Keep Dog Off Furniture – Keep Your Dog Off For Good!
Did you know that when you keep your dog off the furniture, it can actually help to establish your dog’s place more securely within the pack order?
Some dog owners love the idea of curling up at night with their dog lying comfortably on the bed with them. They allow their dog to jump up onto the sofa and curl up along with the family. Other people like to have a small dog sleep on their lap while they sit in a chair or on the sofa.
Obviously, these dog owners want to feel as though their beloved pooch is a member of the family and should be treated the same as every other member.
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Unfortunately, letting your dog get comfortable on human furniture teaches him that he’s equal to you in the pack ranking. He doesn’t see you as being the pack leader at all, which can make other dog training techniques difficult.
It can also mean your dog begins to feel a little protective of ‘his’ special place on the sofa. This can be especially awkward if a visitor to your home sits in that spot and your dog decides to defend it with outwardly aggressive actions.
Keep Your Dog Off Furniture
Teaching your dog to keep off furniture is actually easier than most people think. Each time your dog looks as though he’s about to jump onto a piece of furniture, make a short, sharp ‘ah ah’ sound. This is very similar to the short growls a pups mother would give to a naughty puppy, so most dogs understand what it means.
If your dog still gets up on the furniture after you’ve told it not to, tell it to get down firmly, but don’t yell or scream. If your dog won’t obey, pick him up gently and place him back on the floor. Once he’s on the floor, praise him with a happy ‘good boy’.
This step will need to be repeated several times until your dog begins to understand that he receives more attention and praise while he’s off the furniture.
Positive Replacement
In order to successfully keep your dog off furniture, you’ll need to be sure you have replacement bedding somewhere nearby.
Have a tasty treat nearby and encourage your dog to get onto his own bed. As he moves onto the new bed, give the command ‘In your bed’. Once he’s in the bed, ask him to sit or drop. When he obeys, give him a treat and praise him lavishly.
Eventually, your dog will understand that the moment you sit on the sofa and tell him ‘in your bed’, he’s to go to his own piece of furniture and leave you to yours. Once he’s there, praise him again for being in his own bed.
The same principle works for keeping your dog off the bed at night. Some owners might think their dog might miss them or feel uncomfortable sleeping, but the truth is, most dogs will be very happy sleeping in their own comfortable bed.
Once your dog understands that you’re much happier when he’s resting or sleeping in his own bed, you’ll find it’s very easy to keep the dog off furniture for good.
