Does anybody have any recommendations on how to discourage my dal from
going on the sofa ?

Thanks

Aaron

USe a short lead attached to the dogs collar - using this encourage it to get off while using a command word you don't use for anything else, many people used 'down' to mean both 'off' and 'lie' which confuses the dog.

Lay cooking foil over the seating area - many dogs don't like the sensation - although the clever ones will learn that when the foil is there they don't get up, but when it is - they don't.........

Praise and reward the dog when it's NOT trying to jump on the sofa - this focuses them on doing the things you want, not the things you don't want.

Keep all contact/attention to a minimum when the dog does get up, if the dog gets no reward, it will be less inclined to repeat the behaviour (although for most dogs simply the reward of occupying a more comfortable position is reward enough)

Make sure the dogs own place is warm, comfortable and out of drafts, so it's more inclined to occupy it's own bed...

HTH

Thanks

Using the word "Off" and clicking my fingers and she gets off, seams to be a game when in the room, but she still goes on the sofa when we are
not in the room or have gone out of the house.

She has a sheep skin bed in the lounge to lay in but still prefers the sofa
some times.

Just pointing to the floor and telling her sternly off she should comply. Reward her when she follows your commands.
The only other way to prevent her from getting on the sofa when your not in may be to close the door.
I have a staff. Never gets on the sofa when we are in unless i allow it (sometimes i do ). But when told to get off he does. Yet every time we go out if the door is left open and he is in, i know he gets on the chair. Can't change that because when i get in he isn't on it.!!! Very clever. Very sneaky !!!

This is only a personal opinion - I think you have to be consistent. If you ever allow the dog on , how is it supposed to understand when and when it is not ok? We have a large breed - he has never got on the sofa, chair or the bed, only comes in the bedroom to lie on teh floor if I'm doing my make up etc as a special treat . When we got him we decided and agreed between us what we would and would not allow.
Our messgaes are clear and consistent - he doesn't get confused or frustrated - he's never done it and so doesn't miss it.

Please don't think we are mean to him , he's our baby boy ! He has 'cuddles' before he goes to bed - we sit on the floor and call him to us and he snuggles up with us, and when we watch TV we bring some vetbed in to the lounge so he can sit in the room with us. Most of the time he is happy curled up in a ball lying on our feet (quite a weight).

With the sofa and bed we have always used 'off' if we think he looks like he is thinking about getting on the sofa - you know when they rest their head on it and there is mischief in their eyes! If we are on the chair/sofa and he approaches and trys to get up we ignore him and make no eye contact. When we come into the living room, as well as making sure he has a designated place to sit I also usually bring one of his favourite treats - I call it ' chewy lewey!!!' - he knows what that is! He gets straight onto his bed when he hears the mention of 'chewy' and then get his reward to munch on.

You do need to be strong - we were told there was absolutely no way we would stop him getting on chairs and beds - but we have - purely with gentle training .

So it can be done.
Nikki

Hold treat in hand and say off as soon as he does reward him.
I personally only let my older dog on the sofa, but she only gets on when offered, she sits there looks at the chair or sofa and then looks at us to ask if it's ok. The pup thinks she can go ahead but we always tell her off and only let her when we say she can.
But if you do not want your dog on there at all then you need to be on your gaurd all the time, at night i have no control however you can put things on the chairs as suggested or close the door.