Has anyone decided that dogs aren't allowed on couches now? And succeeded?

[MoreOfAWooza]

Just moved. Brought our smelly old 2nd hand leather couches with us but now that living room is almost complete I'm longing for lovely new couches.

3 small breed dogs. Live on the couches, real velcro dogs.

I would really like new couches but feel. Mean. Dogs are 12 months to 5 years. All had since puppy and always been on the couch.

Is it mean?

I've even been looking at mini couches to get them their own 😂😭

But it's sitting with me they like.

And if your pups are couch banned when!/ how do you get cuddles? Do you sit on the floor with them?

I let our dog on the sofa but just use soft throws to protect it which can be easily washed. I would also suggest a sofa with removable cushion covers so you can wash those if possible 😊

Good luck Op 😆

Yeah. I'm getting this vibe too 😂

I will eventually face this challenge. I have a rescue lab. He has his own sofa, and is allowed on the one we sit on by invitation. His previous owners let him run riot, so he was used to doing as he pleased. Fortunately, dogs don't generalise, so my approach wasn't difficult, however when we eventually get a new sofa I will be in your position. Honestly, I've already decided that enjoying life with the dog is more important than a piece of furniture, so I'll cover it as best I can, but will just accept that the price of dog ownership and all the benefits it brings is worth a bit of accelerated furniture degradation.

It's a tough one as I prefer to have nice furniture when visitors come to the house, but hey, what can you do?

Yes, we had a No Dog On Sofa Rule!

The best part of having dogs in my opinion is cuddling on the sofa, I do think it is mean if it’s something they are used to and enjoy, they won’t understand why all of a sudden they are not allowed, just put a throw on the new sofa or those little rugs from ikea that you can throw in the washing machine.

I stopped my dog after about 5 years when I got new sofas - if we go out she will still sneakily sit on them nearly 5 years later but she wouldn't when we are in the room. She's not a particularly cuddly dog though I think I would miss it if we had a snuggle on the sofa xx

We’ve just got two new sofas and put throws on them.

We have a special blanket and have trained that she can come on the sofa only when her blanket’s on. Sometimes she goes and nudges the blanket when it’s folded up as if to say ‘pleeease let me on!’

Ah, I have a similar problem. Kind of.

My dogs have never been allowed on the couches, beds etc. And haven't tried. But recently my female dog is claiming a couch at night instead of her usual bed. And I cannot get her to stay off it at night now!

So I am here for the tips OP.....

I have tried to barricade the couch so she can't get on it, she gets around every barricade I have attempted so far, going as far as to pull the blocking her cushions off so she can get up. I have had stern words with her before going to bed that she isn't to get up (I know, I know it was a ridiculous idea and she was probably laughing me off as I spoke). I found her there again this morning and she pretended she could not see me... whilst looking directly at me and blinking her eyes as the light was a bit bright for her. Sigh.

And the cheek of it is, she is ignoring me now today!

I am not wanting to put a blanket on something on the chair as in a way its giving her permission. But it is unusual behaviour for her to do this. She is 9 so it isn't like she is just being a cheeky pup. She has a really nice bed too, orthopedic mattress, she even has a pillow!

It smells of her favourite humans so that's probably why - they're park animals and used to sleeping as a pack

I think if you have a no dog on sofa rule from when they are a pup they get used to this but once you have allowed them on sofas they won't understand why suddenly they can't go up. Use a big fleece and throw it in the wash each week. That's what I do for a big armchair and I have 2 fleeces I use. My 2 little dogs go up in an armchair together, sometimes with DH, sometimes on their own, but not on the sofa.

I have never allowed my dogs on the sofas - not from a particular aversion myself but have generally lived with people who aren't keen on it, and it's just habit to be honest.

The dogs get cuddles by coming and leaning against me when I am on the sofa. I have bigger dogs tho to be fair.

In regards your question, I think imposing a new rule with a new sofa will be ok, because as I understand it the dog doesn't think "oh, another sofa, she will have the same rules as with the old sofa" - the dog just sees a new object. I am sure there are some places in the home/items of furniture your dogs aren't allowed on - you probably don't let them on the table or the work surfaces for example. So as long as you are consistent as soon as you bring in the new sofas, I think you will be ok.

(This is my understanding of how dogs learn anyway. By the same process, it's entirely possible to teach a dog who usually chases chickens not to chase your own chickens. Etc).

He’s allowed on one sofa (for cuddles, it has a blanket on it) and not the other nicer one. Occasionally needs reminding but otherwise has managed well.

An alternative my friend did was teach her dog to ask permission to be on the sofa. Basically he‘ll come and look at you while you’re on it and you either say yes (you could put a blanket down first) or no. The problem is I can never say no!

The answer is lots (and lots) of washable throws. We have four or five for our beagle - he loves nothing more than curling up on the sofa under his favourite blanket.

Before our mini Schnauzer arrived we put risers on all the beds so they’re out of reach (increased under-bed storage, too).
I watch TV in an armchair and he scoots his cushion between it and the sofa so people can give him pats.
He also doesn’t realize that Schnauzers can jump!

Yes first 2 dogs total rule no sofa or bed for them .Current dog lying on couch sleeping same breed I've just got older and less fussed

Never.

Our dog was always allowed on the sofas til we replaced them. Now he's allowed on one (cheaper one) anytime but is only allowed on the good one when the blanket is on it. He caught on remarkably quickly, never breaks the rules but zooms over for a snuggle when he sees the blanket coming out

We have a puppy and currently a ' no sofa' rule. We get down on the floor for cuddles and playing. It will likely change in the future but onto 'by invitation only' staus.

Yeah dogs on sofa here. We use blankets and stuff so we can wash them

My dog puts her paw on my knee and tilts her head. If I say ‘nooo’ in a low voice she’ll lie on the floor but if say ‘come on’ in a higher tone she’ll jump up. I keep the living room door closed when I’m out and bedroom doors.

@Soubriquet they look so chilled!

This!
Couldn't do without sofa snuggles

They like their sofa snuggles

We don’t even bother buying dog beds anymore. They never use em