Why Do Dogs Love Jumping on the Couch?
To stop a dog from jumping on the couch, it helps to gain a better understanding as to why dogs become so enamored with sofas, love seats, ottomans and couches in general.
If the couch draws your dog like a magnet, dont just assume that hes doing that just to drive you nuts and misbehave. Actually, there is more to this behavior than meets the eye.
A little evaluation can therefore provide several hints as to why your dog is so eager to jump on the couch. Once you have a good grasp on the underlying cause, the couch-jumping behavior can become easier to solve. Following are several reasons why dogs are big couch lovers.
One main cause for dogs jumping on the couch is to simply stay closer to you. Suspect this if your puppy or dog happens to jump on the couch every time you are on it.
Many dogs love to stay glued to their owners, so much so, theyre often referred to as clingy “velcro dogs.” Staying close to you gives them a sense of security and reassurance.
Just as you like sitting on the couch, your dog likes it too. The bare floor may be boring, cold and uncomfortable, and therefore your dog may not be eager to lie down there.
Many dogs seek soft places that are warm and comfy. The couch also has your smell which makes it extra appealing, too.
If you have multiple dogs or other pets, your dog may retreat to the couch when he wants to be left alone and take a nap. The couch may also be a safe space for your dog to gnaw on a bone or chew toy undisturbed.
Many dogs like to dig when on the couch to hide their bones or toys somewhere. This happens courtesy of a dogs instinct to hide their treasures for later on. Its reminiscent of ancient times when dogs would bury extra food underground for leaner times.
Some small dogs may jump on the couch so to have a better view of their surroundings. If your couch faces a window, your dog may enjoy being there because he can monitor whats going on outside.
If you have multiple dogs or other pets, your dog may retreat to the couch when he wants to be left alone.
Effective Ideas To Keep Your Dog Off The Couch
Train your dog right from the puppy stage, it will take less time to adopt a long-term habit. We know this may not be your situation right now, and your dog may not be a puppy anymore, but you can still train him to stay off the couch or the armchair, whatever you want, though it’ll take you a little longer. Don’t hit or yell at your dog―no negative reinforcement. Instead, teach your dog the “Off!” cue. “Off” means, put all four feet on the floor. This cue is useful in many areas, including the couch. Practice by using something he can get on. Maybe a step, or maybe you have a piece of furniture he is allowed on. Have him get on it, and point to the floor with a treat in your hand and say, “Off!”. Once he gets down, give him the treat. Repeat, repeat, repeat! With a little practice, your dog will start to keep away from the couch altogether.
Capturing the behavior when it happens is a great way to work on “Off”. You’ll want to make sure you always have treats in your pocket. You always want to make sure you are using positive reinforcement for your dog. Whenever your dog gets on the couch, casually get his attention, and toss his favorite treat on the carpet/floor. He will gradually begin to associate the treat with staying on the floor, and will stop climbing onto the couch. However, you have to be very careful when adopting this technique. You want to make sure he doesn’t create the pattern of jumping on the couch, getting a treat, and jumping back up to get the treat. You want to make sure you are breaking up the pattern by treating many times once he is on the floor. maybe even do some sits and downs to change the subject.
Many pet owners prefer crating their dog before they leave the house so as to keep the couch dog-free. If your dog is crate trained and likes the crate, this is an ideal solution.
Either close a door to the room, or put a baby gate up. Eliminate access so they can’t get into the room where the furniture is. This is a surefire way to stop the behavior! Manage, manage, manage!
Let’s face it – it’s an age-old question for dog owners everywhere. No matter how much you work with your dog teaching them not to go on the couch, it’s a game changer when you aren’t home. You are not there to redirect them to a better behavior or intervene in any way. That makes this problem much harder to solve.
So, how do you stop your dog from laying on the couch when you’re not home? Let’s break the problem down to find the best solution for you.
First, I have to ask – are your dogs allowed on the couch at any time? If so, it’s going to be harder to stop them from getting up there when you are away. Everyone in the house needs to be on the same page so they’re not sending your pup mixed signals. No dogs on the furniture mean no dogs on the furniture, at all, for any person or any reason.
If you’ve tried the suggestions above and are still noticing dog hair on the couch, then let’s try some blocking techniques.
Nothing is going to be a quick fix, especially because you are not present to make an impact. Over time, these suggestions should help your dog learn not to hop up on the couch. Search for:
How to Keep Dogs off Furniture When You’re Not Home | Part 1 | 3 BIG DOG TIPS [EASY]
As a professional dog trainer, pet parents often ask me about the “right way” to do things. What is the “right” side he should walk on? What is the “right” place to put her food? My answer is always the same – it depends on your goals and what you are willing to work on. So while many people love to cuddle with their dogs on the couch, others have nice furniture or dogs that shed incessantly and just don’t want the dog rolling around getting fur everywhere. Whether you are starting this rule with a new puppy/dog or have changed your mind after letting your dog on the furniture in the past, we have some tips to set you both up for success.
Above all else, be consistent. This means everyone in your house – mom, dad, kids, grandparents, guests, dog sitter, etc. know the rules. It will be easier for your dog if everyone is holding him to the same standard instead of one person letting him on the couch, one not, and another still only during certain times of day.
Anytime your dog gets on the furniture, or puts her paws up on the furniture, ask her to get “off”, and lure her off the furniture with a treat or toss a few treats on the ground. You can also reward her with a treat if she happens to jump off. If your dog won’t budge, you may have to help them get down by picking them up or nudging them (you don’t have to push, throw, or shove your dog).
Your dog wants to be on the couch to be near you and because it’s super comfortable, so if you aren’t going to let her on the couch, give her a comfortable second option. Put the bed near the couch, and train her to go to it. Start by tossing some treats on the bed or rewarding her for putting her feet on the bed when you point to it. Then move to asking your dog to sit or lay down on the bed, pairing it with “go to bed”. When your dog jumps on the couch, ask her to go to her bed instead.
A positive interrupter is a noise that distracts your dog without scaring or upsetting him. When your dog jumps on the couch, you make a noise, and then when he jumps off, you click and reward. This video by Pam’s Dog Academy does a great job of explaining this concept.
You don’t want your dog to sneak in and lounge on the couch when you aren’t home, so block off the room, crate your dog, or keep your dog in another room while you aren’t home.
Put chairs on the couch when you aren’t sitting on it, or upside down laundry baskets. There is even something called the Couch Defender that looks like a tunnel that you can put on your couch/chair.
You may be wondering why I haven’t suggested shaking a can of pennies at your dog to startle him when he jumps on the couch, or putting one of those static mats on the couch to scare your dog off. Those things may work, but they aren’t teaching your dog what to do and will likely make him afraid to go near the couch at all. Training your dog is about strengthening your bond with him, not scaring him into doing what you want! So, go forth and harness the power of positivity to get your dog to do what you want! Featured via