New Couch

[Holly]

Any tips on training Oliver to sit on a blanket on my the couch? I just bought a brand new couch and I would like him to sit on a blanket when he gets up on it. When I am home, he does fine and will only come up after being "invited". But when I get home, he is inevitably on the uncovered area of the couch or sitting along the top of it! I don't want to have to start putting him back in his crate when I leave. He is so good on his own in the house!

Thanks!

[Maxwell&me]

I know tin foil helps with cats...not so sure about dogs

[natalieandmike]

Holly, don't know if this actually will work for you, or is sheer dumb luck for us, but we taught Bianca "place". We used a nice fluffy towel or you can use the blanket you are throwing on the couch all folded up. We taught her to go to that area in the kitchen, so she's not underfoot when we're trying to make dinner. Every time she goes to her "place", when we were teaching her, we popped her a little treat. Now she understands "place" in other areas. If you use the same blanket for all areas you are teaching Oliver, it may make it easier. I don't know, we're just feeling our way through this, but Bianca seems to get what we mean quite easily. good luck! -Natalie

[Ste]

Why not just keep a rug to throw over the entire sofa when you're out?

[Karlin]

I second Ste here -- I don't think you will ever get a dog to understand it isn't allowed somewhere when you are gone; that would need to be one amazingly obedient dog to stick to one blanket.

I'd just get a nice easy throw you can put over the whole sofa when you are out.

[natalieandmike]

Perhaps I read the post wrong. I meant for her to stay on her place when you are there, or in the near vicinity. I certainly couldn't imagine Bianca staying in one place when we were gone!

[Kodee]

I havent used this product but there is a Scat Mat sold at Petsmart. You lay it infront of the couch or on it. It's just fabric but gives an electric shock like from a rug - it teaches them to stay off - personally I think it would teach them to fear the couch, but thought I'd mention it.

I'm for covering the couch totally with a big sheet when you out and taking it off when your home and have to look at your couch and then invite her up to sit on the blanket.

[Lani]

It may not work for all dogs, but I trained LUcky to sleep on a blanket at the bottom of my bed (his blanket) by picking him up and moving him there whenever he got off of the spot.

That was before we did obedience class. If you have done obedience training, I would think that you could also use the training from "Park it" or "Go to your bed" to get him to go to that blanket. (maybe you'd call it "go to your place").

Good LUck.

[Holly]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm just trying to keep my new couch clean! I will try some of the things you mentioned. I have a large, L-shaped couch so it would take several throws to cover the entire thing. I may just have to live with the hair on it and vacuum it a lot!

[Caraline]

What about if you just bought her one of those nice soft, snuggly, padded little beds and put in on the lounge with some of her favourite toys in it? My 2 have taken to wanting to be in the office when I am in there and to keep them out of mischief this is what I did and they feel very special.

You could place it right next to where you sit and when you are on the lounge, sort of tap at it and invite them in. When visitors come and you don't want them to know just what a dog fanatic you really are you can put it on the ground.