MissPennyLue
New member
- Jun 20, 2011
- 534
- 39
- Bulldog(s) Names
- Penelope Lue (Penny)
We made the mistake of letting Penny up on the couch when we first got her. We moved & got a new couch 3 months later, and we changed the rule to not allow her on the couch. We figured it was a new setting and if we were going to break of her it then was the time.
A little over a year later, we are still fighting the couch battle. In general, she knows to stay down. If we have company or if we take her to other people's houses she does not get on the furniture. However, as soon as my husband & I sit down on the couch she starts jumping on & off the couch. It's not to lay down, but more to pick. She will jump up & nip me on the back of the arm and jump back down. Or, she will run with her toy & ricochet off of the back of the couch. It's to the point where I sit on the floor & she stays down for the most part if I'm down with her. If I try to get her by the collar to get her down she is play-biting which can really hurt!
Here are some things we have tried:
- spray bottle (no longer effective)
- coins in a can (was never effective bc she thinks is a toy)
- "settle" basically a down stay on her bed or a blanket & she gets treats at random time intervals for staying put. This sometimes works. She always has her bed available in the living room when we are there.
- Putting her in "time out" when she jumps up...basically giving her a firm no & with holding attention (standing up & ignoring her for 10 seconds). We learned this from a behaviorist with a previous attention seeking dog & it worked wonders with him...no luck here
- toys....nyla bones, kongs, some other hide a treat toys for busyness & mental stimulation. This works sometimes, but other times she just brings them with her on the couch.
We really need to get this under control. Any other ideas or suggestions?
A little over a year later, we are still fighting the couch battle. In general, she knows to stay down. If we have company or if we take her to other people's houses she does not get on the furniture. However, as soon as my husband & I sit down on the couch she starts jumping on & off the couch. It's not to lay down, but more to pick. She will jump up & nip me on the back of the arm and jump back down. Or, she will run with her toy & ricochet off of the back of the couch. It's to the point where I sit on the floor & she stays down for the most part if I'm down with her. If I try to get her by the collar to get her down she is play-biting which can really hurt!
Here are some things we have tried:
- spray bottle (no longer effective)
- coins in a can (was never effective bc she thinks is a toy)
- "settle" basically a down stay on her bed or a blanket & she gets treats at random time intervals for staying put. This sometimes works. She always has her bed available in the living room when we are there.
- Putting her in "time out" when she jumps up...basically giving her a firm no & with holding attention (standing up & ignoring her for 10 seconds). We learned this from a behaviorist with a previous attention seeking dog & it worked wonders with him...no luck here
- toys....nyla bones, kongs, some other hide a treat toys for busyness & mental stimulation. This works sometimes, but other times she just brings them with her on the couch.
We really need to get this under control. Any other ideas or suggestions?