Last night my wife got up to get a drink and she sees our mixed lab/shepard jump off the couch and go back to his bed to lay down. He's pretty smart and won't dare get on the furniture when we're around unless the kids get him spun up. I tell him bed when he comes inside and goes right to his bed and generally behaves inside. Only reason he's inside is because it's pretty damn cold out there right now and he won't bark all night. So anyone have any tips to keep my dog off the couch when we're not around?

 

yep, try installing a electic fence, that will stop him.

 

I'm considering a invisible fence in my back yard. I had one several years ago with a very hyper dalmation and that thing worked wonders. Just thinking of getting one because this dog has become quite the escape artisit these last few days.

I have seen shock mats but I was looking for more of a psychological approach.

 

Just put a few mouse traps on the cushions or stack a bunch of pillows on it so he can't jump up there.

 

They sell some sprays that suposedly keep dogs off of furniture. You could give those a try. They keep my little dog from eating our furniture but I haven't tried it on our new sofas yet.
My dog is only a 13lb little lap dog and my fiance always hangs out with him on the couch, so we've been training him to just stay on a little blanket on the couch so he won't ruin the cushions. I can't win the war of totally banning him from the couch.

 

sure you can, go and buy you a Big lap puppy. she won't like that and she will give in.

 

Not to hijack your thread...well I guess it's not hijacking since you posted about an invisible fence too... Anyway, I have 2 dogs, one is a yellow Lab that has been reincarnated as Harry Houdini. He escaped from a 4' high chainlink fence by digging under it, can open up the front and back door from inside the house, got out of a full body harness and even escaped from the pound He got out one day and our other dog followed him, then was hit by a car and died.

We got another dog about 3 months later and also an invisible fence. One of the best investments I have ever made and recommend them to anyone. I let them both out now without their collars and they still won't leave my property.

As far as the couch goes, we were just very firm with both of our dogs and it worked. My wife stays at home so she can keep an eye on them but when we're gone, the dogs are outside. We have a doggy door in the basement so they can come in though if it gets too cold.

How old is your Lab/Shepard? Usually if you are firm with them at a younger age, they will outgrow it.

 

We have the same problem and have ended up putting a bar stool on the couch when we go to bed.Seems to work pretty well.I like the mouse trap also,that would be something that would probably startle him enough to keep off.Good luck.

 

It's your dog man, just let him do it, his life is short and you are going to miss him when he is gone.

 

I'll agree with the "Firm" part, but you aslo need to be very consistent. In the meantime, put some aluminum foil on the couch, they can't stand the feel, or the noise! Should keep him off until the commands start working

 

Sounds like it's time for crate training. It's the only way to maintain control of the animal when you're not around. It worked wonders for my parents. They could correct him when he was on the couch while someone is home, and not worry about finding stuff destroyed when they're gone.

-Joe

 

You crate trained your parents??? I'll have to try that.

 

If you want to keep him off of the couch, go to PetSmart or someithing like that, and ask for a "Scat MAT." It is a plastic mat that has a 9-volt battery---and small wires run through it. The dog hops on the couch, touches the Scat Mat, and receives a nice static electricy charge that will scare him off of the couch. eventually he won't bother to get on the couch.

I, too, am a big proponet of invisiable fences. We have a little more than an acre,and we have four labs. The fence has worked tremendously. No problems. Once they get the shck training, they don't go near the boundaries.

Tim C.

 

One more thing for anyone considering an invisible fence, stay away from the Home Depot or other cheap fences. They don't work for chit. We had one professionally installed from a reputable company. Cost about $1000+ but woth every penny IMO...

 

I have the electric fence around my yard. It's easy to install and doesn't take long with a cordless screwgun. Maintenance is a lot easier with an electric fence than the invisible type. You could also invest in an electric collar. I have one that has the shock and the sound. You use the sound first and then if they don't get the message you hit them with a little jolt. The one I have is adjustable and my lab has only been hit once with a middle setting and that's all it took. Now if she gets into misbehaving I just put the collar on her and she lays down. With the couch you would have to see her on it before giving her some sound so it may not be the perfect thing but they recognize the collar and putting it on the couch may keep her off. The collar can be used for years on other dogs so it is a long term investment for you.