Have I made a big mistake

[linzi81]

Hi I think we may have made a boo boo!

1 week ago We noticed signs that someone had been on the sofa at night, that day he then jumped on sofa and we decided ok!!!!

But now when we go out he is throwing the back cushions about and digging the throw off! So coming home to our black sofa in different parts of the room and looking like snails have been over it!

I love him to bits and was happy to let him up but his taking the mick a bit!!

What do I do next any tips? Would be very greatfull

[suethejam]

Ah, it all depends on what you want to happen next!

Hounds have no concept of "just this once" and they do love to make nests, will make a toy of anything and will take the mick - don't get me started on how much advantage our hounds have taken over the years :-)


So you have a few options:

- let him do what he wants and just accept that your house will never be the same again
- let him up on the sofa but see whether toys or a kong will distract him from playing with the throw/cushions
- reclaim the sofa totally by saying "no" when you're there and blocking his access when you're not (we put empty laundry baskets on our bed if we don't want Ty to go up) - anything you use to block his access has to be something that won't hurt him if he does have a determined go at pulling it off. You could try to claim partial control of the sofa by only letting him up when you're there and blocking his access when you're not.

It will be up to you to decide where the boundaries are and then work to enforce them (gently but firmly). It's no use waiting for him to enforce any boundaries - sofa's are far too nice :-)

Good luck!

[linzi81]

I like him on the sofa it's lovely having a cuddle but I want it to remain in one piece ;D

Starting to think we are in the testing, what he can get away with stage! As he has been a bit too perfect!!

I have not tried a kong yet, but he has toys and a puzzle feeder he has Hoovered before I get to the front door!!

[pumalass]

I have said no to our settee's straight from the start and they never get on them, they have their beds all over the house, so it's nice not to have friends over and have to reclaim the settee's, they love their own beds just as much, and they are so spoilt in other ways so this was our only NO.
Chris

[rachael]

The only way I can see round this is if you shut the doors to theroom with the sofa when you go out. Then he can go on thesofa and cuddle when you are there but not mess it up when you are out.