How to keep your dog away from furniture?
Dogs like furniture too. Some people, of course, like to lounge on the floor, but there is still furniture in every home. Just like humans, dogs can have joint problems that can make it painful for them to lie on the floor.
The right start. If the dog is already accustomed to lying on upholstered furniture, it will be difficult to wean it off. If you want to prevent your dogs from climbing on chairs and sofas, then you must establish this clear rule for all family members. This means that your entire family must come together to combat this habit in your dog. One uninitiated person can ruin all your efforts and leave your dog confused.
For larger dogs, it is safest and most effective to lure and/or command him to get off the furniture himself and reward him when he is back on the floor. People often show aggression towards dogs by abruptly throwing them off furniture. This can cause a defensive reaction on the part of the dog and simply cause him pain, especially if he has health problems. Orthopedic diseases, both hereditary and acquired, are very common among dogs. This is often the reason for a dog’s aggressive behavior when it is forced to get up from a comfortable position and jump on the floor.
If an adult dog comes into your home, use a leash while training it so that you can easily remove it from the furniture. If your dog is aggressive, you can also use a muzzle to protect yourself.
Control yourself . You teach your dog to do what you want without scolding or punishing him if he does something wrong. This applies to all members of your family, who will remind your dog as needed not to lie on the furniture.
Reward your dog right at the resting place. Do this after you have given the dog the command to go to the place, and also when you see that the dog has gone to the place on its own, without your command. As rewards, use small treats, special chew toys, praise, petting, toys with food inside, and other treats that the dog can enjoy while resting in his place.
If you start training your puppy from the very beginning, then he will never develop the habit of climbing on furniture. A dog that has moved into your home is also more "trainable" because so many new things are being introduced to its life that it becomes more open to new rules and habits.
Oops, habit. When a dog already has the habit of climbing on furniture, it is much more difficult to wean it off than to form the right habit from the very beginning. The dog will probably always climb onto upholstered furniture in the absence of its owners. You will have to isolate the dog from the furniture while you are away. Maybe you will have to do this several times, or maybe you will have to do it all your life.
Some people believe that a repellent mat (available in pet stores) will help teach your dog to stay away from upholstered furniture. It delivers an electric current to the dog. Naturally, you cannot lay a repellent rug on the sofa when you yourself are sitting on it. When using electric shocks, there is also a risk of the dog developing “superstitious behavior” (he becomes afraid or aggressive towards something that happened at the same moment when he was shocked).
Some dogs like to climb higher to watch everything. To wean her off this, you need to block her view from the furniture or provide her with a better view from another place. Maybe we need to rearrange the furniture.
Why? If all family members are adults, and everyone is calm about the dog lying on the sofa, then there is no need to wean the dog off the furniture. But think carefully before you make this choice.
Puppies should not be allowed near furniture until they are fully grown (puberty). At this moment it becomes clear that some of them should NEVER be allowed near the furniture due to their obnoxious character.
Puppies and small dogs can be injured by jumping off furniture. If you decide to allow your dog to rest on furniture, you must teach him not to jump off until it is removed or make him a “slide” and teach him how to use it.
If there are children in the house, then it is better not to accustom the dog to furniture. A small child may approach the sofa where the dog is sleeping and scare it. The child's face will be exactly at the level of the dog; it can bite the baby and disfigure his face for life. If you don't have small children, what about grandchildren or other relatives, children of friends, etc.? And if you don’t have children now, what will happen in 5 or 10 years when you still have this dog and its habits have not changed?
If you have someone in the house who can't stand dog hair on their clothes, or if you are going to have guests and don't want to inconvenience them with hair on their clothes, you should not house-train your dog on furniture. Remember that the later you try to change your dog's behavior, the more difficult it is to do so. It's better to teach it right away.
Although you may not imagine that your dog will ever have to get used to a new home, this happens very often in the lives of dogs. If you teach your dog to climb on furniture, it will be easier for him to get used to his new home in the future.
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How to stop a dog from getting on the sofa
A dog in the house is a positive thing. However, some points still cause some discomfort, requiring an immediate solution to the problem. This list can safely include your pet’s use of upholstered furniture as a place to sleep.
