Holly isn't allowed on the furniture but she still jumps up when she thinks we're not looking. She jumps off as soon as we tell her but it doesn't stop her from getting back up there :(

We originally started off by saying that she'd never be allowed on the furniture but then Chris decided that it would be okay as long as we invited her up. Now she just gets on whenever she feels like it :(

In 5wks my sister is expecting a baby and I want her to be able to bring the baby round and put him/her on the sofa without worrying about Holly landing on the poor thing.

Any advice how I can stop her from getting on the sofa whenever she feels like it? She's great at getting off but I don't want her there in the 1st place.

TIA,

Fiona
x x x

Hi Fiona,
My mom absolutely did not want her schnauzers up on the furniture either. She did the "Coin Can" method ;) It took about a week for it to completely work. She put coins in coke cans and placed them on strategic places upon the furniture. "Strategic" being the soft places that if the dog jumps up, it would fall nearby/on the dog, but remain on the furniture. That was if the dog jumped up again, they'd move again ;)

She'd reinforce the jump-off, by praising her dogs that they stayed on the floor or went to their bed. She used the coin/can method all of the time.... They live on a split level...dogs aren't allowed on the staircase when the doorbell rings... barky too much, etc... Works for her.

Another thought is what people with cats use. Line along the counters and furniture with aluminum foil, shiny side up. I don't know it will work for a small dog, but it might be worth a try ;)
toodles

Fiona, this is one thing I consider myself an expert on, having utterly failed to persuade generations of deerhounds to stay off the furniture :-).

You've slightly burned your boats by letting Holly get up at all. If you are really determined to stop her the first thing you've got to do is implement a 'no, never, not under any circumstances' rule. If you so much as see Holly thinking about getting up on a sofa tell her not to, and if she gets up when you aren't there, make her get down the instant you come back. You could also try 'blocking' the sofa/chairs when you are not in the room for a while until she gets used the the new regime. A few magazines will deter some dogs, and I've heard of people using kitchen foil which crackles and puts some dogs off. If she is more determined you might have to put hard objects (eg kitchen chairs, stools) on the soft furnishings when you can't supervise Holly. I've also heard of people 'sneaking up' on the dog when it is settled on the sofa and startling it with a noise or spray of water.

PS - I don't really mind if my lot get up on the furniture, but I wish I could talk them out of sitting on unwary visitors who occupy their favourite bed :D.

Thanks Sara and Sharon :)

I'll let you know how we get on.

Fiona
x x x

I Know just what the feeling is like, Zac always jumps on my small two seater
the leather one he will respect but have just had the lounge decorated and ordered
a new leather chesterfield and now the fun begins ,But i have two dogs to contend
with I just shoutout off and everyone just jumps and runs grandkids as well ha ha ha

Pat xx

Hi Fiona

Have you tried a squirty bottle, and everytime she goes to get up give her a little squirt...or failing that a bucket of water :D :D :D

Natasha

I use the dummy launcher!

Hi Fiona

This is a bit like closing the door after the horse has bolted - but as it is learned behaviour - it can be unlearned. The key as has already been said is consistency. If you want her off - then she must always be off - no exceptions, otherwise she will just become confused and upset. ALL members of the family have to apply the same rules or you are wasting your time and Holly's effort.It's always difficlut when other family members think - once won't hurt - or we'll just do it when.....The fact that there will be a new baby might be just too much for Holly to be able to control her urge to jump on the sofa anyway - you know how quick they can be.

She must be kept off the furniture all the time. Make being on the floor more entertaining for her and being on the sofa not nice. I find water squirts work very well - but some dogs do like it:(

The only safe way for a new baby is to keep Holly out of the room when s/he is on the sofa, or alternatively to put her on her lead and keep her by you so that she cannot get to the baby except under your terms and guidance. You might find this is actually the better option for you and one where you have more chance of success.

jmho

Pam n the boys

PS - I'd be wary of using foil in case she decided to eat it!!

Oh don't worry Pam - I've every intention of keeping Holly in her crate to start with when the baby is around. My sister isn't particularly dog friendly as it is and only just about tolerates Holly and I wouldn't put the baby at risk at all. As much as I love Holly the baby's needs must come first.

Obvously as the baby gets older there will be occasions when Holly isn't in her crate and the baby is in the same room and I want to be confident in my own mind that Holly won't get on the sofa.

I'm quietly confident that as Holly gets off when she's told I can prevent her from getting on their in the first place.

I spent almost 2hrs today constantly telling Holly to get off the sofa and not to get on there whenever I saw her trying it and since then she hasn't tried to get up there so maybe she's starting to realise she's not allowed on there any more.

I'll let you all know how we get on :)

Thanks,

Fiona
x x x