You always start out with the best of intentions. You swear that you will never give the dog “people food”, you will teach your dog not to bark at the doorbell, , and the dog will definitely NOT be allowed on the furniture. However, sometimes life gets in the way, and your lovable pooch gives you those literal puppy dog eyes and you give in – “just this once”. Unfortunately, dogs learn from every experience. This means that if you allow your dog on the furniture after he begs and begs, he will learn that if he pesters you, it is only a matter of time before you will relent.

Therefore, if you do not want your dogs lounging on your new white sofa, it is necessary for you to firmly and consistently train them – from early on – that the furniture is off limits to them. Here is how to keep your dog off the furniture in a few easy steps.

Bradenton obedience training

Tips on Making Furniture Off-Limits

From pet hair to stains and smells, there are many reasons we may want to keep our dogs away from our furniture. Sure, the idea of cuddling comfortably sounds great – but can become a real nuisance and headache over the years. Here are a few ideas on how to restrict their access to your couches and chairs.

  • As a puppy, teach them the “Off!” command. Physically removing a dog from a couch they are partial to may cause aggressive response and behavior. Instead, teach the “off” command with other basics, such as sit” or “stay”. This can be achieved by offering a treat a few feet from the furniture, and firmly stating “Off!”. Soon they will be jumping off as soon as you catch them, and eventually not bother getting on.
  •  Give them a great alternative. Create a comfy dog bed right next to your favorite chair, so they can enjoy proximity without climbing up with you.  You can even reach over and scratch their head while watching TV. Teach them to “place” on their dog bed and very soon they will know that is their approved place to relax.
  • Make the couch unappealing.  Until your dog learns that the couch is off-limits, you can make it uncomfortable and unappealing by adding double sided tape, rubber runners with nubs, or tin foil. The stickiness of the tape or the discomfort of the runners should keep them off, and the sound the tin foil makes is known to keep dogs at bay.
  •  Stop eating on the couch. Ouch! This is a tough one, as kicking back and watching TV with a plate of nachos is your favorite thing to do. But nothing is more attractive to a dog than their human with a plate of food. Until they understand you will not be feeding them, don’t add the temptation of a possible snack to the equation.
  •  Remove them from the room. If your dog refuses to stay off the furniture no matter how hard you try,  crate them in a separate room whenever they are caught in transgression. You can use a positive tone and be kind, just reinforce that they will not be allowed the privilege of hanging out with you if they break the rules.
  • Be consistent. Ok, human, this one is on you. If you allow your canine on the couch even once, they will learn that it is a possibility, and that rules are allowed to be broken. Resist the urge to allow it “just this once.” You do your dog a disservice as it is very confusing if they are punished the next time they climb up on the furniture.Some dog owners have designated a chair that the dog is allowed on, and trained the dog this is “their spot”. This is a great opportunity to sit and cuddle with them while watching a movie, as long as they are taught they only have one piece of approved furniture.

    If you are having trouble with your dog’s obedience training and need some reinforcements, call Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training today.  We can help to restore order and peace to your home.