How do I keep my dog from sleeping on the furniture when we're not at home?

Question

We have a 3 yr old German Shepard cross. She's kennel trained, but we started leaving her kennel door open (giving her the option of getting out) about 3 months ago because the hours my husband and I work have changed and she sometimes is alone all day, and she has had a weak bladder since her spay. I've only caught her on the couch once, and gave her a stern talking to, but it's difficult to enforce since we never see her on there. Any tips?

Answer 1

Cover the furniture she lies on with aluminium foil, I've heard they don't like the feel and the sound of it, so gradually they stop going on the furniture. (You remove the foil when she has learned not to go there).

Answer 2

Talking to your dog after the fact does nothing. For example, you know she's on the couch because you see her hair there. So you drag her over to the couch, show her the hair and reprimand her. What has she learned? That if there's hair somewhere, you get mad at her. She doesn't associate the hair as her hair. Next time, when she's on the couch and sees hair, she'll look all guilty and sad. She knows you'll get mad because there's hair on the couch. But your dog doesn't get that the reason there's hair on the couch is because of her.

In other words, unless you can catch her in the act, it's tough to enforce a rule. I'm working with my pups about not going into a creek by the dog park! LOL! But they love the creek and I have to catch them going in to stop them. Once they are there or out of the creek, I can't train them. Same is true for you and your dog.

Options?

Well, I prefer to just put a cover (like a large blanket or thin comforter) that protects the couch, but is easily removed and washed. I have used one for the last 10 years on my couch and it still looks great despite several dogs! You can even get a cover that matches the furniture overall.

If, though, you hate the thought of covering your couch, you can get sprays (although be careful as they could damage the fabric, especially if you have a leather couch) that keep dogs away or items that provide a mild shock.

Also, make sure your dog is obedience trained and that she is NOT allowed on the couch when you are home. If properly trained, you can allow her up on the couch if you choose, but also instruct her to get down at your command. But if she's allowed on the couch in your presence, you can't expect her to stay off when you are not there. So be consistent at home too.

Lastly, you can just continue to keep her in her kennel. But if you fear that will cause her to hold it for too long, you can try to create a dog run for her (provided you have a yard or at least a patio) where she can be outside. Be sure the dog run has an area that is in the shade, that she has access to cool water and that there is a spot for her to rest. This way, she can sleep, run and relieve herself in the safety of the dog run. Along those same lines, you can let her stay inside, but let her go out via a doggie door. However, to prevent her from being on the couch, you may need to bar her entry into other rooms. For example, if you have an indoor porch, you can make that comfortable for her and let that be her "inside" room. Through the doggie door, she can go out whenever she needs to relieve herself. All of this, though, depends on where you live and the design of your home and yard.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Personally, I'd get my couch recovered in something easy to keep clean - like Naugahyde - but then, I like my dog to be on the furniture.

Setting snap-type Mouse traps on the couch will work for a while - but once she figures out that she can trip them with her paw or a toy and THEN get on the couch, they're pretty ineffective.

However, short of confining her to places where she can piddle without punishment, there's not a lot you can do.

I'd say, get some good sturdy baby gates and confine her to some area that is easily cleaned - like the kitchen or utility room.

OR - you can get a length of Naugahyde from an upholstery shop or sewing store and use it as a "tarp"of sorts and let her get on the couch. A wipe-able plastic table cloth also works well for this.

Answer 4

For about $50-80, you can get what's called a scat mat or static mat. It's a clear, plastic mat with little wires running through it. When you touch two of the wires at once, a little static charge is given off and it keeps being given off until you get off the mat. You can adjust the size of the charge so that it's just enough to be scary , not painful. We have one lying in the doorway to our kitchen so that our dog doesn't go in, and it works really well. The first time he touched the mat, he jumped back and was confused. The second time, he jumped back and barked at it. There hasn't been a third time, and we've had the mat for a few months. Most of the time, we dont' even leave it turned on because he knows just by seeing it that if the mat is there, he shouldnt' go through. We got ours at Petsmart. It's also in the Cabella's catalog. You can get one and put it on your couch while you're not there, and your dog won't sit on it.
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441775467&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302032911&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023689&bmUID=1181150885391&itemNo=2&In=Dog&N=2032911&Ne=2

Answer 5

You could

1. get an office chair mat - the clear plastic kind with treads on the bottom and put a strip of that on the couch, nobbly side up.

2. put a blanket over the couch and not worry about her being on the couch.

3. scat mats give a small shock when the dog gets up on the furniture.

Answer 6

I have a baby gate across the living room so that my dog can't get in there and therefore not get on the furniture.
I have cats that like to get on the kitchen counter and the table so I place aluminum foil on them and also have some of the squares with bumps on them that someone else mentioned. Both of these really work. Good Luck.

Answer 7

Petsmart sells a collar similar to an invisible fence, but it is meant for indoor use. It comes with a small round "unit" and when the dog gets too close to it, it beeps. After about 10 beeps, it emits a static shock. It sounds terrible, but it really is not. I have one to keep my Pomeranian off the furniture and I shocked myself with it before I put it on her.
Place the round unit under the couch and when the dog gets too close it will beep then ZAP. After a few zaps she will learn what the beeps mean and will stay off.

Answer 8

I would love to give you advice on this my dogs have always been sneaky about getting on the furniture they never do it while I am home but it's almost as if the second I walk out the door they get up there. I haven't found a fix yet if you do let me know!!!

Answer 9

nicely, i think of unfavourable reinforcement is a competent way additionally. purely via coaching the canines NO!!...Roll up a information paper and hit your hand. (not the canines, yet once you do its purely paper and that they actually need experience a concern) The sound indicators a unfavourable feeling in direction of the canines. And this could be an especially rapid and uncomplicated way. they could understand real rom incorrect. then you definately an compliment extra constructive. ok

Answer 10

I would keep her in a kennel, possibly an outside one i fyou have room in your backyard. We have a 6X8 foot kennel that we keep both of our dogs in. This will let her get excercise, and you wont have to worry about her pottying. Be sure to put it in plenty of shade and have a dog house and water in it! Good Luck!!