she is a 5 year old lab and she won't do it when we're home but the minute we leave she makes herself at home! I've tried laying kitchen chairs on the couch but she just knocks them off!
2007-01-24 05:47:27 · 10 answers · asked by labradog68 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
This is an issue of obedience. Do NOT spank the dog as another person suggested. This does nothing and may hurt your relationship with the dog more than help. Plus, it is cruel and unnecessary. All it does is show that you are NOT in control.
Your dog has learned that she is barred from the furniture as long as you are there. Once you are gone, it's free game. That's because in her mind, she recognizes the "command" to stay off the furniture being associated with your presence.
Here's a trick to use - and it will take a bit of patience and a few tries, but may work well. Get a can (soda can is fine) and place about 20 pennies in it. Seal the can well. Then leave the area (room or house) in such a way that she thinks she can now go on the furniture, but stay within site of both her and the couch (you may need to trick her or use another person). As soon as she leaps on the couch (or starts to get on the couch), toss the can right at her feet. Do NOT hit her with the can. The goal is to scare her. After she leaps up frightened, walk into the room with a open arms, warm smile and comfortingly say, "come here girl - oh you poor thing, it's scary on that bad couch, isn't it?" What you are trying to do is make it seem like the couch is the one "barking" at her to get off, not you. She will associate going on the couch as "bad" and listening to you as good. As I wrote, she associates the "off" command with you. You want her to associate the command with the couch. So if she sees the couch, she remembers that it "barks" or makes a loud noise when she hops on. So she'll be more likely to stay off the couch.
This is a trick that I was taught by a professional dog trainer (over two decades of professional training) and one that I currently employ. If your dog is responsive to that can, it could be used for a variety of training issues. Do NOT shake the can as a rattle. Just give it one harsh shake - as if you just gave one loud "bark". So if she jumps on a person, shake the can once at her and say "down" or "off". This is just one example of how it can be used. Alpha dogs in the wild will give tiny nips at the neck and one loud bark to control the other dogs in the pack. This is even true for a group of dogs at play (when one will become the alpha). The goal is for YOU to become the alpha dog and then teach her "manners", like not jumping, not barking and staying off the couch.
Good luck!
2007-01-24 06:01:34 · answer #1 · answered by doctoru2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pet stores sell different type of pet repellents that are made to keep your animals off of your furniture. You may have to try a couple different ones and see what works best on your dog. I have two dogs and one repellent that I tried worked for my male, but the female actually tried to drink it as I sprayed it on my furniture. Otherwise they do sell pads that you can put on your furniture that will give the dog a shock when she lays down on it.
2007-01-24 05:58:50 · answer #2 · answered by photogrl262000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only way to keep your dog off the furniture is to spank him every time he gets up there, not to hard but hard enough to where he knows you mean buisness. It won't work the first time but after a few times he will learn.
2007-01-24 06:00:36 · answer #3 · answered by grayson g 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Smart dog! get her a place of her own that feels and smells like the couch.
A spray is sold at the pet shop as a repellent, spray that on your couch.
2007-01-24 05:54:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I gave up and now my dog runs the house. He has taken control of the bed and wont move when I try to lay down on my side of the bed. He likes to curl up on my La-Z-Boy chair and when I go to sit down, he growls at me. He has been eye-balling my remote control. I still own that.
2007-01-24 05:56:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you pick the cushions up and rest them against the back of the couch? That stopped our lab.
2007-01-24 05:57:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep her in the kitchen with a baby gate or get a crate.
2007-01-24 05:49:51 · answer #7 · answered by KathyS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to E-Bay and look up scat mat. It sends a shock to their feet when it is stepped on. I dont know that much about them other than that.
2007-01-24 06:02:40 · answer #8 · answered by crested_love 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
here is one web site teaching you how to train your lab
http://www.dogtrainingbasics.com/off.html
if that doesnt work here is another web site using a training device if you want to buy it
http://www.gooddeals.com/scat_mat.asp
Good Luck
2007-01-24 06:04:12 · answer #9 · answered by memnoch3333 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
spray it with a water bottle
2007-01-24 05:52:25 · answer #10 · answered by Mexican curly swirly balls 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