Changed to leather sofas 3 years ago - looking scruffy now but guess that can't be helped but I am having problems with a cushion splitting and not happy with the repair so may consider changing as the totally undamaged sofa is the size I want for another part of the room.  But with regards to this situation I wanted to ask leather sofa owners some questions.

Has anyone had this problem with 'body oils' (ie dog oils) damaging leather sofas (top appears to have rubbed/peeled off)?
Has anyone else had leather sofas from DFS and if so how have you found them?
Can anyone recommend a leather sofa supplier who has sofas that will withstand dogs well?

Many thanks.

Louise

I've had my leather sofas for about 13 years  from DFS - still look good as new (ok so they might need a wipe over ;) ) and in all these years I've always had one dog or another claiming part ownership. No splitting or wearing down has occured on either of them or the chair :)

Hi Louise,

I have a leather sofa (bought 6 years ago) wich the dogs go on all the time, we actually bought especially for  them a long bench pouffee and this does have slightly more wear than the rest of the furniture, this now has a throw on for them to lay on. We did explain when we bought it that the dogs would go on it, and the salesman advise that we spend a little more for the leather that dosen't just have a coating on it, if that makes sense.

However this is not much use to you as I am in Gemany and bought this one here, I think if the dogs are on the furniture you do have to expect a bit of wear if you are not covering it with throws. The other option of course is to keep them off in the first instance, but if you are like me I can never resist the eyes giving me that look. :)

I have never bought a leather sofa from DFS, but have  a fabric one from them, must be about 11 years old with removable washable covers (bought an extra set when bought it)
this is now in my bedroom for the dogs to sleep on and is in great nick, however I am looking at getting new covers made when we move next as they are worn now with the dogs using it.

To add I do clean my cream sofa approx every 2 days with leather cleaner, more often if the weather is bad, as the debris from their feet/ hair can also cause an abrasive effect on the leather.

HTH :)

Hi,

I have a leather "love seat" (small 2 seater or very large armchair) from Marks and spencer..my dog is on it the whole time even digging it up to make it comfortable for her, if i find some faint scratch marks on it i wipe it over with leather wipes and they all just disappear..the leather is incredibly soft and have been amazed that is has withstood all she does to it.

we have a leather sofa from Argos and it is about 5 years old now and has stood up to the 3 dogs really with no signs or wear or tear.  Its the cat that has been the problem, we went on hols and came back to find he had used one arm as a scratching post!

We have a 5yr old leather sofa, that was to be thrown away, and its in great condition, we have it in our dog room, and its still a good comfy sofa, and the dogs love it!
We have another leather sofa in our non dog room, which is nealry 10yrs old, and its hardly used!
We have the odd scratch on them, and I wipe them down with baby wipes or a damp cloth with fabric conditioner, and they come up lovely, and smell nice also!

I got our leather sofas from John Peters a couple of years ago.  I didn't go for the most expensive ones after spending a fortune at M & S on Fabric ones a few years earlier that attracted our GSDs hairs . We now have three dogs on them and they are fine. I clean down marks with baby wipes. I would like some better quality leather ones but will have to wait until the pup has grown up. My sister did get some leather ones from Argos and they don't have dogs or kids and they split within a year. 

Have G plan leather sofas and chairs no problem no wear or cracks wipe over with damp cloth and then leather wipe.
Dog not allowed on chairs although our previous one did lay on these always had a cover on his bit.

>I've had my leather sofas for about 13 years  from DFS - still look good as new (ok so they might need a wipe over ;-) ) and in all these years I've always had one dog or another claiming part ownership. No splitting or wearing down has occured on either of them or the chair

Ditto - only mine are only about 6 years old and have had dogs on them daily for about 4 years.  Still in great condition and no cracking/splitting.

However, it very much depends on the type of leather as my Mum also has a leather suite from DFS and hers is a completely different type of leather which marks easily and can't be cleaned with baby wipes like mine can.

I have a fabric in one room leather in the other.
The fabric needs more cleaning and can, if the covers slip, get a bit whiffy... sainsburys version of fabreeze deals with that. But has got  battered and worn.
But the leather looks good as new.. I wipe it over with baby wipes in between cleans . The leather was the cheaper of the two as well....

I would never touch DFS, had awful problems with a repair ...I call them Dodgey Flaming Sofas......

classic leather looks lovely when it's all battered and worn.i have one of those reconstituted(whatever that is)leather suites from argos,it's holding up well after 3 years,but then it should.wish i could afford a really lovely top quality,soft leather,last forever,suite.i'd rather have that than a posh car.i'm 5foot10 too,both daughters are also 5foot10 and son is 6foot3 and we never can get the seat depth we need for comfort.one of my girls has large leather sofas from ikea,but they are terribly difficult to sit on.too slippy and uncomfy.x

I have come to the conclusion, unfortunately, that it is totally random whether you will get a leather sofa that really does the business. 
I had an expensive, firm leather suite that lasted me over 20 years looking good for almost all of that time which was replaced a couple of years ago with a Tetrad suite, not particularly cheap either, but this is already showing serious signs of wear despite the fact I no longer allow my dog on it. 
Similarly, amongst the experiences of friends its seems totally random whether the soft leather or the firm leathers or any kind of finish will or won't stand the test of time.  I still think they beat fabric hands down when it comes to animals, at least they will be more hygienic, but whether they will last is just down to luck I feel :-(

I had leather sofas from DFS and my 5 dogs were on them every day. Easy to clean with babywipes, looked like new after 5 years and i'd still have them today if a delinquent puppy hadn't decided to shred one while i was in the shower! My fault, should've been in his crate.

Leather from Peter Green in (southampton) about 6 years old now looks okish but its pale, pale green. Next time its dark brown leather for me. You can see the dirt on this one very easy it cleans fine and no scratches but I am forever noticing marks off dirty dogs and washing it off. I treat it with a saddle soap about 4 times a year and its still in great condition.

Hi, i've got 2 leather sofa's - one in the living room and another in the conservatory, both from CSL and no problem with the 2 dogs going on them and all that. The man in the shop gave a bottle of leather cleaner etc for free but he did say to me "dont tell the boss i told you but Johnstons baby wipes are the best for rubbing down the leather because they have moisture in them etc - but not any other brand". I have wiped my sofa with johnstons with no trouble, dirty comes off and sofa's are fine. Albeit one is near on 4 years old and the one in the living room just over 2 years old so not mega old, but still look great in my opinion