Keeping Fido Off the Couch

Do you often find your dog on the couch, even though he knows he isn’t supposed to be on it? Fido is a loving and wonderful pet, but he is also a bit of an opportunist. Most pooches have no qualms about napping on a comfy sofa. We can help! In this article from Fairfield Animal Hospital, your Cy-Fair pet clinic, a vet discusses keeping your pet off your couch.

Training

Good petiquette starts and ends with training. Dogs are smart enough to know what they are and aren’t allowed to do. The key here is to be consistent. When telling your pet to get off the couch, use the same phrasing each time. Also, don’t let your canine buddy take a nap on the couch one day, and then reprimand him for it the next. This will just confuse him. Plus, it will give him the impression that he may or may not be able to get away with sleeping on the sofa. (In doggy terms, that translates into ‘It’s worth a shot.’) It’s also important to set—and follow—your rules from day one. If you let Fido sit beside you when he’s a puppy, you’ll have a hard time breaking this habit when he’s all grown up. Finally, if you let your furry pal sleep on your old sofa, don’t expect him to stay off the new one!

Doggy Bed

Make sure your canine pal has a good doggy bed. You may actually want to get Fido more than one bed. Put one in your bedroom for him to use at night, and another in the living room, so he can hang out with you while you watch TV.

Deterrents

There are some ways to make the couch less appealing to your pup. Try removing the cushions, or standing them up. You can also put tinfoil or sandpaper on it, as long as your pet won’t eat them. This of course won’t be very comfortable for you, but may be helpful for when Fido is home alone. Taste deterrents may help as well. You can also try putting a rubber mat with ‘bristles’ on the couch, or putting an empty laundry basket on it. Please contact us here at Fairfield Animal Hospital, your Cy-Fair pet clinic, for all your dog’s veterinary care needs. We’re dedicated to offering great veterinary care!