05 Nov Keeping Dogs Away From Furniture (Part 2)

In the previous part, we explained the fantastic ways to keep dogs away from the furniture. In the first method, something is replaced. How to sleep, the dog’s size, sleeping in a quiet or crowded place, choosing an utterly separate chair, using a treat or encouragement and commands are essential in this method. The second way is to reduce the content of the furniture for the dog, which can be made of aluminum foil, bubble cover and double-sided tape. In this section, we will continue the second method and introduce the third way.

Reduce the convenience of the sofa for the dog

Wipe food off the sofa

Avoid leaving food around the sofa. Your dog may be attracted to the couch because you have just eaten there or left crumbs on it. If you forget to eat on the couch or wipe off leftovers when your meal is over, your dog will be less attracted to the sofa.

Sofa cover

Protect the sofa with a cover. It may take a long time for your dog to learn not to lie on the couch. Meanwhile, protect your sofa by covering it with a plastic cover, sheet or blanket. You can easily remove these covers when your dog starts using his bed.

No access to the sofa

Make it harder for the dog to reach the sofa. Your dog is less likely to walk on a couch when it is covered with things like a cushion, blanket or basket. Even if your dog wants to reach it, he will see that there is no comfortable space on it to rest, and he has to jump.

Use a deterrent spray.

Use sofa deterrent sprays. Go to a pet store and buy a non-chemical deterrent that you can apply to your sofa. These are designed to be funky for dogs, so your dog will have to leave the couch. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for reusing the spray when the odour returns.

Learn the “get up” command

Consider how the dog sleeps

Say “get up” until you notice the dog lying on the furniture. Monitor your dog’s behaviour for a while. Notice if your dog walks to his bed or sleeps on the couch. If your dog is lying on the couch, tell him to get up in a firm tone. Please do this as soon as you see your dog on it.

Don’t shout

Avoid shouting and getting angry. Shouting will only ruin your relationship with your dog. When using the “get up” command, try to point to the ground with your index finger so that your dog realizes that he has to come down from the sofa.

Use a treat

Reward your dog with food to keep him away from the furniture. Immediately after saying “Get up,” hold your dog food in front of his face and guide him to his bed. This movement encourages your dog to stay away from furniture and sleep on his bed. Note that you shouldn’t lift your dog off the sofa yourself. Otherwise, he won’t realize that he shouldn’t sleep on the furniture.

Encourage the dog

Encourage the dog when he comes down from the sofa. As soon as the dog jumps off the couch, say something like “Good luck!”, pet the dog’s ears as a reward for staying away from the sofa. If your dog prefers, bring one of his favourite toys and play together as a prize for a few minutes. Remember that your encouragement is constant. Encourage the dog every time he comes down from the furniture to let him know that the sofa is out of range.

Using clicker

Buy a clicker to train your dog and get him excited to hear that sound. Give your dog a task and click at the same time. Do it about ten times so that your dog associates the sound with a treat. Then, use the clicker to reward your dog for staying away or coming down from the couch. For example, when you see a dog on a bed, use the clicker. Click immediately after you see the behaviour you want to treat. It can strengthen the positive correlation that the dog has with staying away from the sofa.

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