am looking to replace the old settees with leather sofas. What is the advice on this. Are there different types of leather to look for? I cant afford top of range stuff so was thinking of looking at secondhand stuff, especially as dogs spend more time on furniture than we do. Can anyone offer tips on what I should be looking for.
Thanks in anticipation
Sue

Hi Sue,
I can definately recommend leather suites for dogs!  We're on our second one now.  The first lasted for 13 years, which isn't bad considering the dogs are on it all the time!  If we'd stuck to fabric, I know for a fact we'd have gone through a good few more in that time!  We got our latest one second hand from the free ads paper.  Try and find one that has quite thick leather as the thin, soft leather will rip easily.  Don't go for too light a colour either!

Sarah.

We went for a mid-top range leather sofa with protection etc.  It has the dog's flying on and off it, dogs going over it, it's a springboard and the most damage was from us placing sharpe objects on it!   All in all very happy with leather :) plus it's easy to clean and easy to shine up when you have not so doggy friends who just put up with dogs :)

we are on our second too- really easy to keep clean etc
When you are looking for one try running your names over the sample pieces of leather in the shop to see if it marks

Hi Sue

Yep, we have leather sofas - had this one for two years now and still looks like it did the day it arrived from the showroom.  Have springer cross (with lovely claws that he likes to chew to a point !) and a boxer, both constantly jumping on it, shoulder diving it, chewing bones and toys on it plus three kids and not a mark on it.  We also have a cat that occasionally sleeps on the back of the sofa and he is old and grouchy and not very sure footed anymore but he hasn't marked it either - so yes, can highly recommend leather for dogs :)

I think ours is a Grade 10 leather - which is the cheapest and toughest leather I believe.

Tara x

edited to add - ours is a lovely soft lemon colour, yes it shows the mud but it only takes a wipe over with a damp cloth to get it clean :)

Definately leather, no other suite in our house has lasted as long (15 years now) and with 3 dogs, 4 kids its paid for itself over and over again :)

Hi had my leather suite for almost ten yrs now still in excellent condition to say i have had 5 boxers using it as a trampoline, although i am down to three boxer now they still use it everyday and there isnt a claw mark to be seen.Having said that i did pay a awful amount of money for it ten yrs ago but well worth every penny.

Yes we have leather too.  No problem with dogs

Same here :-) Leather is so easy to wipe clean

Hi again
Debating whether to bid on 2 leather 2 seater sofas (recliners)from Furniture village, currently at £250. Guy reckons they are 3 years old and in good condition,home with no kids, smokers and dogs (LOL). I asked him what the leather was like and he said 
'Although soft, it is well made. It,s had no problem with me over the years. As long as the dogs don't have too sharp claws, should be fine.'
Beauty of it is that he lives in our town so pick up no probs. I guess it is the uncertainty of if it is tough enough for our GSPs who are always on and off sofas. Gotta decide soon as it closes this afternoon.

Can't you pop along and have a look if they're local?

M.

I should have thought about it yesterday shouldn't I. It closes at about 2 and I got the impression that the guy works so unless he answers my e mail quick, might not be an option.

I got got my leather given for FREE :-)
my brother in law moved and it wouldnt fit in his new house so he gave us it the only trouble is its cream and shows every dirty hand and paw print!
but is easily cleaned and beggers cant be choosers right :-)

I've got two new leather sofas being delivered very shortly, but they're both in cream!  I'm getting worried now that I've picked the wrong colour!

Dont be they look lovely just got to keep wiping :-)

Don't worry, Keeley. Just keep baby wipes handy at all times and your sofas will be fine. My leather sofas are black and show up the dirt every bit as much as a lighter colour would but a quick wipe over soon sorts that out.

Baby wipes?  I was told not to use any sort of cleaning product on them at all.  Are baby wipes ok with them being so gentle then? (which I assume they must be for us to use them on babies?).  Ooh, I hope so, that would be very handy when we got Toby prints all over the settees! :D

Yep, baby wipes are fine. I've had my leather sofas for a couple of years now and my two dogs are award winners in distributing muck all over the house so I bulk buy the baby wipes (Superdrug are usually good for buy-one-get-one-free offers) and my sofas are in great condition ;)

Yeah....i have 2 leather sofas and baby wipes work a treat. :D :D Wipes all the slobber away perfectly!! ;-)

I got some leather cleaning wipes the other day only cost 99p and they do the trick :-)

Keeley, i have cream leather and any marks wipe away very easily with a baby wipe or leather wipe :-)

Oh good, feeling better now!

Get this then, I wasn't there when mum picked out our suite. It is navy blue, brushed material that cannot under any circumstances be cleaned with anything. :rolleyes: She has just spent £128 having it steam cleaned for the first time. (It is 5 yrs old.) You should have seen the colour of the water! Personally I would opted for leather. ;)