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Frayed furniture is the bane of any paw-parent. Dogs love nothing more than jumping up on the couch to lounge around and ruin it with their claws or fur.
While a dog sprawled on a chaise may look overly adorable, it certainly becomes not-so-adorable when the parent has to clean up the hairy mess later. But that’s not even the half of it because fur can be wiped off, allowing paw-parents to clear out the evidence. What they can’t hide is the tattered edges of furniture on display, ruining the entire aesthetic of the room.
So, what does a dog owner do to keep their furniture pup-free? If you are looking for an answer to said question, you have come to the right place because we have a bunch of strategies that can help you and save your favorite chair from your little one’s paws.
Here are four useful tips to keep a dog off the furniture.
Generally, when a dog climbs up on a sofa or chair, it is looking for some comfort. If that’s the case with your fuzzy friend, you can show them a different way to get their daily dose of relaxation. And that is setting up a small bed nearby to lure them in and away from your favorite furnishings. However, just putting in a tiny dog futon isn’t going to do the trick; you need to put in a little more effort to make it work.
You will have to train your bud to make them understand that their resting place is not the big couch but the cute little one sitting close by.
So, how do you do that?
Well, for starters, by telling your canine companion to get their paws off your chair. But naturally, that’s also not enough to train a dog to do something. Let’s go over the training regime you will need to educate your fur child in lounging etiquette.
When your sidekick puts their tiny feet on a piece of furnishing you wish to keep safe from them, tell them to get off with rather stern expressions to convey the message. Use your hand to clear your point further and direct them towards their own bed. Repeat the mentioned practice several times so that your dog can pick up on the lesson that’s being delivered.
When your four-legged companion begins to obey your command and moves away from your couch, reward them with a treat and praises. But remember not to hand the treat just as they get off your furniture, wait for them to get into their bed, and then put your hand out loaded with kibbles. Doing so will help your pup register that sitting on the tiny dog cushion gets them yummy treats.
While most dogs are smart enough to understand verbal cues, some can be rather stubborn and not move unless moved by hand. If your fur child is one of the obstinate fellows, you might have to pick them up and place them in their bed. When you do that, sit next to them for a while to ensure they stay in place. Also, don’t forget to use the clicker to reinforce the behavior.
Another smart tactic you can employ to direct your sidekick towards the smaller futon is to leave treats on it to entice them. However, said trick might not work for you, and your fur child might just walk away after feasting on the displayed kibbles. You could use words to clarify your message and make this strategy work.
If the positive reinforcement method doesn’t work, you can move on to more stringent measures.
You might not be familiar with couch defenders, but believe it or not, they are sold in the market for paw-parents like yourself, who are desperate to keep their furniture free of paws. You can buy one (or as many as you need) and place them over the furnishings you wish to protect. Doing so will block your fluffy bud’s way of getting on your oh-so-sleek furnishing items.
If you don’t want to spend money on defenders, you can use other household things to get the job done. For instance, when you’re not using the ottoman in your room, put a chair upside down over it to occupy the space. This will leave no space for your pup to climb on and shed fur.
You can also use a throw blanket that’s not too soft and comforting to cover the furniture you want to keep safe from your fuzzy pal so that they don’t find the comfort they are looking for and have to get off.
However, that’s not to say you can use any harsh or harmful devices such as static mats to keep your dog off the furniture. Always remember to be gentle with your pup!
If you want your four-legged pal to learn a particular behavior, you need to be as consistent as the sun! You cannot go easy on them when their big-doe eyes get a bit too adorable. You need to stay put and ask all other family members to do the same. Often, paw-parents set rules that only they follow, and the rest of the family lets the dog do as it pleases. If you want to make a change in your little fella’s behavior, you need to make sure everyone follows the same protocol and remains steadfast without fail.
If you don’t make the necessary arrangements to keep your canine companion off furniture when you’re not home, all your efforts when you are present will go to waste. Naturally, when there’s no one guarding the couch, your fuzzy baby will end up on it unless you block their way. To do that, you can put a fence around all furnishing items you wish to protect; you can also use couch defenders in your absence to keep your dog off the furniture.
Remember that your intention is to train your fur child to stay away from expensive furniture and not scare them off. Therefore, use positive reinforcement and other gentle tactics to educate your doggo. And be sure to remain consistent at all costs; otherwise, you will not see the results you want to see.
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
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