I would like to get a leather sofa but am worried that my GSD claws would scratch it, It would be difficult to stop her going on it as we have allowed her to go on the ones we have now, and I would not want to shut her in the kitchen when we go out.
Does anyone know if her claws would scratch it? I have put off getting one foe this reason.
Thanks
K

It all depends on the quality of leather used on the sofa.
I have a mid blue sofa and it doesnt show scratches or muck etc. Although at seven years old its looking pretty good and I would never go back to a fabric sofa :)

Hi Lel
Thanks for your quick reply.
How do you know you are getting a good quality leather is it the same as everything else the more you pay the better you get?
K

Mine was a good price from DFS ( a few years ago as I mentioned)- most shops have leather samples for you to look at - just simply scratch your nails down a few samples and see whether they mark at all. ( without the nice man looking of course) ;)

we are on our second chesterfield suite now the other lasted years the dogs dont tend to go on them as much as the old fabric one we used to have. I was always washing the covers to that now a quick wipe down with a chamois leather and its good as new I wouldnt have any other kind of suite with dogs around only had one disaster and that was with the old suite it had become cracked with the heat and  Ned decided to chew the arm off !!! but never touched this other one at all.
You can get some very nice second hand  leather suites people change them when changing decor  the one I have now was second hand
then if you dont like it you can sell it on.

You can usually tell the quality by the smell and how well the suite is made it will also be heavy if its very light it wont be a very good construction also  some of the coloured ones are sprayed you need a dyed one

HI
Ask the sales man if it is "spit Hide" as  some of the cheaper suites are; this means taking the leather and splitting it ( a bit like a sheet of loo roll!) and so the leather goes further, but of course it's thinner not as strong, often the manufacrurer will use full hide on the seat fronts and split hide on the backs and sides, but the stitching sometimes pulls through the weaker leather.

Most good stores offer a insurance on leather suites for about 5 years which would cover accidental rips and scratches, my cover was £270 for the 5 years, but that was 4 years ago now!

I love my suite as I can wipe it down, you do need to use a leather conditioner on them though or they do split and crack in central heated houses,   But best of all hairs don't stick!
Happy shopping
Ken

We bought our leather suite from DFS last August, we also took out the 5 year leather warranty, which covers us for stains repair/replacement  if damaged, it cost £183 on top of the cost of the suits......so not bad for peace of mind.

I wouldn't buy another fabric suite, this one so far has done really well, with 4 children and 5 dogs..........and it's cream too, but cleans just great!

I have a leather suite from DFS for 4yrs now and its still in very good nick, only my westie is allowed on it but one of my GSD get on when we aren't looking, I give it a wash with damp cloth once a month. My friend has a leather  suite same  age different shop different leather and her dogs have scratched it badly, so much better than fabric furniture

Thankyou all for your replys, you have put my mind at rest, and now I can start looking, I haven't looked before as I didn't want to find one I really liked and then not be able to have it incase it got scratched.
It will be be so nice to sit down without getting covered in dog hairs.

Lel, I will have a crafty scratch on the sofas or samples, what a good idea!
Thanks again everyone.
K

We have a leather sofa, 2 boisterous Staffords, and 2 cats - and, yes, they do scratch it! We've taken to using a throw on the sofa now, because the thing is practically a family heirloom and we don't want it ruined. ;)