How to get them to get off?

[Crazyeight]

My puppy keeps on trying to get on the sofa (or any other chair).

Trainers seem to all say only use positive commands. Sit rather than 'off' for example.

But how does dog know they're getting a treat for sitting Vs sitting-as-opposed-to-climbing-chair??

So he sits, treat, climbs up anyway. Ask to sit, sits, treat, climbs up. So now he's learnt that if he climbs up, then sits he gets a treat. FFS!

You treat before they get up. So before they get on the sofa you say sir and reward. You can use a ‘magic mat’ - they go to the mat, treats magically routinely appear

It's very hard to train for a negative, in my experience. But you can train for an 'instead' behaviour. Have a dog bed near the sofa, redirect them to that every time, reward them for getting on their bed instead.

But how do I know if they're going to get up? And if I treat, how do they know that it's for not getting up?

Ok I can try this. DH and DC allow dog on sofa which complicates things. I'm hoping I can train him to know that crazyeight isn't for sitting next to!

Management with puppies so prevent the behaviour you dont want and reward the behaviour you do.

Prevent them getting on the chairs either remove the chair, shut thedoor to the room or have an indoor lead on the puppy.

Make the area you want them to be in much nier eg treats appear in their beds whenevery they go to it.

It won't work then, everyone has to be on the same page.
You could try to train sofa by invitation only but the best thing would be no sofa at all

Forget about the treats and silly commands! Your dog is learning: I jump on the settee - I'll get a treat!
If your dog is a puppy, he's probably looking for some comfort.

Just sit with him on the floor for cuddles. If the puppy is trying to jump up, just gently push back with a definite No.
Praise with fuss/ cuddles when puppy sits by your feet... but start off with sitting on the floor with them.

This will also help if you ever want to take ddog to a cafe or pub ... mine happily settle by my feet. They really dont know no differently.

Sounds like you need to train your DH and DC too. Consistency is key.

Looks like the best solution is for me to buy a new house with separate living rooms 😂

If you don’t want your dog on the furniture you need to sit on the floor with them for the next 6-12 months as they will randomly need your attention.

Personally I want an easy life so allow my cats and dogs on the furniture and then teach them to get off when I ask when they’re a bit older.

You need to train your DH and DS out of this ASAP. It sounds like a small issue, but it really isn't.

Dogs jumping or clambering onto furniture (or up the stairs) when they are young can do serious damage to their joints - in both big dogs and smaller dogs. Some breeds they advise you don't let them upstairs or onto furniture for their own safety for up to 18 months.

I would be clear to them that they risk causing long-term damage to your puppy if they allow this (both allowing the puppy to clamber up but also to potentially jump down). Encourage them to sit on the floor with the puppy if they want to give it pats or attention.

We don't let puppy up the stairs. Dh and DC often lift him onto the sofa for cuddles but now puppy is big enough to climb up. This is what I'm trying to stop. But dh wants puppy on the sofa so perhaps this is a me problem.

The command is basically teaching him that 4 feet on the floor gets a reward.
So whatever the word, it means 4 feet on the floor.
If you use OFF then when they are on the sofa, and you say OFF, as soon as 4 feet on the floor you reward, or when they jump up, and you say OFF and then when they are on the floor you reward (voice or treat).
I don;t see that as training a negative, the aim is on the floor, in the same way that you maight say BED and they have to go to their bed.

If you are giving him mixed messages he doesn't know he isn't allowed up, but you can teach him to get down on command.

If you don't want the puppy on the sofa, he must never be allowed on the sofa - you can't have one rule with you and one rule with everyone else, it gets too confusing - you could just teach a solid "off" command but that won't stop him from trying to get up in the first place.

What's your objection to him on the sofa? Could he come up with blankets down or something?

If your puppy is still a puppy and big enough to climb on the sofa, then it's likely from one of the big breeds that definitely should not be clambering on furniture...for the exact same reasons you don't let puppies upstairs.

It's not a you, problem. It's a DH risky your puppies long-term health problem. Regardless of whether or not people want the dog on the sofa, as a puppy it should not be allowed to jump/clamber up because of the potential damage to joints.

They should cuddle the puppy on the floor.

@coffeesaveslives I work in the evening and he's just a pain leaning on me etc., he almost sent an email last night.

@Killingoffmyflowersonebyone he's a small-medium breed. Dh won't cuddle on the floor as he likes puppy next to him when he works. Complete opposite to me! I guess we will need to operate a lift up system.

@Crazyeight if that's the case I would just teach him an "off" command, or teach him to lay on a blanket only, so if you're working just don't put the blanket up there.

My FIL has that exact rule for our dog and he does understand that blanket = sofa time but no blanket means he has to sleep in his bed on the floor.

Use the "Off" Command: While positive reinforcement is great, there are situations where a clear boundary is needed. Teaching "off" (paired with a treat or praise when he gets down) is about showing the dog what you don’t want as well as what you do want. If your trainers aren't fans of the word "off," you can use "down" or "floor" instead—anything that signals to your dog that you want him to leave the furniture.
Reward Staying on the Floor: Instead of giving a treat for just sitting after being told to get off the furniture, reward your puppy for staying on the ground in the first place. For example, if he’s sitting or lying on the floor calmly, give him a treat then. You’re rewarding the right choice—staying off the sofa—before he even thinks of climbing up.
Redirect to a Cozy Spot: Create a comfy spot just for him with a blanket or dog bed nearby. When he attempts to climb the furniture, guide him to his spot and reward him when he stays there. This gives him an alternative place to hang out and get attention.
Remove the Reward of Climbing: If he climbs up and you immediately put him back down without a reward (no treat, no petting, no attention), he’ll start to realize that climbing the furniture isn’t worth the effort.