right this is a difficult one we have a yorkshire terrier and a lurcher and they have always been allowed on our settee and chairs,it was cream leather and it always looked filthy and was worn.we have just been lucky to be given another cream leather one to replace oour old one from a relation and its still in very good condition better than our old one.We want to try to stop the dogs going on it.We have had it 3 weeks now and i am sick to death of pushing themj off it and shouting at them every 2 minutes!! pippin the lurcher seems to have got the hint as we have only had her about 6 months.Ben however our yorkie is 2 and has always been allowed on.Also he has alwasy liked to come on my knee for a stroke so he thinks if he has been on my knee for a stroke on the chair he is allowed to now go on the settee hahah.any advice please????

I've always allowed mine on the furniture and dread getting a new suite next year. But I'm just planning to buy a couple of cheap washable throws. As the dogs always seem to sit in the same spot that's where I'll put them. It still allows the dogs on the furniture but will keep it looking nicer.

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We r going to be trying this when we get new sofa, would be interested in responses.

My sis did it with a blanket, when blanket was on sofa they r allowed on and when it's not they weren't and apparently they picked that up quite well and get very excited when they see blanket come out

Why not just buy a nice throw or two and stop stressing?
My dogs rarely get on my sofa because their beds are plump with old duvets and toys and frankly are more comfortable. In fact I frequently sit with them on their beds for grooming and stroking and quiet chats.

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It might take you sometime as your dogs dont understand you have a new sofa, and have always been aloud up on it, so they will be confused now when you try and stop them.

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Have you tried a squirt with a water pistol, not the same as your situation but Hugo kept jumping up at the doors so I got my sons little water gun an gave him a squirt when he did it, took about 4 times then he realised he wasn't meant to.

I would imagine if you allowed dogs on settee before it will be very hard to retrain an established trait. I have never understood dogs on sofas etc hygiene reasons for one , yuk. I believe in the motto start as you mean to go on with a pup. As yours have been allowed up maybe your only option is a throw, water pistol does not seem fair on them now

persistance is key! everytime you tell them OFF and they get off reward them with lots of praise, a toy, or a treat.

or you could get a blanket and put it over a bit of your new sofa and thats thier spot, and they can only be on the blanket. thats what i do with my dog

dogs on the sofa is part and parcel of them being part of your life - we had a rule of no dogs on the sofa - it lasted for as long as my eldest was too small to jump on it (about a week!!!!)

As someone else suggested, why not get some throws from somewhere like Dunelm Mill? they have some lovely ones for just under a fiver - out main sofa is suede - so needless to say very easily marked - but we keep it clean simply by using the throws.

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We have 2 sofa - one dogs allowed and one not
It works well both dogs understand - however I know as soon as we are all out they both go and sleep on the no dogs allowed sofa
So even if you train them not to get on the sofa I expect they'll still be up there when you're not in.
I'd go for the covering the sofa in throws option

Otherwise it's lots of rewards for sitting nicely at your feet and taking time to train the off command.

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