[LolaBaby]

hey all. I've got my almost 5 month old golden pup of which I'm trying to train to keep off the couch. However, I have a problem. My boyfriends brother lives here as well with his dog, a 6 yr old doberman named Molly. And he's let her on the couch since she was little and is on there all the time and we don't want Lola to be like that seeing as once he moves out we'd like to get a new couch that won't be destroyed like the other one was from Molly being on it all the time with clawing and just making it smell like dog (he doesn't exactly take the best care of her and isn't the cleanest person, which makes me absolutely insane)... anywho we got Lola a dog bed and everytime I see her trying to get on the couch I say no and put her over on the bed.. well how can I keep her down when Molly wont listen and is constantly up there... His brother doesn't have a bed for her to lay on and I refuse to spend anymore money on her because he's too cheap to.. Any suggestions? We got that "stay off" spray and it doesn't seem to work at all... And when his brother is home and on the couch he calls the dog up and then I think Lola thinks it's okay to be there too cause Molly is up... :frusty:
what can I do!! ??


Thanks for any suggestions/tips
*Ericka*

 

[Amaryllis]

Well, I have a few pieces of advice. First of all, a regularly groomed dog doesn't destroy the couch. You don't have to allow your dog on the couch, but lots of us do and our couches are fine. I recommend a leather or pleather couch. (Pleather has gotten really nice in the last few years.) That's easier to keep dog hair off of and easier to clean overall. (Pledge works great on both.)

Other than that . . . it's hard to train a dog to do something if everyone isn't on board. If one person allows your dog on the couch, he'll always try to get onto the couch. (Random reinforcement is the strongest reinforcement. See also: gambling.) If he sees another dog on the couch, he'll try to get on the couch. You might have an easier time continuing to train "go to bed" and waiting to enforce the no couch rule until you move. Dogs are situational, so with a new couch and new house, your dog may not even assume he can use that couch in that room.

 

[LolaBaby]

Oh I'm not saying that grooming destroy's it, but it's an older couch and I honestly in the year I've been here couldn't tell you the last time he gave his dog a bath, and more than likely has fleas from her as well... Along with him letting her chew on it and claw it up cause he won't trim her nails either and they're very long... I'm not saying my pup smells like a garden of roses but she certainly doesn't smell like Molly does. Nor does she have fleas. && My boyfriend absolutely hates pleather and has his mind set on this other couch..

Would a spray bottle of water help with keeping her off the couch? Cause Molly, the doberman hates it with a passion.. I know it wouldn't work for Lola cause she loves it tho...