Sneaking the couch

[jksjkc]

Hi Everyone,
I haven't been here in a while, just been busy.
We have a 3 year old boy who knows full well he's not allowed on any of our furniture. However, we can tell that when we are gone, by the messed up couch pillows and paw prints, he sneaks the couch and chair. We've caught him in the act and of course tell him "No", he just gets down, low to the ground, trembles with his ears down and tail between his legs only to do it again when we're not looking.(quite the pathetic act, he can win an award, it's so sad, you'd think we beat him)
I've even gone as far as yelling at the couch and beating the cushions, say "no, no, bad." He just stands there with the body shakes.
We've even tried the opposite, by giving him treats for sleeping in his warm cushy bed, but still when I pull out of the driveway, I can see him jump back on.
I wish I had a fog horn that went off when he jumped on.
I have a new couch coming and I just know he'll ruin it like the last one.
Any suggestions???????

 

[maggie7925]

Unfortunately I didn't have any luck with trying to keep Madison of the couch when we weren't home. So when we got our new couch we would have to take the chairs from the dinning room and lay them down on the couch cusions... It was kind of embarassing if someone would stop by before we got a chance to take them off..

I've seen in Dr Foster and Smith catalogs mats that you can buy that make a sound or are nubby to keep pets off the furniture...

 

[lucasmum]

Could you maybe booby trap the couch by hiding something under a cushion that makes a noise when he jumps up on it? Thats the only thing I can think of really.
I had one that used to do that, you'd come home and he'd be lying on the floor looking al angelic, then you'd feel the couch and it was still warm!
Good luck!

 

[robynkendall]

We bought some plastic carpet protector at Home Depot. Just cut
some off the roll, turn it upside down so that the points are sticking up
and put it on the couch. The points aren't super sharp, but it's not something
dogs like to lie on. Cheap and easy!

 

[Scrappysmom]

You could try a nasty tasting or smelling product available at pet supply stores such as rosemary extract or bitter apple. It worked to keep Scrappy away from those yummy doorframes...?! OHDAHHH!!!! Should have tried it on our couch!!!

 

[Indy's mom]

We bought some plastic carpet protector at Home Depot. Just cut
some off the roll, turn it upside down so that the points are sticking up
and put it on the couch. The points aren't super sharp, but it's not something
dogs like to lie on. Cheap and easy!

Did that for Indy as he started using the furniture when we weren't home. The only problem, for a while he was pulling the plastic off! :eek: So, we now either place on the furniture and tuck into the back or put a baby gate across the couch. He never goes on the furniture when we are home, that makes it a bit tougher to break him of the habit.

Silly dog.

 

[Fugger's_mom]

What about buying him his own dog couch? I know they sell them everywhere, and I've seen some nice ones in a cabela's catalog. Then you can try to teach him to only go on his own. It's only a suggestion...right now our puppy is using our sons fold our couch as his own... (its very small and he will out grow it soon.)

 

[mikroma]

give in

Someone told me that the best seat in the house is taken by the boxer, and it is so true!

Give in. Buy leather. We allow our boxer on one item, the couch, and all other chairs are off limits. He does well with it! Our first boxer, we actually had a couch just for him for a short while! He really loved it! We bought it for $5 at an antique auction.