Our dog keeps getting on our beds, couches, ext. and he won't stop. No matter how much we scold him, he still gets on them , we've tried putting things on top of the couches and beds, but he finds a way to get on them. We need a new solution, and FAST!
2007-02-01 08:05:00 · 12 answers · asked by Rae 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
He has MANY beds, and hardly sleeps on them. We have had him for almost 5 years now. And we have tried to teach him everything. It's just getting to be a HASTLE
2007-02-01 08:13:07 · update #1
There is no overnight solution to this problem.
When your dog gets onto "your" bed, "your" chair, "your" couch he's trying to show his dominance. He isn't accepting you as the "alpha" in the house, and is trying to take that position himself by positioning himself in the "best", most comfortable places in the house.
You'll need to monitor him closely and correct the misbehavior the instant it starts. When he starts heading for the couch, give him a firm but calm command to "get off". When he misbehaves repeat the command until he obeys you. The instant he obeys, give him praise and a treat (so he "earns" something for doing what you tell him to do.) You'll have to be consistent; correct the behavior every time you see it, the instant you see it. (If he gets away with it on some occasions, he'll try it more often.)
You're also going to have to work on being a better leader ("alpha") for your dog. Dogs respect owners who are consistent, even-handed, calm and firm. (If you lose control of yourself and scream or yell at him, he'll have no respect for you.)
Once you set the boundaries in the house, you have to be consistent about maintaining them. If you want to be the leader and be in control of the furnishings, you're going to have to work at.
You can crate the dog when you're away during the day and at bedtime overnight, but never crate the dog as a "punishment" for misbehavior. The idea of giving a dog a crate is to provide the dog with a "den" that is his and his alone where he can go to relax and feel safe. Dogs do best in crates when they associate them with rewards and pleasure; feed the dog only in his crate, for example, and he'll know that that's the best place to go for food.
Do NOT jerk the dog around by his collar or hit him when he misbehaves. This teaches him nothing except to be afraid of your hand -- which can later to lead to acute anxiety in the dog and prompt him to bite.
2007-02-01 08:26:16 · answer #1 · answered by Fetch 11 Humane Society 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I HAVE A PROFESSIONAL PET SITTING BUSINESS, AND I WORK WITH ANIMALS, (DOGS) QUITE A BIT. I ALSO DO TRAINING, AS WELL AS WORKING WITH THERAPY DOGS. PLEASE DON'T BE ANGRY, BUT THE REASON THE PET GOES ON THE FURNITURE IS PROBABLY BECAUSE HE WAS NEVER TRAINED NOT TOO. YELLING AND SCOLDING THE PET WON'T WORK, BUT, THERE ARE OTHER METHODS TO TRY. IT IS TRUE, YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS. SINCE THE PET IS 5 YEARS OLD, IT SEEMS HE HAS BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH THE COUCH COMFORT FOR AWHILE. AS I SAID, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO TRY. PERHAPS PURCHASING A CRATE, AND PUT THE DOG THERE WHEN YOU ARE AWAY. ALSO, IF YOU ARE IN THE HOUSE, AND THE PET GOES ON THE FURNITURE, NO NEED TO YELL, THE PET WON'T GET IT, INSTEAD PUT HIM IN THE CRATE AS SOON AS HE ATTEMPTS TO GET ON THE COUCH. SOON "FIDO" WILL RELATE TO GETTING ON THE COUCH AS SOMETHING HE WILL BE PUNISHED FOR BY PUTTING HIM IN THE CRATE, AND HE WILL SOON UNDERSTAND THAT BAD BEHAVIOUR, GETTING ON THE COUCH, IS CAUSE FOR "TIME OUT" IN THE CRATE. ONE GOES WITH THE OTHER. AFTER THE PET STARTS TO UNDERSTAND THEN YOU CAN SLOWLY REWARD HIS UNDERSTANDING,WHEN HE NO LONGER GETS ON THE FURNITURE. ALSO, VISIT YOUR LOCAL PET STORE, SUCH AS PETCO, PETSMART, THEY USUALLY CARRY A LINE OF PRODUCTS THAT WILL KEEP THE PET OFF THE FURNITURE. IT COMES EITHER IN A SRAY OR SHAKER TYPE CONTAINER. ANOTHER THING YOU MAY WANT TO TRY IS IF YOU HAVE AN OLD BLANKET THAT WAS USED ON THE COUCH, AND YOU DON'T USE IT ANYMORE LET THE PET HAVE IT FOR HIS BED. MAYBE THE SCENT ON THE BLANKET WILL ATTRACT HIM TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU PUT IT. BASICALLY KEEPING THE ROUTINE YOU USE TO BREAK THE HABIT IS JUST THAT, A ROUTINE THAT MUST BE REINFORCED TO THE PET DAILY. IT WON'T BE EASY, BUT REMEMBER, YOU ARE THE PACK LEADER, SO TO SPEAK, AND THE PACK ALWAYS FOLLOWS THEIR LEADER. MAYBE BY CORRECTING OR CRATING HIM AFTER ATTEMPTING THE COUCH, HOPEFULLY YOUR PET WILL UNDERSTAND THAT CERTAIN AREAS ARE OFF LIMITS, AND REDIRECT THE PET TO ANOTHER AREA. HOPE SOME OF THIS HELPS...GOOD LUCK!! PETSITTER1
