Dogs that jump or sit on furniture can damage delicate fabrics, stain materials and leave behind fur or dirt that is difficult to clean. Dogs who are allowed on furniture may also jump or sit on guests or family members who would rather be left alone. Thankfully, dogs can be trained to stay off furniture with some persistence and patience. The following is a guide that will help you learn how to keep your dog off furniture.
Establish firm boundaries and stick to them
If you decide to train your dog to stay off the furniture, then you must establish firm boundaries. Dogs have difficulty understanding exceptions, so you have to create a rule regarding furniture and then stick to it. For example, dogs should either be allowed up on the couch—or not; they can’t be allowed on the couch sometimes, when you feel like it, if a certain guest is visiting, and so on. This is confusing for dogs and will lead to more difficulty keeping them off the furniture.
So, if you decide that you dog are not allowed on a piece of furniture, remember that this is a firm rule. Do not let up on telling your dog to stay off that furniture no matter what and do not let guests bring the dog on the furniture, even as a “special treat.”
Make your furniture unpleasant or annoying for the dog
One way you can discourage your dog from getting up on certain furniture is to make the furniture unpleasant or annoying for the dog to sit or lay on. For example, you can spray a pet-friendly bitter odor on the furniture to keep the dog away; or you can place pieces of tape around the furniture to discourage your dog from approaching it. This type of method is best used in the beginning of the training process, as it will help your dog associate getting on the furniture with an unpleasant sensation or smell. Once your dog stays off the furniture on their own, you can remove the spray and tape.
Give your dog their own furniture or acceptable space
Dogs do best with training when they are given something to redirect them rather than simply being told “no.” This applies with keeping your dog off the furniture as well. So instead of simply keeping your dog off the furniture in the house, give your dog their own furniture or other acceptable space where they can rest. Dog beds, dog chairs, and other spaces will allow your dog to feel comfortable. Make sure that you set up dog furniture in the major living areas where you spend most of your time, since one of the reasons dogs get up on furniture is to be closer to their owners. When you first start redirecting your dog towards their furniture, make sure to reward them with a treat.
Keeping dogs off furniture will take some practice and patience, but it can be done when you establish firm rules and give your dog their own place to rest.
