Teaching an old dog new tricks.
By webeishere
@webeishere (36313)
United States
February 11, 2009 3:44pm CST
Well, not really a trick but just a form of behavior I guess. My Buster loves sitting on the backs of my couch and love seat etc. With his hair and the fuzzy material of the furniture, it picked up WAY too much fur. So he is now being trained not to be on the furniture at all. The only problem is as soon as I walk out the door he usually gets on the furniture. Any ideas etc to break him of this habit? Now he lies on this blanket in the dining room instead of his pillow etc.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
5 people like this
9 responses
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
11 Feb 09
Sorry I can't be of any help. I know when we got our dog, puppy at the time, after he learned to jump up on my bed I would chase him off and he stopped getting up there. Then one time when my daughter and grandson was here for a visit they let him up there and I can't break him of it now. I might just have to close the room off during the day but I don't want to do that. At least he don't shed so that is good.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
11 Feb 09
The hardest part is to keep dad from calloing him up onto his lap in his chair. That reinforces that Buster can get on the furniture. But as soon as he sees me he jumps off the chair. HAHAHAHA!
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
11 Feb 09
My daughter's big boxer loves to get on her loveseat. When she got new furniture she wanted to keep him off, boxers can sure slobber and drool. She has a thin blanket that he uses and as long as that is on the loveseat he knows he can get up there but when it is not there he don't go near it.
I have attached a picture of him and my dog taken at her house on the loveseat.
2 people like this
Awww, making fun of my dog huh?
He is an Italian Greyhound. He was 14 months old when that was taken I think. Yes, they are thin but eat like a horse. He loves to play, run and jump.
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
12 Feb 09
Hi Grandpa, I think I can help on this one. You have to put two blankets or throws. It worked for me and I hope that it works for you! Have a wonderful evening and best wish's....@webeishere (36313)
• United States
12 Feb 09
I keep the furniture cpovered with sheets.
That keeps the fur off.
But I want to see my furnitures fabric badly. HAHAHAHA!
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@blackbriar (9075)
• United States
19 Feb 09
Aluminum foil and/or set mouse traps. For some reason, cats and dogs don't like the shiny foil so won't walk on it and the mouse traps gives them a good enough scare so as to think twice before jumping/walking on something that might set them off.
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
11 Feb 09
Hi GRANDPA BOB,
I don't think you can retrain Buster now as he is s used to sitting on that chair, when you said Buster gets on the furniture when you leave the room, reminds of my mum's cats she use to have, they love to sit on her chair all five cats! they were kittens then and my mum hates cats on the chair, so as soon as mum goes off to the kitchen, they all jump up on the chair, no matter what we say to them they just ignored us but when they hear mum's footsteps, they will jump down and look all innocent, they can't fool mum as their indentions were on the chair, mum used to laugh at them, clever cats.
Tamara
1 person likes this
@suzzy3 (8341)
•
11 Feb 09
What a crafty little dog he waits for you to leave the room,so he knows it is wrong ,all i can suggest is that you get him his own armchair or cover the sofa with a blanket.Buster makes me laugh.I sometimes think these pets are a lot brighter than us!!
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
12 Feb 09
I wouldn't begin to theorize how to do that! My dogs have free rein of the house and Cookie loves to curl up on the couch cushions on the back of the couch. Do your cushions have dips in them, too?
I guess you could order him off the couch, show him an alternate place then reward him with a hug or a little treat. Poor Buster! 
I guess you could order him off the couch, show him an alternate place then reward him with a hug or a little treat. Poor Buster! 
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
12 Feb 09
All I can say is just to keep telling him NO, when he tries to get up there and when he does make him get right back off, and tell him NO when you make him get off. I know when our dogs were puppies we used to let them get on the couch, and it took a long time to get them to quit getting up there when they were older. You just have to be consistent with it.
