Furniture is expensive and when cared for properly it can last a long time. If your furniture is constantly being run over by a dog, the expected lifespan suddenly takes a big hit. From stains to scratch marks and just additional wear and tear, having your pooch on your furniture isn’t ideal. Keeping your dog off the furniture is easier than you’d think! Rather you have a brand-new puppy or an older dog that thinks he owns the couch, it’s never too late to put rules in place. Follow these steps to keep your pup off your furniture without causing unnecessary stress for either of you! 

Set a Good Foundation

If you’re bringing a new dog into the home, it’s ideal to start with a good foundation. This means that from day 1, the dog isn’t allowed on the couch. It’s easier to keep a dog off the couch from the beginning than it is to break an older dog of their habit of napping on the furniture.

Remain Consistent

Once you’ve set the rule that dogs aren’t allowed on the furniture, you have to stay consistent. There can’t be any exceptions to the rule because it will confuse your dog and make them think that now it’s acceptable to be on the furniture. Each family member needs to hold the same consistency too, not just you!

Give Your Dog Their Own Space

Your dog will accept the no paws on the furniture rule easier if they have their own space to cuddle up and relax. Find a dog bed or crate that is a good size and put it in a location that will allow your dog to still feel like a part of the family when the humans are lounging on the furniture.

Reinforcing the Rules

Reinforce the rules by simply correcting the behavior as soon as it occurs. That means that each time your dog gets on the furniture, you should just remove them, put them on their own bed, and don’t say anything. If the behavior continues, it may be time to put them in time-out in another room of the house each time they get on the furniture.

The Power of Positivity

Dogs thrive off of positive reinforcement when they do good. When they lay on their bed instead of jumping on the couch, be sure to tell them what a good job they’re doing and offer them a small treat, a toy, or some nice scratches behind the ear.

Sign Up for Dog Training in Quincy

Keeping dogs off your furniture may be a challenge at first, but once everyone gets accustomed to the new rules, you’ll be glad you did it! If you need more dog training tips and professional insight, contact Leader of the Pack today. We offer in-home private training or group training at our location in Quincy! Our phone number is 617-296-1711 and email is leaderofthepackdogtraining@yahoo.com.