There is no place for a “well-mannered” dog on the sofa (especially if the furniture has transformation mechanisms and is used as a bed). This is the well-founded and competent opinion of training specialists and animal psychologists. This is primarily due to issues of personal hygiene, as well as maintaining a presentable appearance of the room’s furnishings.
Options for solving the problem
Properly raising a dog from puppyhood is the best way to save yourself from contemplating a pet lying on an armchair, sofa or bed. The animal simply does not need to be accustomed to this. By using reward and punishment methods that are relevant to training your pet, you simply will not encounter the problem in question.
With proper training, the dog will rest in its place, arranged in the first days of its stay in the new home. It should be dry, warm and cozy here. And toys and positive emotions associated with the owner’s praise will help “tie” the puppy to the bed.
It should be noted that a dog can encroach on a place in the bed for various reasons, from discomfort and inconvenience of the bed, to longing for the owner’s attention and banal boredom. An animal instinct may also be “triggered,” which requires the pet to take the highest possible position in the hierarchy of the pack. Therefore, give your pet maximum attention and care, clearly indicating who is boss in the house.
Voice command
If the dog is used to sleeping on the sofa, it will be quite difficult to wean him from such actions. The best option would be to teach basic commands, including prohibitive commands.
The “no” order should sound loud and clear, and it should be given even if the pet intends to climb on the furniture. Dog handlers do not recommend dragging a dog away by force, as such an action can provoke an aggressive response. In addition, the risk of harming the animal increases.
A confident and loud shout should force the pet to leave the desired place, after which this skill should be reinforced through treats. To obtain a lasting effect, you should not allow your dog to jump on the sofa or into your arms, even for a minute, despite the “orphan” eyes, whining and other tricks of the pet.
Alternative Methods
In cases where classical training methods did not help solve the problem, you can try using tricks. These include the following methods of weaning a dog from lying on the sofa.
In conclusion, we just note that in Yekaterinburg you can buy a stylish, reliable and practical sofa inexpensively in the “Cat on the Sofa” online store. In addition, we offer targeted delivery and a company guarantee for all products from our catalog.
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Should punishment be applied?
When urinating in the wrong place, you just need to be firm. It is important not to forget about the boundaries of what is permitted and to maintain balance. Punishments for undesirable actions must be accompanied by generous rewards for success.
What methods of punishment can be used
Methods of punishment must be exclusively humane. The most effective include the following:
Demonstration of superiority. Take your pet by the withers and press his muzzle to the floor for a couple of seconds, saying “Fu” or “No” in a stern voice. When performing this action, do not lift the dog off the ground, do not poke it directly into a puddle, and do not scream.
Distraction at the time of crime. When you catch an animal performing an unwanted action, sharply clap your hands or throw a light object at it that will definitely not cause pain. The process of urination is very intimate, so such a violation of privacy causes aversion to the chosen place.
Taking away your favorite toy. Having lost his favorite ball several times in a row, the four-legged dog will think a hundred times before peeing in the wrong place. Unlike food, a toy is not a basic necessity, so such punishment is quite harmless.
Stop your dog from trying to lie down on the bed
The dog is 2 years old. When everyone leaves for work, he climbs onto the bed. This can be seen from the wool that remains on the bedspread. When we return, he tries to jump on the bed only occasionally. How to wean a dog from trying to take someone else's place?
The first and easiest way is to simply deny the dog access to the room where the bed is located. When you leave, you simply close the bedroom door. Second, before leaving, chairs are placed on the edge of the bed with their legs turned upside down and the dog simply has nowhere to lie. Well, the most effective, but the most inhumane) are mousetraps with a weakened spring. Usually one or maximum two times are enough to memorize. The smallest mousetraps are bought on the market, the spring is stretched as much as possible so as not to cause serious harm to the dog, and they are laid out on the bed. When the animal tries to lie down, the mousetraps slam shut, producing an unpleasant click, plus the feeling of the pinch itself is also not pleasant.
