How to Keep Dogs Off Furniture

Surprising but true, our (man's) best friend, our beloved pet dog, loves lazing around on the couch or lounging on the sofa just a much as we do. It probably likes licking it and tearing it apart when it is frustrated too. Did I just introduce you to a probable nightmare that your pet dog could put you through? Well, most pet owners, who have not taken the trouble to train their dogs, must have already gone through it. So, the only way to save your expensive furniture from doggie damage is to keep dogs off furniture.

As a dog owner myself, I know it is tough keeping dogs off furniture, especially, when our smart dogs give us that sad and doleful look when they are denied access to the furniture. But, believe me, you need to be a little stern at this or else be prepared to pay a heavy price. Here are a few methods and techniques that you can try to keep dogs off furniture.

Dog Training
The best way to keep dogs off furniture is to train them to do so. Dog training is very important and you should train them when they are still pups as learning and following commands at this stage of their life is really easy for them. Once they get habituated to getting onto furniture, it will be really difficult for you to rid them of this habit. So start early and urge your family to do the same. Reward the dog with dog treats for its good behavior of keeping off furniture when it is asked to do so and express your unhappiness if it tries to get onto furniture. Reinforcement makes training a dog a lot easier.

Buying Dog Furniture
Another good way of keeping dogs off furniture is to get them some furniture of their own. Dogs would love to have a bed, a crate or a kennel of their own rather than lying around on the hard floor. This will keep them comfortable as well as cozy and secure. Dog beds, dog kennels and dog crates are available easily in any pet store. Initially you may require crate training your dog, so that it gets used to the crate and kennel. You can also make use of dog kennel plans and dog kennel designs to build one yourself for your pet dog.

Using Commercial Aids
There are many products available commercially, for the purpose of keeping dogs off furniture. These include repellents, alarms, spiked mats and couch protectors. These are designed in order to discourage your dog from getting onto the furniture as well as to protect the furniture from dog damage and dog fur, in case, training is not imparted to keep dogs off furniture.

Tips to Keep Dogs Off Furniture

• Keep doors to areas, with expensive furniture, closed while going outdoors or when these areas are not being used. This will keep the dogs off furniture at least for a while.
• Establish and get the dog used to a comfort zone of its own in the house by providing it with food, water and toys in that particular place. This way, it will spend most of its time in that place and this will also keep dogs off furniture.
• For grown up dogs to be kept off furniture, use a leash even when the dog is in the house. Use the leash to keep dogs off furniture by blocking its access to the furniture and saying a 'off' to it. Do not pull the dog down the furniture by the leash.
• Keep dogs off furniture by attaching a black thread across the front of the furniture and tie one end of the thread to a pile of shake cans. As soon as the dog tries to get onto the furniture, the pile of shake cans will come tumbling down. This will make a loud noise which will keep dogs off furniture.
• You can throw around balloons on your furniture when you go out so that when the dog tries to climb onto a furniture, the balloons will burst and make a loud noise to keep dogs off furniture.

Try the above mentioned techniques to keep dogs off furniture and make sure you do not give in to their demands. Remember, being strict at keeping dogs off furniture will have long term benefits.