Help with dog

[madiesmum]

Since a puppy we have allowed our dog to sit and sleep on the settee. We are just about to buy a new leather one and don't want her to sit on it as her claws will ruin the leather. Any suggestions how I can gently change her behaviour.

[woofgang]

can't help with stopping her altogether but we have a washable piece of vetbed on the sofa where our dog sleeps. We have never made a big thing of it but obviously it can go in the washing machine and saves the sofa. As I say we have never indicated to her that she can only be on that bit of the sofa but she has learnt that herself and sulks on the floor if the vetbed is removed

[happy_face]

I've seen in a pet sop that there's some kind of blanket/under blanket you put on the settee and when the dog jumps up on it, it starts making a noise which deters them.

I've got leather furniture and a staffie that runs around on it on sleeps on it and it doesn't do any damage to the leather on mine. Just make sure you give it some beeswax once in a while to keep it nice and soft.

[mullein2]

i have just had a new leather settee..and i forbid the dog to get on it..and he hasnt..he keeps looking at it and nodding his head but we just say no...i have given him my old leather settee as a new bed for him..as he had a settee with a washable cover that i was fed up of washing..he sulked a bit when we threw his old settee out..but i just ignored him...he has never scratched the old leather settee and the only reason i have forbid him on the new one is he dribbles..as hes a golden retriever..and i wanted a spit free settee..just be firm and the dog will soon get the message..

[FP]

You can see I am very strict with my dog!

Afternoon nap

[Litchick]

FP what a sweetie pie!  :)

[fishbait]

i think its a question of how strong you are and how obdient your dog is.if she is in her twilight years then let her carry on if still young enough to teach an old dog new tricks then thats the answer. goodluck

[drgnrdr]

mmm some very good ideals it seems. If you want to be sure they don't get on the seatee if your gone you will have to booby trap it. You can train them when your home to stay off it, but what if they jump up there, damage done...so how about getting a carpet runner and turn it upside down so that the small spikeys face up, most dogs don't like them, I used it to keep my dog off my sofa since I could not keep a 24 hr watch on her. She tried once to jump up there and got back down quick. The small spikes should not really hurt your dog, I see dog's playing with more "bite" to each other. You can move it when company comes. Good luck, but training is the big key like mullein2 suggest.

[lindisfern]

Have had quite a few dogs on my leather sofas
their claws never did any damage,
In fact the dogs ware out faster than the suit its 22 years old