I need ATOT's knowledge on this one: how do I prevent my dog from getting to our leather couch?

[idNut]

Situation

I don't know what to do but we've tried everything we can think of. The onlly thing that works is to put a chair in front of the gate but that looks bad. Any ideas?

 

[notfred]

put a latch on the gate, or put the dog outside.

 

[Kalvin00]

Put it outside.

 

[brigden]

Kill it.

 

[Nohr]

Find a way to latch the gate to the floor. A bit permanent but it might work.

 

[idNut]

He's an inside dog, a basset hound. The hell if I'm going to put him outside. What would I latch the gate to?

 

[TonyG]

Well if it comes down to it, you can buy an electric collar. You put the collar on the dog and you have the remote in your hand/out of dogs sight. When the dog attempts the bad behavior tell him no, if he continues press the button once and tell him no again, which only gives him a warning beep, while pressing it again will give him a slight shock and continuing to press/or hold the button will increase the strength of the electrical shock till the dog decides against that behavior. The first few times the dog will think that what ever he was closest to is what bit him, I have seen a dog give a certain spot in a yard a 10ft birth for several days after a first training/hunting lesson.
Yes, you can find these at Pets-Mart but last time I looked at them you had to ask about them, and they had them locked away in a cabnet out of plain view.

 

[idNut]

That's kind of expensive though, Tony. Have you ever heard of the tape that you lay on the floor that gives off stactic electricity? I've been looking for that since it's not pricey or that dangerous.

 

[TonyG]

Never had heard of the tape, sounds interesting though. Yea, shock collars are expensive but we used it to break my dog of bolting off everytime she managed to get out of the yard. It was cheaper to get the collar then to pay the pound to get the dog back out.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: idNut
What would I latch the gate to?

Whatever it closes against.

 

[AreaCode707]

We resorted to turning our coffee table over on the couch when we weren't in the room.

 

[dman]

It's all about catching them in the act and quickly telling them no in a loud, harsh voice. Can't yell at them if you didn't catch them getting up on it though... have to catch them in the act. You can set them up and tell them 'off' or something as they attempt to get on the couch. You can use a loud noise maker too, if you are so inclined, or a water bottle to spray them with. Just be sure to NEVER allow them on the couch with you.

If you mess up (you weren't watching and they got up there without you noticing), just make the dog get off using calm voice, and let it pass. And try not to slip up next time.

When you are training, probably a good idea to buy the dog a dog bed and lead it over there, say 'on your bed' or something. Give it a treat when it listens, etc. (Positive feedback for using the dog bed).

It'll take a while but if you are consistent then they'll learn. We let our dog on the furniture when she was younger and it became a problem. We were careful and consistent to change that, and she doesn't get up on anything now.

If you are going to be out and can't watch them, you can also buy/use dog crate (of appropriate size) and keep them in there when you aren't going to be around. IMO, you shouldn't leave them in there all day alone, etc. But some people do, and some dogs don't seem to mind--if they feel like it's their den. Or you can buy a baby gate from Babies RUS or someplace that fastens to the wall with hinges, or some of the other suggestions, but, training is the best bet.

 

[dirtboy]

Put spikes on the seat cushins of the sofa.