GET OFF THE COUCH!!!!

nursemullinax

My dogs have never been allowed on the couch unless we invite them up. The youngest (9 months old) has started sneaking up after we go to bed. I've caught her twice and my husband caught her once as well. I've tried putting her in her crate at night (both are crate trained but we only put them in when we leave the house) but she will bark non-stop. Last night she barked for over an hour until I let her out. I'm at my wits end as I'm 6 months pregnant and tired as hell, and I just want well behaved dogs before this kid pops out. I don't know what to do. Any advice?

RedheadBaker

Dogs don't generalize well (if at all), so if you teach them not to get on the couch while you are there, that's exactly what they learn - don't get on the couch when you're there. At night, when you're asleep, is a whole other ballgame. 

Do they have dog beds they can sleep on? Reward them for laying on them.

Otherwise, I'd put something (pillows, laundry baskets) that will prevent them from getting on the furniture. 

nursemullinax

We've tried boxes and pillows to keep them off, the boxes she just knocks off and the pillows she actually rearranged so she could snuggle into them further. Both dogs do have their own beds, so finding a place to sleep is not an issue.

RedheadBaker

Can you re-introduce the crate? Feed them in their crates, give them special treats like stuffed Kongs in there? Never send them to their crates as punishment. Crates should be a happy, safe space. 

SadieLouWho

A dog doesn't understand the concept of the couch being "invite only". They're either allowed on the couch, or they're not - and yours are. You cannot get upset that they are going on the couch when you're not around because you encourage this behaviour when you ARE around. From now on it needs to be no dogs allowed on the couch - ever. They won't learn the couch is off-limits if they are "sometimes" allowed on it.

nursemullinax

SadieLouWho:

A dog doesn't understand the concept of the couch being "invite only". They're either allowed on the couch, or they're not - and yours are. You cannot get upset that they are going on the couch when you're not around because you encourage this behaviour when you ARE around. From now on it needs to be no dogs allowed on the couch - ever. They won't learn the couch is off-limits if they are "sometimes" allowed on it.

I'm so showing this to DH, b/c this is how I wanted it to be since we got the dogs. You word it so well.

pattymctatty

Hangers. I just pile hangers on the couch when I leave. I've also left the huge unopened rolls of paper towels (that are still in the large packaging), piles of books and magazines, etc... 

nital

9 months is the beginning of adolescence.  Any freedom you give right now will be taken advantage of. 

I don't let dogs be unsupervised unless I trust them 100%.  I'd just shut the bedroom door and keep them in the bedroom with us and leave dog beds for them to sleep on.