave in to their demands. So don't fall for it. :D

PT

[damp]

Back to the old topic…dogs on the couch/bed or not!!! ;)

Firstly…dogs don’t care about new or old couches…it’s just a couch. (Only humans care about new things.) If the dogs are used to be on furniture, it will take time and consistency to take away this right/ privilege they already have.

Since my dogs never have been allowed on any furniture, I know it’s quite simple to teach them to stay down from day one (and they have all survived being “floor dogs”) … but I think it will be easier to retrain (and more fair too) to keep this simple: Not allowed on furniture at all.

Secondly, as already said, ignore that look! Keep on the consistency if you really want the dogs of the furniture. Tell them NO before they even think about a nap on the couch/bed. Then you will avoid that downhearted look and maybe also quite different looks (growls and teeth) when you tell them off. Such looks and attitudes CAN'T be ignored and I am sure, this will break your heart (and may be skin too)

[Carina43]

Agree with the others - ignore that sad, pleading look! Just say AH AH or whatever word you use for "don't even THINK it" when they're about to get on the couch.

My dogs are not allowed on the furniture except for the skanky old couch in the office, and they have no problem knowing the difference. So much as a paw on the bed or the "good' leather furniture brings the wrath of the clean furniture goddesses down on their heads in a hurry, and they know it. :D

Now if we could just train the cat not to shred the armchair....

PS: I really like damp's signature line, that is so true!

[Anubis's Parent]

Anubis is allowed on the couch and bed as well. But when I take him over to other peoples houses I've trained him to stay off other peoples couches and even stay out of other peoples rooms that they don't want him in.

A great example is my grandmother's living room. He knows he is not allowed in there without permission so he sits in the doorway of the room until someone says its o.k. to go in. He seems to always hesitate before he makes a move so I use this to our advantage and state "NO" firmly or "STAY" and "Lye Down" usually followed by "There" with my finger pointing to the spot I would like him to lie down in. This really works well.

Anyways I think it is possible for you to train them the way you want. They will know the difference.

Good luck!

James

[Debbie]

I have seen mats sold in pet stores and catalogs that keep animals off the furniture. You lay them on the seats of the sofa.

There seem to be two kinds. One delivers a mild electric shock which probably wouldn't hurt them but I've seen another type in the store that would seem very effective.

It is firm plastic mat about the size of a chair seat or one cushion on the sofa. It has hard, pointy plastic bumps on the surface, sort of like whats on the bottom of a chair mat in an office - the points that grip the carpet. Those would be very uncomfortable if your dogs jumped on them and they'd learn to stay off that sofa quite fast. I saw them at Pet Supplys Plus if you have one in your area.

[Rottnmommy]

Well, thank you all for your helpful responses! I will try all your advice, and see what works best!

Thanks again!

[Daisy'sMum]

I agree with the rug runners - clear plastic runner with tiny sharpish bumps on the bottom. You can buy it by the foot at any hardware store. They are easy to throw on chairs/sofa and remove when people show up. Daisy and Hershey don't get up on the funiture anymore. Oops, except my bed!