Some dog owners might be okay with sharing the couch with their pets. If you have a larger dog or simply want to keep your furniture free of fur and odours, it would be best to keep the pup off the couch.
You can use three tried methods to do just that. With a bit of training and conditioning (as well as some handy materials), you’ll teach your pet to leave the couch alone and chill out somewhere else.
Let’s break down the three best techniques for how to keep your dog off the couch.
Method #1: Provide an Alternative
You can get your pet out of the couch habit by giving them a new cosy spot. With this method, you’ll provide them with furniture of their own.
1. Find a Suitable Dog Bed
Look for a bed that suits your dog’s favourite sleeping position. If they love spreading out, go with something long, soft, and cushiony. But if the dog tends to curl up, choose a bolster or doughnut bed.
Fur King dog beds are preferred by many pets and owners for their comfort, looks, and durability. They offer a number of options, including calming beds for anxious pups and orthopaedic beds for elderly or recuperating pets.
You’ll need to ensure the bed size is right for the pup. If uncertain, always go for the larger variant. Your pet won’t mind a slightly bigger bed, but a smaller one might cause issues with their neck or spine.
Once you get the bed, place it somewhere your dog will actually want to sleep. If they prefer undisturbed sleep, position the bed somewhere quiet. But if your pet sleeps best while surrounded by house activity, put their new furniture in a living room corner.
Similarly, choose the position based on lighting. Some dogs like having some light when they sleep, while others prefer darker surroundings.
Check out our selection of dog beds.
2. Give Your Dog Their Own Furniture (If the Pet Bed Is a No-Go)
Your dog might show no interest in the pet bed. Perhaps they’ve gotten too used to sleeping on an elevated item or can’t stand swapping regular furniture for a new, unfamiliar spot. Or perhaps you’ve bought five pet beds that your pooch just stares at from their vantage point on the couch.
If a new bed for your dog isn’t an option, you can give them a piece of furniture of their own. Simply choose an existing chair that will be dedicated to the dog.
The furniture piece you decide on should be the only place where your dog is allowed to sleep. Don’t let them get on anything else except their spot.
The dog will likely be confused at first, not understanding why getting on one chair is fine but the couch is off-limits. Consistency is key here. Get the dog off the couch whenever they try to hop on it but reward them every time they lay down on the designated furniture piece.
The selected chair should also be exclusively for the dog. No people or other pets should use it. This way, your dog will grasp the idea that the furniture piece is for them and nobody else.
One thing to avoid here is giving the dog a section of the couch. Getting them used to laying on a separate part of the couch and keeping them away from the rest will be very challenging or even impossible. Ideally, the furniture piece you dedicate for the dog should be completely separate from the couch.
3. Train Your Dog to Use Their New Spot
The most straightforward way to teach your pet to use their new furniture is with dog treats. Start by placing a treat on their bed and repeat this action multiple times daily. After a while, the dog should associate the bed with treats.
Reinforced by the positive experience, your pet should start choosing their bed over the couch more often. You can boost this effect further. Every time your dog gets on the bed on their own, reward them with more treats.
This will be a good opportunity to train your dog to go to bed on command too. Tell them, “Go to bed,” and indicate where you want them to move. Start reinforcing the command with rewards, but make sure to do it gradually.
First, give your dog a treat when they touch the bed. Then, wait for them to sit or lay on it before rewarding them. Finally, reward your dog after they’ve spent some time on the bed. Allow enough time for each training phase to sink in before moving to the next step.
Once you notice your pet going to their bed on command without hesitation, you can stop rewarding them every time they listen to you. Still, give them a treat every once in a while.
Method #2: Teach Your Dog to Get Off the Couch
Regardless of whether your dog gets their own space or not, it is a good idea to teach them to keep away from the couch. This will require you to train your pet for the “Off” command.
1. Start Using the “Off” Command
Start by watching how the dog behaves around the couch. Depending on whether they have their own bed and how keen they are to choose it over other furniture, your pet might not even attempt to hop on the couch.
That’s the best-case scenario. It’s much more likely that the pup will still want to return to the familiar spot. When you notice your dog is going for the couch, don’t prevent them from getting on it. Instead, wait for them to hop on.
Then, point at the ground and say, “Off.” Make sure to use an assertive voice tone but don’t sound too angry or yell. A more aggressive tone may have an adverse effect and undermine the relationship with the pet.
2. Reinforce the Command With Rewards
If the voice command isn’t doing the job on its own, offer the dog a treat. Present the reward close to their face immediately after saying off. But don’t give the treat to the pup just yet.
Instead, wait for the dog to get off the couch, follow the treat, and keep moving away slowly. Luring the dog towards their bed, wait for them to take the desired spot and only reward them once they’re in position.
Allow the dog to move on their own during the training. Taking them off the couch manually won’t help the dog learn that the furniture piece is off-limits.
Gradually shift the starting point further away from the dog. The goal you want to achieve is to train them to go directly to their bed without the assistance of treats.
You can also use other rewards to improve the training. For instance, pet and praise the pup as soon as they get off the couch. If the pup is more active and prefers play to petting, reward them with some playtime with their favourite toy.
If you take the praise approach, make sure to keep it consistent. Reward your pup each time they listen to your command.
Method #3: Make Your Furniture as Dog-Proof as Possible
If your dog is completely indifferent to the pet bed and teaching them the “Off” command is taking too long, you may need to employ additional methods to ensure the pup stays off the couch.
Even if your dog has responded well to other methods so far, they might not be able to resist the temptation to get back on the couch when there’s no one to stop them. The following options will come in handy during the night or when you’re not at home.
1. Isolate the Pet from the Couch at Night
Keeping your dog in a different room during the night will prevent them from jumping on the couch. This is a relatively simple technique but might not work in every case. If your pup is showing severe discomfort due to the isolation or change of setting, it would be better to try an alternative approach.
You could also try putting the pup in a crate for the night. Crate-training your dog has a multitude of benefits long-term too. Of course, you should ensure the crate is cushioned and comfortable enough. The same precaution applies here as for the separate room approach: If your dog feels scared or uncomfortable in the crate, it’s best to forgo this method.
2. Cover the Couch with Deterring Materials
You can cover the couch with materials your dog might not like. Top choices for this purpose are:
- Aluminium foil
- Bubble wrap
- Double-sided tape
Aluminium foil is a good option, as it may startle the pup when they try to jump up. It will create a distinct sound and reflect light. Bubble wrap is the next best thing since the bubbles might pop, scaring the dog away from the couch.
If your pooch is already high-strung, you might not want to startle or scare them. In that case, double-sided packing tape will be the preferred option. It won’t produce unpleasant sounds. Instead, the tape will feel sticky, which may be enough for some dogs to give up on the couch entirely. Be sure to test a small area beforehand to ensure it doesn’t mar the surface of the furniture.
Alternatively, you can use a furniture deterrent. These solutions are designed to produce a smell that the dog won’t like, keeping them away from the couch. When choosing this option, go for a non-chemical brand to keep your home and pet healthy.
Put a Stop to Dog Couch-Surfing
To summarise the most efficient methods of keeping your dog off the couch, you can:
- Give them an alternative spot
- Teach them the “Off” command
- Dog-proof the couch
For the best results, combine all three methods. This will make your pup stop getting on the couch, and the mixed approach might be necessary if any single method isn’t working.
As with many dog-related matters, it will take some time and patience. But in the end, you’ll end up with a couch still fit for use and a happy pup with a new, helpful habit