We have the same problem. This problem only comes)) at night, around three o’clock. We can’t understand: either she’s cold in her house, or she just loves comfort. But he sleeps in bed and under the covers.
I completely agree with you! It is easier not to train a puppy than to train an adult dog. For my animals, the bed is taboo, it is the place of the leader. While walking, all the doors in the apartment are open and the dog will never lie down on the bed in our absence. In September we went on vacation to the sea. The room was cool, so I decided to let the dog lie on the sofa in the kitchen. After much persuasion, she lay down, then after a couple of minutes she crawled off him and chose to sleep on a mat on the floor. Persuasion and permission had no effect on her; it was so firmly in her brain that it couldn’t be done.
Well, if we take the basics, then training is often based on provocations and suppression. But in this case, I just felt very sorry for the dog; it was very cold and drafty on the tiled floor. For me, her health was more important than my principles at that moment, especially since we were not talking about the place of “leader”.
We make mistakes when the dog is still a puppy. Whatever you want, you accustom her to what you then begin to wean her from. If you need to wean her, then you need to do it consistently, without any compromises.
My girl has taken a liking to the sofa in the living room since she was a puppy. Naturally, I am against it: fur, heat, and in general, to each his own. But! Neither prohibitions, nor spankings, nor any other things help. Now she is 8 years old, and I am still fighting for this sofa. I tried everything: Kuznetsov’s applicator, nails with their heads up and covered with a thin sheet, stools and a children’s table, and even tape with the sticky side up, by the way the most effective and simplest remedy). She somehow crawled on her bells between the legs of the stools and somehow settled there (if you noticed, I have a BUT), she bumped into nails exactly once, then she learned to lay them down. Scotch tape really doesn’t work. We know how to open doors in both directions, it doesn’t matter, into or out of the room. So we live in a quiet struggle. Now I’ve been working at home for a year and she doesn’t have the same level of confidence as before, but she’s still trying. Don’t suffer, don’t wean him off. It’s just the way the dog is. Give her some old chair. Dogs love to lie higher
The dog likes to sleep higher because in this way he demonstrates to you that he is the leader of the pack, and not you. Damn, any knowledgeable dog handler will tell you that you cannot place your dog at the same height level as your sleeping place. In this case, disobedience is guaranteed to you!
Not really. I know a bunch of dogs, large breeds at that, sleeping in the same bed with their owner. And complete obedience. Mine would listen too. I don’t know what dog handlers will say, but I think that dogs that live for a long time in close contact with people are no longer dogs in the sense of “dogs.” They are already people, they just look different.
Great words! I'm talking about people who look different :-)
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Why shouldn't this be allowed?
Before you understand the question of how to wean a dog from sleeping on a bed, you need to understand why it is worth prohibiting it from this action.
On the Internet you can find information about sleeping together with a pet, which can provoke terrible diseases. In fact, in order to become infected with something from a dog, you don’t have to sleep with him.
The main reason why you should prohibit your pet from compulsively getting into the owner’s bed is hierarchy. The four-legged animal must be clearly indicated where its place is in the relationship with the owner. The dog is always at the lowest level of the hierarchical ladder in the family. All its members, including children and the elderly, are taller than a dog. The owner is in charge; once the dog is allowed to sleep with him, respect is lost. The animal understands: it is capable of taking certain positions and begins to do everything to overthrow the owner from the “throne”. Some quadrupeds follow their line quite delicately, while others do not mind showing their teeth and forcing a person to give up the leading place with the help of force.
The second point is the difficulty of sleeping together. Large breed dogs take up a lot of space on the bed, constantly toss and turn in their sleep, some of them sniffle and snore, and try to throw their paws over the owner. In addition, in the fall or early spring it is dirty outside. The pet's paws, tail and belly become dirty, although the pet is wiped with a damp cloth after a walk or the lower part of the body is washed, particles of earth and sand remain. It's not very pleasant to shake sand out of your bed.
Representatives of small breeds often behave aggressively when on the owner's bed. When he tries to roll over, the pet begins to growl or tries to bite the person.
