How To Keep Dogs Off Furniture

You love your furniture and don't want it getting ruined by your new dog and would like to know how to keep dogs off furniture. The joy of having a new pet is wonderful, but most of them think that they own the place and can do and go anywhere. They especially love sitting on your sofa, and laying on your tables. Their fur begins to shed and you end up with fur all over your furniture. Here are some ways to keep dogs off furniture.

1. Make sure that your dog understands the command "sit." This is one of the most basic commands of obedience, and it will be difficult to teach your dog to do or not to do something until they have learned this command. Practice the command "sit" until your dog gets the hang of it. Make sure to reward your dog when he is obedient.
2. Teach your dog the command "off."  Use the word "off" as a command to the behavior. You can you this word "off" as a command to train the dog to stay off the furniture, and not to jump on you or visitors. It has the same meaning to the dog either way.
3. The dog first needs to be on the furniture to teach it to stay off the furniture. Once the dog is on the furniture, use your command word "off" to lure the dog off of the furniture. When the dog is own the ground, reward its behavior with food or a treat, and with praise. Continue this process until the dog understands the command and has the behavior that you want.
4. Begin to use the command right before the dog makes the jump to get on the furniture. When you see the dog about to attempt to get on the furniture, state the "off" command in a quick and firm tone. When the dog shows obedience to the command give it gentle praise.
5. Block the couch and make it inaccessible if the dog does not respond to the commands. It can take time for the dog to be trained and learn the commands and how to follow them or your dog my just choice to be disobedient at times. If your dog is not responding to the commands turn the cushions sideways to block the couch or find another way to make the furniture inaccessible to the dog (i.e. move the furniture, pin the furniture up against the wall).
6. Use a spray or a small shock or vibration to keep your dog off the furniture. There are sprays that are marketed to repel your dog from the furniture. The spray produces a smell the dog does not like to keep it away, it will not harm your dog. Also, there are other products marketed to this issue that can give the dog a small shock or vibration when it makes contact with the furniture. Try different products until you find something that works good.