Nasty bites on luxury furniture can feel very frustrating. Preventing your dog from ruining your furniture can be challenging and get out of control, but with the right approach, you can teach your dog to respect your possessions by setting the right boundaries.
The first step in preventing your dog from damaging your furniture is to fathom the reason why they do it and the factor that triggers them.
Why do dogs chew furniture?
One of the main reasons dogs get tempted to chew on furniture is boredom especially when they are home alone.
Dogs desire to be mentally and physically stimulated to stay happy and healthy. If they don't have enough to do, they may turn to chewing on furniture as a way to entertain themselves. To prevent this, make sure your dog has plenty of toys and chews to keep them occupied. Just like humans, dogs too get bored with their old toys and look out for new forms of entertainment, and tend to playfully scratch or bite furniture. Rotating their toys and chews regularly can also help keep them interested. Very few toys sometimes won't suffice the deep playful desires of the amiable animals.
Another common reason for furniture chewing is the lack of proper training. Teaching your dog basic obedience commands such as "sit," "stay," and "stop" can help prevent them from chewing on your furniture. Consistency is key when training your dog, so ensure to practice these commands regularly. Positive reinforcement can also be a useful tool in training. Reward your dog with treats and praise when they are behaving well and not chewing on your furniture.
How to stop a dog from damaging furniture?
It's also important to create a designated spot for your dog to relax and be comfortable. When dogs are put in uneasy places they get irritable and annoyed to damage furniture. A dog bed or a designated corner of a room. This helps to establish boundaries and provides a sense of security for your dog. Keeping your dog exercised is also important. A tired dog is less likely to chew on your furniture. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise and playtime. Here are a few reasons to stop your dog from damaging your furniture:
Record Your Dog’s Behavior
Keeping track of your pet just like you note down the baby movements of your kid is important. Understanding the likes and dislikes of your pet and their trigger points is indeed very essential, at least to know what irritates or angers them to go harsh on your furniture and damage it. Hunger can be a factor when considering why dogs tend to bite chunks of your sofa or soft furniture.
Find the Reason(s) and Work Accordingly
Once you figure out what triggers your dog to ruin your furniture or mess with any of the household items, don't just ignore or distract the dog, rather get deeper than the surface to understand and take sufficient action. Muzzle masks need not be always used outdoors but also to stop the dogs from biting stuff inside the home. Although the masks are not recommended for the entire day, the initial stages where the pet needs to be trained need considerable action taken by the pet parent.
Mark the Furniture
Though pets can be innocent and without understanding, marking the furniture where you do not want your pets to chew on or scratch and training them consistently to not go near the furniture can create an impact. Possibly marking it with a sign and ensuring your dog does not go near it can avoid the pet from destroying a great amount of your furniture.
Invest In a Dog Bed
Pets can be fussy about their homes and cushions just like they set preferences about the food they prefer. Investing in a well-spaced, cozy dog bed would be a good idea if you are planning to have a pet living inside your home. Nonetheless, having a dog home just beside your home, in the backyard serves a better purpose in protecting your furniture. So the next time your dog dislikes his bed, remember his last option would be that antique piece of furniture you spent a fortune on.
Work on Their Bad Behavior
Teaching and training pets to modify behavior requires a great deal of patience and perseverance. You would have figured that by now if you are a pet parent. To recover from their original habits and adapt to your instructions, pets need time. With gentleness and proper instruction, they tend to pick up habits easily. For adamant pets that won't listen to you, find bait such as their favorite toy or food, and lure them to follow your instructions.
Give Them Enough People Time
Dogs are social animals and need to be around other people or pets. Putting them around other pets and involving them in activities would make them happier rather than enforcing rules now and then. Giving them space and time just like we humans take, to learn a new habit would be fair. With time they will learn to follow your instructions.
Spray Unpleasant Sprays On Your Furniture
Another way to prevent your dog from damaging your furniture is by using deterrents. Spray and bitter-tasting sprays can be used to deter your dog from chewing on furniture. These sprays can be sprayed on furniture and other items that your dog shouldn't chew on. Supervising your dog is also key in preventing them from damaging your furniture. Keep a watchful eye on your pet when they are in the house. If you see them starting to chew on something they shouldn't, intervene immediately and redirect their attention to an appropriate toy or chew.
If you are unable to stop your dog from damaging your furniture on your own, it may be beneficial to consult with a professional trainer. They can help you understand why your dog is behaving this way and provide you with additional training techniques. Crate training can also be a great way to prevent your dog from damaging your furniture when you're not home. Dogs will not soil or chew on items in their crate, and it will keep them in a safe and secure space.
Conclusion
In summary, preventing your dog from damaging your furniture takes patience and consistency. Understand the reasons why they are doing it and provide them with plenty of toys, chews, and mental and physical stimulation. Train them consistently and use positive reinforcement, create a designated spot for them, supervise them, use deterrents if necessary and consider consulting a professional trainer. Remember that it's important to be consistent in your training and enforcement of rules and be patient with your dog. With the right approach, you can teach your dog to respect your possessions.