How to Teach a Dog Not to Get on the Sofa

Dogs love us, and that's why they adore spending time with us. Ideally, right up close. If we look really comfortable on the sofa, our dog is going to want to check it out for themselves — next to us, or on top of us.

No problem. If you want to share the sofa with your dog, you can — but you'll need to allow it every time. If, on the other hand, you'd rather they only used their own bed, in this article we explain how to make that clear to them.

Letting or Not Letting the Dog on the Sofa

First of all, consistency matters a great deal with dogs. For them, it provides the predictability they need. The dog always needs to know cause and effect. That is, they need to know that whenever we get home from work we take them for a walk, or that after that walk, it'll be time to eat. This way, knowing what to expect, they're calmer.

That's why it matters that, if we decide to let them on the sofa, we do it every time. Even so, if we're not sure or don't know whether we'll be able to keep this permission up, we should never let them get on. Not even if they're an adorable puppy. Don't forget they'll grow within a few months. And the dog won't understand why sometimes yes and other times no.

The result is they'll be confused, and so will always try to get on, since they've understood that sometimes they achieve their goal. This is what will cause conflicts in day-to-day life together. So think about what you want to do and stick to your decision. Very important: this needs to be respected by everyone living with the dog.

The Importance of Training in Dogs

Teaching a dog not to get on the sofa is part of the basic training every dog should receive, regardless of their size or even age, since dogs have the ability to learn throughout their whole life.

Even though some owners still aren't aware of how important training is, the truth is it's essential every dog knows basic commands such as "come", "sit" or "stay", along with behaviour rules such as urinating outside the house, not jumping on people, or, the case we're covering here, not getting on the sofa.

Devote time to this training, and if you don't know where to start or how to do it, seek help from canine behaviour professionals, such as ethologists. The key is the consistency we've already discussed, along with persistence.

My Dog Gets on the Sofa — What Do I Do?

Let's say, for example, we get home and find the dog on the sofa. Our first reaction might be to get annoyed and shout. Even so, this isn't a very educational behaviour for them. Other owners approach the dog to pick them up in their arms and take them straight off, especially if they've called them with no result.

Even so, they might be surprised to find the animal growls, bares their teeth, or even snaps at them. You should never shout, let alone hit, in these situations. We could get bitten, and either way, we're destroying our bond with the dog. It's best to use a distraction move. For example, grab the lead or a reward.

Most dogs will run towards you. Give them a command they'll obey, such as sitting, and reward them right at that moment. If you notice, you're ignoring a behaviour you don't want repeated and reinforcing the one you do want, that is, obeying. The dog, who's no fool, will increasingly repeat what they know brings them benefits.

Teaching the Dog Basic Commands

Another option is including the "get down" command as part of the basic training we're going to give our dog. We can teach it easily, and make the most of them getting on the sofa to practise it. For example, approach them with a reward and bring it close to their nose. When they try to take it with their mouth, move it down towards the ground.

The idea is that, following the movement of your hand behind the reward, the dog will get down. As soon as they do, say the command clearly, which could be the word "down", and, right at that moment, give them the reward. Practise, for example, using some stairs. You can also teach them the command to get up, so they learn the whole sequence.

Why Does My Dog Get Onto My Sofa?

Sometimes it happens that the dog picks the moment we're on the sofa to want to get on too. In that case, as soon as you notice their intentions, say "no" and don't let them get on.

You can point them towards their bed, since it's a good idea for them to have a comfortable spot close to where you rest. If they sit or lie down on it, reward them. This way you're making clear which spot is theirs.

Tricks for Stopping a Dog Getting on the Sofa

During the learning process, the way to stop the dog getting on the sofa will need to be preventing it directly. If you're not around to keep an eye on them, keep the living room door shut. You can also put different objects on the sofa so it's not comfortable for them, though most dogs have no problem at all lying down on whatever's there.

Just in case, if you don't like finding fur everywhere, use a cover. On another note, to make the sofa less appealing to them, offer them one or several very comfortable beds, so it's not even worth their while getting up onto the sofa.