Dog On Sofa

[Khandro]

My neighbour has taken in an 11-year-old Dalmatian - the owner having gone into care. At night 'Coco' insists on sleeping on a brand-new sofa she has just bought. How can she dissuade her from doing so? My suggestion of a light tap with a rolled up newspaper is "out of the question".
I was wondering if there was any kind of a smell that is acceptable to humans which dogs don't like that could be somehow put in the sofa. Any suggestions please?

[RATTER15]

"My suggestion of a light tap with a rolled up newspaper is "out of the question"" And so it should be!!

I would suggest putting a couple of small dining room chairs on the the sofa or anything that will prevent him from getting on there.

or put the dog on its own bed in a different room.

[NoMercy]

Lay cushions out across the sofa or separate a nest of tables and lay them upside down on the sofa. Worked for my parents' dogs.

[woofgang]

While it is possible to teach old dogs new tricks, at 11 years of age it might be difficult. I agree with both of Ratters suggestions and would add my own. If Coco only wants to be on there at night then why not cover the sofa with a rug at night so she can sleep there, removing the rug in the daytime.

As for the rolled up newspaper, i am disgusted that anyone should suggest it in this day and age.

[anneasquith]

Well, at 11 years old and previous owner in care I would protect the sofa, poor thing is used to the sofa obviously,

[mikey4444]

I am with anne here...at her age ( the dog, not Anne ! ) this habit is well engrained .....put a nice blanket on the sofa and take it back off in the morning.

[aelmpvw]

my dog won't let me on the sofa if she's in a bad mood ...

[Peter Pedant]

put blanky on sofa ?

when my dog was being looked after ( 1995)
the first night at ten thirty he sat in front of his new hosts
and barked
and she reported - he was barking at us to tell us to go to bed and so he could sleep on ... the sofa

put dog blanket old curtain on sofa

[Khandro]

When Karin took on Coco, about 6 months ago, though she was provided with nice sleeping arrangements, Coco insisted of sleeping on her fairly old sofa, so Karin decided to buy a new one, keeping the old one for Coco, and wouldn't you guess, she now eschews the old one and sleeps on the new sofa!
Perhaps the barricade may be the only way, I was thinking that there might be some kind of herb that dogs don't like the smell of - I believe cats don't like the smell of oranges for example, but I've never put it to the test.

[jambutty]

The poor thing will probably be confused wondering where her owner is, so I would try and let her keep every routine she is used to and yes, put an old blanket or some sort of covering on the sofa for her to lie on. I thought hitting them with a rolled up newspaper went out with the ark!

[ladybirder]

Better to put a nice smell on the old sofa I think and barricade the new one. Bless her cotton socks, she knows her own mind doesn't she. x

[jambutty]

Oh I didn't know she already had a sofa to sleep on.

[jomifl]

Put the sofa in a room with a door.

[Old_Geezer]

I doubt it is out of the question, but I also doubt it would persuade.

Shut it in a different room so it can't sneak back. Make sure it has something it can consider it's bed.

[mikey4444]

At the age of 11, this dog hasn't got very much longer on this earth, so as a dog lover, I wouldn't be too hard on her. Give her the love that her owner would be giving her.

[Khandro]

Have no fear, Coco is deliriously happy with her new life, her previous one with the elderly gentleman now in a care home was very restricted, now she gets long walks every day.
Karin's house is one of those open-plan types and closing doors doesn't really apply.

[woofgang]

The new sofa smells of “her” people though and I bet the old sofa doesn’t now people have stopped using it.....

[mikey4444]

Glad to hear it K !

[anthro-nerd]

I'm pretty sure dogs don't like the smell of lavender. It's worked for me before at keeping dogs off the bed!

[Baldric]

Just put a cover on the sofa before bedtime, don't even think of a light tap with a rolled up newspaper.

[jambutty]

I bet the lovely Roger is allowed on the sofa eh Baldric ?