2007-02-01 08:44:36 · answer #2 · answered by PETSITTER DEBI 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you have had this you dog for almost five years then this behavior will be hard to break. This is better learned during the puppy stage. I suggest using a crate. My dog sleeps in his every night. Although I do allow him on the couches and chairs... he is not allowed on the bed. I put throws and blankets on my furniture to save it from the doggie claws. But I love having my dog lay on the couch or sit in the chair with me. Welcome to the furbaby world!
2007-02-01 08:24:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You need to be very consistant. If he jumps up on the bed or couch yell "down" or I use "off". Grab his collar and pull him off. Then give him a treat. It takes patience, but this works for my dog. If I say off, she jumps off. If you never allow him on the couch or bed and always tell him to get off, eventually he will stop jumping up in the first place. It takes a lot of time and effort, but it will pay off. Also, if you keep him out while you are away, you may want to confine him to an area where he cannot jump up on your furniture.
2007-02-01 08:20:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I just talked to a trainer about the same thing. Use a crate during the day. When you're home you just have to be real persistent. I say "no, down" about 50 times a night to my dog. The trainer said it could take up to a month or more to finally get the dog to stop.
2007-02-01 08:15:06 · answer #5 · answered by skellington 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, if you have had him for 5 years and having a problem, you must look in the mirror for the problem. A dog is VERY easy to train. it is harder, however, to learn how to teach them. Sounds like you need to invest a little money in training yourself to be a better teacher so that the dog can be a better pet.
2007-02-01 08:54:08 · answer #6 · answered by SC 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You have to show your dog who is the boss.So you have to the dog to stop in a nice way,but if your dog wont listen,just pick a room where your dog can have private time to think about what you said.Dogs think about alot of things that humans say.The reason why I chose this solution is because this is the only way so far to make your dog mind you without a dog being abused.
2007-02-01 08:18:05 · answer #7 · answered by catbluenachos 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Get a shock collar and train him that way. When he jumps up Say NO and hit the button to give him a shock. After a few times he will learn. He will at least learn the word no is usually followed with a not so happy feeling. the shock collars are not dangerous. You turn the volume of shock up until you see the dog notices it. They will sorta jump. It is perfectly safe way to train a dog.
2007-02-01 08:14:30 · answer #8 · answered by swksmason 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Don't just yell at him when he does it.Okay, I know it sounds mean and cruel but it's the only way to train him.When he does it, yell in a very STERN voice and hit him only a LITTLE hard with either a flyswatter or a paddle or something like that.
2007-02-01 08:21:34 · answer #9 · answered by waymon B 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
is he doing this while you are home?? or while you are out?? if it is when you are out he should be crated... and crated at night.. he gets on these things because you have not taught him not too..
you can put sheets or blankets on the furniture that way it is easier to just throw them in the washer when needed.. welcome to dog ownership.... just love your dog
2007-02-01 08:10:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