About a sleeping place for a dog
First of all, we must take into account that by allowing the dog to sleep in his bed, the owner thereby provokes behavioral problems. His ward begins to consider himself an equal and stops listening to the owner. Thus, he simply undermines his authority and allows the dog to feel like a leader. It is unacceptable!
Experienced dog breeders advise immediately determining a place in the house for the puppy. It’s also worth observing exactly how he sleeps. If this is a curled-up position, then buy him a round or oval lounger. And when the dog is resting, fully stretched out, it is advisable to purchase a rectangular mattress. Old dogs who suffer from joint diseases or dysplasia will find it more comfortable to sleep on a foam mattress that molds to the shape of the body.
If you live in an apartment that, for some reason, is poorly heated, or your dog is already old, a heated bed will suit her. By the way, representatives of decorative breeds also get very cold and will not mind such a sleeping place. The pet bed should be in a convenient place, not in a draft, opposite the front door. Comfortable rest and your own sleeping place are the guarantee that the dog will not look for a better place and choose the master’s bed for this. The animal's favorite toys should be nearby. Some owners also place their warm clothes there, which retain the smell. And this is another reason that the dog will not climb on the owner’s bed. The puppy must be accustomed to such personal space from the first days of his stay in the house. Then the problem of unlearning bad habits will not arise. You must immediately decide on the dog’s name and, leading him to his sleeping place, repeat: “Jack (Bars, Snoop, Dean), place!”
Defensive reaction
There are other reasons for this animal behavior. A dog may hide under the bed if it is feeling anxious or suffering from an illness. For example, if a pet has body pain, then he prefers to hide from human eyes in order to be alone and cope with unpleasant sensations.
A dog may also hide when feeling anxious. For example, during a thunderstorm or a feast, when there are many unfamiliar and noisy people in the house. This way they are protected from scary sounds and feel safe. This allows you to manage stress and minimize chaotic noise. Cats are known to do the same thing.
Sleeping place: rules of choice
If you're determined to stop your dog sleeping in your bed, you'll need to make an effort to create a comfortable sleeping area for your dog. If you spend enough time observing and choose a comfortable bed, you can be sure that the dog will not break the rules of behavior even in the absence of the owner.
You need to start by choosing a comfortable lounger. In order to understand what type of bed your dog needs, you need to watch your pet sleep. The main factor you need to pay attention to is your usual sleeping position. Most often, dogs like to stretch, curl up, or change positions frequently while sleeping. In the first and third cases, a rectangular-shaped lounger is suitable, in the second, a round or oval basket.
Important! For older dogs that suffer from arthritis or other musculoskeletal ailments, it is necessary to choose a spacious bed with a quality mattress.
When choosing a dog bed, pay attention to the quality of the product. It is not recommended to buy sun loungers covered with synthetic fabrics. It is best to choose a lounger with a removable cover that is easy to wash. Carefully inspect the lounger for staples and nails that are sometimes used to hold the frames together.
If you want your dog to sleep in his own place and not try to climb onto your bed, the bed should be located outside the bedroom. Make sure that the lounger is not in a draft! During the training process, the dog may refuse to be on the bed if it is located in an unsafe (in its opinion) place.
Note! In order for the dog to understand that the new bed is its property, it is necessary to place a basket with toys nearby. Your old sweater or shirt, which can be used to cover the bed, will help make it easier for your pet to get used to it.
If you are training a puppy or a very emotional dog, you can use a spacious box or crate as temporary shelter. The bottom line is that the shelter must have a roof. Generally, dogs feel more relaxed when the bed is dark.
Reasons why a dog whines
- Boredom. An animal attracts the owner's attention if it is bored and sitting without entertainment.
- Mild discomfort. They gave the dog something to drink, and she started whining. This often means that there is not enough water.
- Pain. The pet begins to whine when moving or when going to the toilet, eating, drinking.
A dog can be trained to stop whining if it becomes a habit. When a pet is sick, it attracts attention.
To keep your pet happy and healthy, you need to undergo regular examinations, monitor diet and physical activity. The small Pinscher dog was bred as a hunting dog. If you follow the recommendations of veterinarians, the animal will continue to please its owners.
