Keep a Dog Off the Furniture
So man's best friend likes to be comfortable and has claimed that spot on your couch or chair. It is much easier to train a puppy to stay off the furniture from the moment he is introduced to the home. Maybe you are the second owner of the dog, and the behavior was an acceptable one with his previous owner. Is the behavior reversible? Absolutely! Here are a few helpful hints to modify this behavior. Be patient and consistent, and you should have all four on the floor in no time!
Instructions
1. Before beginning any basic training, a dog should understand the command "sit." This is the most basic command of obedience, and it is difficult to progress to others until this one has been learned. Practice this step in short, fun intervals progressing to longer periods of "sit" until he gets the hang of this.
2. Anytime you want to teach a dog a new behavior, you should attach a word or command to the behavior. Use a short word such as "off." In addition to using "off" as a command to stay off the furniture, you could also use this command to train the dog not to jump on you or visitors. Either way, it has the same meaning for the dog.
3. Do not leave the dog alone with the furniture while you are training. You must be consistent for this to be successful. Shut doors or kennel the dog if you cannot supervise.
4. During training, the dog actually needs to be on the furniture to teach the dog to stay off the furniture. Lure the dog off the couch with the command you have chosen for this behavior. When the feet have been planted safely on the ground, reward this behavior with praise and a morsel of food or treat. Continue this process until the dog learns the behavior you want.
5. Use the command when the dog has access to the furniture and you see they are about to make the jump. State the command in short but firm tones. Gentle praise should be given when the dog shows obedience to the command.
6. For the dog that doesn't seem to respond to the above steps very easily, you may need to turn the cusions sideways to block or make the couch unaccessible.
7. Use a spray that is marketed to repel your pet from the furniture. Read labels. A spray will not harm your dog or your furniture, but it produces a smell the dog does not like.
8. Finally, there are products marketed to issue a loud sound or even send a small shock or vibration if the pet makes contact with the furniture.
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